| A drab, rundown piece of property sat seven | | | | nearly 600 acre estate is hidden, too, just north |
| years on the market. Since my visit in 2003 it | | | | of the ranch. There are many vintners in the area |
| gained an amenity a year, instituted by the Gaines | | | | if you want to go off on a wine tasting trip, but |
| family, owners since 1987. It's a progressive | | | | at dinner meals you can taste as much as you |
| hide-away and I doubt they'll be running out of | | | | want at the ranch.How to get there.There are |
| room to continue further additions. Highland Ranch | | | | two entrances to the ranch, the north and the |
| is tucked away next to Hendy Woods State Park | | | | south. I drove in from the south, taking Highway |
| featuring a hundred miles of trails in an old growth | | | | 101 out of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate |
| redwood forest. It sits a mile and half as the | | | | Bridge, through Sausalito, Petaluma, and Rohnert |
| crow flies above Philo, California at an elevation of | | | | Park. At junction 128 West where a grand |
| 1000 feet obscured further by surrounding apple | | | | redwood lumber mill sits, turn left. Follow that road |
| orchards, vineyards, and nearby olive orchards in | | | | approximately one mile and turn right. This is the |
| Anderson Valley, Mendocino County. Californians | | | | actual Highway 128 and Philo is twenty-five more |
| call this the North Shore.This ranch stands alone | | | | miles. Watch for the town of Booneville and you'll |
| for being the oldest working guest ranch in the | | | | know you are headed in the right direction.It is a |
| hills there. It's not an architectural masterpiece, but | | | | narrow and winding road, doted on by sentinels of |
| its countenance takes a person back to the 'good | | | | eucalyptus, redwood, conifer and oak forming a |
| old days'. You see, I'm from Wyoming and I've | | | | canopy. You're engulfed as you maneuver the |
| seen plenty of ranches and even worked on | | | | twists and turns. It's a leisurely, constitutional drive |
| some, so I was really taken back. The fully | | | | that will stroke you with shade and slap you |
| restored yellow, hundred-year-old ranch is | | | | awake if you get too lulled, with glimpses of |
| welcoming and cozy. You might think about taking | | | | sun.Philo is a small grower's community and in the |
| a peek. The down-home, friendly atmosphere and | | | | middle of town at 8500 Highway 128 you can |
| home cooked gourmet meals brings returning | | | | turn left to the private entrance of the ranch. The |
| guests year after year.According to George | | | | landmark is the Union 76 gas station. You'll need |
| Gaines when he purchased the property the roof | | | | the gate code to go this way, so call ahead for it. |
| sagged and weeds grew through the porch, walls | | | | You'll reach a "Y", where the road turns to dirt. |
| and windows. He commented that he wasn't too | | | | Stay to the left here.If you get to the locked iron |
| concerned over costs at the time, because, after | | | | gate without a code, you might be glad you did. |
| all, the water was free when it rained. I found | | | | Driving over a skinny, one-lane bridge with rapids |
| George quite amusing considering he is a Princeton | | | | below racked my nerves. If this happens, turn |
| alumnus and retired lawyer.Walls in the main house | | | | around, and take the north entrance. If you |
| are adorned with the life and times of the Gaines | | | | continue on here, once you are through the gate |
| family antics and a collection of George's | | | | you'll crest a hill where the road turns right and |
| well-worn hats. Historical pictures dot the walls, | | | | drops to view the main yellow ranch house, |
| including a photo of his days as the Captain of | | | | stables, and cabins.The north entrance has the |
| Princeton's rowing team taken in the 1950s.There | | | | "Highland Ranch" sign by it. It is about twelve miles |
| were a lot of favored parts of my trip; the | | | | north of the gas station, and again you will have |
| solitude and scenery alone, made my heart throb, | | | | to hang a left. It is a winding,uphill climb through |
| much less the offering of a "welcome home" | | | | the woods on another dirt road. You might feel |
| atmosphere. It was my first taste of that | | | | lost, as I did, but if you turned at the sign, you're |
| particular part of the California coastal mountains | | | | on the right trail.Locals make regular trips to relax |
| and I drank it all in on horseback. I retract that, I | | | | with a meal served home-style and casual in the |
| drank more in on wine, too.I received a "grape" | | | | expansive dining area, three times a day. The |
| education. The climate is indeed cool in October. I | | | | kitchen is equipped with a commercial stove and |
| learned the well-drained soil conditions and | | | | oven, an island cutting table, sinks and handy pots |
| coolness offer growers an envrironment similar to | | | | hanging overhead giving an "old World" feel. The |
| Champagne, France. (By all means, take | | | | dining room has three long tables with a mix of |
| long-johns.). Here grapes mature slowly balancing | | | | period chairs encircling each one. An interesting |
| acid and sugar.It seemed everyone stayed | | | | collection of plates dots every wall and cornice. |
| somewhat to themselves to relax or just take | | | | The view through the windows in the dining room |
| care of business. According to reports a fifth | | | | showcase the flower garden, hummingbird |
| generation Roederer searched since the late 70s | | | | feeders, and fruit weighing down grapevines and |
| for enviromental conditions similar to his French | | | | fig trees in October. |
| property and he found it in Mendocino County. His | | | | |