Pennyroyal Farm, located in Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, seems to have it all figured out. Pennyroyal is perfecting the arts of cheese- and wine-making, educating their community, cultivating crops respectfully, maintaining brilliant seasonal menus, and hosting incredible events for guests to enjoy all year-round. This patch of heaven in Boonville has something for everyone – come solo, with a date, or a friend, or even the family. Tours are wheelchair accessible, children can enjoy grape juice tastings, and your dog can join you on the Tasting Room patio!
Pennyroyal is a “closed loop” farm, which means they use biodynamic farming techniques to allow nature to guide and sustain a continuous and symbiotic relationship between the land and crops, the animals, and the farmers. Everything on Pennyroyal serves a purpose for the greater good of the farm – nothing is wasted. A combination of waste from the livestock and compost from the farm fertilizes the garden, a team of sheep expertly tends the vineyards, water is entirely sourced from on-site ponds, energy for the barn is solar-powered, and the list goes on! The harmony between animals, land, and humans allows Pennyroyal to function as a zero-waste farm.
Guided tours of Pennyroyal farmstead creamery and vineyard are offered twice daily: in the morning and afternoon. On the tours, guests are invited to meet (and pet!) many of the farm animals, sample the handcrafted wine, grape juice, and cheeses, and learn about the methods the folks at Pennyroyal use to produce such delicious wine and bites. For example, Pennyroyal cheese is extremely smooth because they transport the milk from the farm to the creamery by vehicle and then hand-pour it into vats. This extra effort, compared to typical systems which use an underground pipe system to pump milk to creameries, is absolutely worthwhile – you can taste the love in the cheese!
Every day, from 11:00AM-4:00PM, guests are welcome to visit the indoor/outdoor Tasting Room. The executive chef in the farm’s kitchen, Elizabeth Leas, is dedicated to constructing an ever-changing, creative menu that features only fresh and seasonal provisions from the farmstead. Meals are always nutritious, delicious, and diverse – providing options for vegetarian and gluten-free diets. Additionally, the kitchen prepares artisan pickles, preserves, and other delicious snacks to take with you on the go.
For a more educational and intimate dining experience, Pennyroyal’s Farmstead 21+ Wine & Food Pairing is offered several times each Saturday and Sunday. Elizabeth Leas will provide a guided presentation of five wines paired with five corresponding food tastings. It is advised that guests place reservations for the Pairings, as they are limited to 6 adults per session. The kitchen is always happy to accommodate dietary restrictions with a fair amount of notice.
In addition to their regularly scheduled tastings and restaurant hours, Pennyroyal puts on various events such as Wine Festivals, special weekend brunches, and Supper Clubs featuring a prix fixe menu with a sprinkling of surprise add-ons. Like the Wine & Food Pairings, some event seats are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot ahead of time.
Great for Local Wine, the Family, Dog-friendly
14930 Highway 128, Philo, CA 95415
(707) 895-2410 or (800) 956-8909
www.pennyroyalfarm.com
Daily, 10am – 5pm