Bottle rock
LAURA JUHASZ • Auteur Wines
WORK • Wednesday Routine
LAURA JUHASZ • founder and chief of operations • Auteur Wines
Towns where you live and work: Sonoma & Healdsburg
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Mornings start early, with coffee and a sunrise dog walk. This week, we’re bottling all the 2024s at the winery, so my husband Kenneth is locked in on making all the final lots. I’ll be working with both our teams at our two hospitality spaces in Sonoma and handling all the operational aspects of the winery. Later today, I’ll taste through some barrel samples with Kenneth.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Valley in Sonoma is one of my favorites and perfect for a midweek dinner. I’m also drawn to El Dorado Kitchen. And when I want a splashy night out, Enclos or The Matheson in Healdsburg fit the bill. Each captures a different mood of Sonoma County. We also enjoy El Molino or Low and Behold for lunch in Healdsburg.
Any weekend getaways?
Sonoma County offers the kind of escape that requires very little planning yet always manages to loosen the grip of a busy week, and we enjoy Bodega Bay, Jenner, or the Russian River. There are a lot of affordable and authentic lodging options, like AutoCamp and Dawn Ranch, or for something fancier, Farmhouse Inn, Montage, or Madrona Manor are spectacular. Hotel Healdsburg is great for a little nightlife.
What was your last great vacation?
We love to sail in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. Anchoring quietly in warm tides, bright early mornings, black-lit evenings spent in small coves cut off from the rest of the world. The days unfolded at their own pace, and it was the kind of trip that lingers long after you return. This is a secret reunion spot for our family near La Paz.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Valley Bar and Bottle Shop in Sonoma. Lauren is amazing.