About Idlewild Wines
Idlewild Wines is one of the most intellectually exciting small producers in the greater Healdsburg wine scene. Sam Bilbro — who grew up at Dry Creek Vineyard where his father David was winemaker — founded Idlewild in 2012 with a mission to prove that Northern Italian grape varieties can produce world-class wines in California's cooler mountain and coastal sites.
The results are extraordinary. Idlewild's Cortese, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo — all sourced from high-elevation Mendocino County vineyard sites in the Fox Hill area — produce wines of remarkable authenticity and food-compatibility that regularly earn comparisons to their Piemontese originals. The Fox Hill Barbera in particular is one of the finest California expressions of an Italian variety produced in the state.
The Healdsburg tasting room on Plaza Street offers an immersive introduction to Sam Bilbro's Italian-California vision — educational, personal, and genuinely exciting for anyone who believes California wine's future involves looking beyond Cabernet and Pinot Noir toward the vast diversity of European varieties.
At its Mendocino County, Sonoma County location, Idlewild Wines presents a featured lineup that includes Fox Hill Vineyard Barbera, Fox Hill Vineyard Dolcetto, Cortese, and Nebbiolo. Together, these bottles provide a focused introduction to the varieties, vineyard sources, and style that define the winery's current portfolio.
"Sam Bilbro's extraordinary Northern Italian varietal program from a Healdsburg tasting room — Cortese, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo from Mendocino "
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Featured Wines
Barbera
Fox Hill Vineyard Barbera
The Idlewild signature — high-elevation Mendocino Barbera of extraordinary authenticity. Bright acidity, dark cherry, and a distinctly Italian character that challenges California Barbera conventions.
Dolcetto
Fox Hill Vineyard Dolcetto
One of California's finest Dolcettos — earthy, dark-fruited, and showing the bitter-cherry character that defines this Piemontese variety in its finest expressions.
Cortese
Cortese
High-elevation California Cortese — the grape behind Gavi in Piemonte, producing a distinctive, mineral white that stands apart from every other California white wine.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo
The ultimate test of Idlewild's Northern Italian vision — California Nebbiolo of genuine Barolo-inspired structure, requiring patience and food but rewarding both generously.
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Italian Varietal Discovery Tasting
$30
A focused tasting of Idlewild's Northern Italian varietal program — Cortese, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo from Mendocino County. The most genuinely educational and exciting tasting near the Healdsburg Plaza.
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