Several wineries have tasting rooms in the Old Roma Station, which dates from 1875, near the Memorial Bridge entrance to Healdsburg. This is the original wine station for area grape growers shipping wine (via the nearby railroad) to San Francisco. Around back is Hudson Street Wineries, a collective tasting room for several small, quality producers. Among them, Bluenose is the current label for Paul Brasset, former winemaker for Fritz, White Oak, Christopher Creek and others, who makes a potent Dry Creek zinfandel. Another Dry Creek zin, Rockin' Z, is offered from Shippey Vineyards, along with a couple other of their wines. Sadler-Wells from Vineburg near Sonoma provides vineyard-designate pinot noir, and the wines of Sebastopol's Willowbrook Cellars completes the current partners.
Hudson Street Wineries hosts events in the barrel room, which opens up from the long tasting bar, creating a generous space for public and private events. For locals or visitors, the variety and quality of small-production wines available for tasting or purchase makes this a worthwhile visit. Chances are the person at the tasting room counter is one of the winemakers, so inside information is yours for the asking.