Here’s how Guerneville became the queerest part of Northern California wine country.
A far cry from splashier Sonoma towns, Guerneville is a place that has clung to its bohemian spirit.
Its popularity ignited a wave of gay businesses and overnight stays.
Credit:Mariah Harkey
Like Frederick, Crista Luedtke was another early Guerneville adopter.
Healdsburg was like Aspen, priced out of the game, and a little too yuppy.
Guerneville was always on my mind.
Courtesy of Sonoma County Tourism
Some locals werent receptive right off the bat, says Luedtke of the towns change.
Michael Volpatt was another weekend frequenter in Guerneville during his time living in San Francisco in the early 2000s.
At the time, a lot of my friends were like Youre buying a home in Guerneville?
Courtesy of Sonoma County Tourism
he recalls to T+L.
But I just knew in the back of my mind that it really was the next thing.
You saw the shift of ownership, Volpatt describes.
Kelly Puleio
Businesses started to change loved by some and hated by others.
With the shift in businesses came an influx of press.
Both Grove and Obergefell echo the sentiments of Guernevilles singular allure for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Courtesy of Sonoma County Tourism
I had a bias to Napa, I had never been to Sonoma that much, Grove told T+L.
When I said Napa, he said Im out.
If youre going to make wine for the gay community, youll do it in the Russian River Valley.
He explained why and it made sense, and I was off to meet new winemakers that same day.
Guerneville found us, it really felt that way.
I could just tell that this was our community.
The future looks bright for Guerneville.
I think Guerneville is proudly quirky and I dont see it losing that, Obergefell says.
Theres an opportunity for growth, but I think Guerneville will continue to be Guerneville.
According to Luedtke, that growth has been an organic evolution and shows no sign of ebbing, either.
More and more people are discovering what an amazing destination this is, Luedtke says.
Such a wonderful art scene, cool vintage shops.
A lot of these people are newer, and thats what’s happening.
Were trying to continue to build it.
