Hard work has never tasted so good! Cheers!

In an exciting event that brought our family and friends up close and personal with bottles, corks, and our very own Zinfandel wine, our annual Raford Zin bottling day was a huge success with over 25 cases of wine produced!

We first made sure to start off with wine glasses in hand while we prepared our siphon and other equipment to properly transport the wine into their eagerly awaiting bottles.

The next step  included filling the bottles, by siphoning the wine from the oak barrel, then adding a splash of Argon, a gas that takes the place of oxygen, in the bottle to protect the wine’s flavor. After the bottles were filled, the many hands on deck used their muscles, as well as the help of a corker machine, to put the finishing touches to our bottles. Overall, the Raford’s very own vineyards produced a total of 60 gallons of wine and lots of fun for the whole Raford team!

Fresh Garden Veggies

Throughout all of our efforts to be “greener,” sustainable, and eco-friendly, we are constantly striving to do all that we can to reduce our waste, consumption, and promote growth on our property and in our community.

Here at he Raford, we commit ourselves everyday to the following:
- Recycling program
- Limit disposable plastics to none!
- Filtered water
- Bulk amenity dispensers
- Buy locally grown produce, especially from the local junior college, SRJC’s Shone Farm stand
- Our own organically grown garden that  provides for us every morning!
- Low flow shower/ sink/toilets
- Energy efficient appliances
-Non-toxic cleaning products

We also recently provided lodging and breakfast for the very first Eco Odyssey Tour that launched an extensive journey without any gasoline powered vehicles to raise public interest and support for alternative transportation. Their journey included biking, kayaking, utilizing trains, trails, electric car charging stations, bike paths, equestrian trails and of course, friendly lodging along the way! We were proud to support them in their endeavor to promote a greener way of life and to remind us of the alternative ways people can travel. We are an avid supporter of the creative, and often, more exciting means of transportation! And remember, no matter what way you get around, you’ll always have a place to rest your feet and enjoy the view of the beautiful Russian River Valley here at the Raford!

Hooded Oriole

It seems that our guests aren’t the only one’s to enjoy the hospitality of the Raford Inn. Every year we get the opportunity for some colorful bird sightings who find a home in the palm trees of our property.

Every April two pairs of Hooded Orioles return from their winter in Central America to nest in our palm trees. They remain in their nests, made of palm fronds fibers, until early fall after their young have taken flight. We are also graced with the presence of numerous types of hummingbirds including  Anna’s, Allen’s, and even a pair of Rufous hummingbirds, which are not native to Sonoma County. We also have many Acorn Woodpeckers who love to plant acorns in the bark of our palm trees that stay year round.

Acorn Woodpecker

We always invite our guests to take part in the splendor of our bird paradise with our house binoculars. Next time you visit, we hope that you get a chance to spend some time
relaxing on the porch to capture a glimpse of a few of Raford’s feathered friends.

Allen's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

It’s always a happy sight to see the grape vines burst open with the start of spring. It seems like they’re ready to produce some wonderful wine this year and we can’t wait to try it! Things here at the Raford Inn are also bursting with energy. We’ve had lots of guests from all over the world, including Germany, Thailand, Colorado, Texas, and Maine. It seems that everyone has been enjoying our beautiful spring flowers as well as our bountiful breakfasts and fresh baked cookies everyday! We hope that you’ll check out our Spring Serenity Specials online and come visit us soon!