“Where’s that?” That was the most common response when I shared that I planned on spending my birthday in Hopland, California. You likely fall into two categories when it comes to Hopland: You either have never heard of it and have no idea where it is, or you have heard of it because you have driven through it on your way up north. This tiny town, approximately two hours north of San Francisco, is located along three or four blocks off the highway in southern Mendocino County. Hopland is often overlooked in favor of its more beautiful and popular neighbors, like Mendicino or Fort Bragg. I, too, had driven through hundreds of times with nary a stop. This year was different. I stopped.

Hopland is named after the region’s growth of bitter hops, a key flavor and preservative in beer, but these days, it’s more known for being a pioneer in off-the-grid sustainable living, its plentiful vineyards, and handful of eclectic shops.

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Things to do

• Reduce your impact. Hopland uses more solar power per capita than anywhere else in the world and is undoubtedly influenced by EcoTerra (formally the Solar Living Institute). In place since 1978, EcoTerra is home to 12 acres of environmental paradise with native plants. The grounds house an organic farm, solar-powered medical dispensary Emerald Pharms, and Real Goods, a store where you can find all that you need for off-the-grid living. The entire 5,000 square foot building is made entirely from straw bales, and its bathrooms’ host walls are made of recycled goods, such as pill bottles. Plus, where else can you hop on stationary bicycles to generate your own electricity? Take a stroll along the pond and find a perfect spot to picnic, or take one of their multitudinous workshops with topics ranging from macramé, to composting, to blacksmithing.
  
  
• Taste local flavors. Part winery, part ranch, part olive farm, part art gallery, Terra Savia seemingly does it all – and does it all very well. With 35 acres of vineyards, this is one of the few vineyards in this plentiful wine region that grows Bordeaux grapes. So, if you like merlot, petite verdot, or cabernet sauvignon, this is the place to go! They also produce estate grown chardonnay, sparkling wines, and rosé due to the microclimates in the area. Terra Savia is also home to an organic olive orchard, boasting nearly 3,000 trees, that runs on wind and sun, and is fed by its own fresh water springs. Each olive is hand-harvested and pressed onsite, making for a divine array of premium olive oil. *Tip: Try the Meyer Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil! Meanwhile, the tasting room warehouse is home to a curious, curated collection of art pieces, including a vintage Porsche, and serves as a large playground for the resident cats. 

• Recharge your energy with coffee – and crystals! – at Steep Organic Coffee and Tea. Step into Steep and be transported into a wonderland of delicious beverages and pastries. You can even shop gems and minerals, all accented by plants! Where else can you order an oat milk chai latte while browsing quartz, fluorite, and amethyst points? Only in Hopland…!