Sake Crawl Brings Rice Brew To These Wine Country Streets

HEALDSBURG, CA — The "other white" alcohol is stepping into the spotlight this weekend as the Healdsburg Sake Crawl sends participants across downtown for a Sunday afternoon of tastings that swap wine glasses for small ceramic cups.

The event begins with check-in between 12:45 and 1 p.m. Sunday at Maison Healdsburg, where participants receive a sake cup along with their first pour (and a bite to go with it) before launching a tasting that highlights a different side of Healdsburg’s food scene.

The crawl is led by Fifth Taste, a San Francisco distributor that focuses exclusively on small-batch artisanal sake. Organizers say the event aims to introduce drinkers to the range of flavors found in the rice-based brew, from delicate and floral to savory and complex.

From there, participants continue to Asahi Sushi for another sake pour (also paired with a small bite) before moving on to Taste of Tea, where additional tastings highlight how the drink pairs with different foods.

The crawl concludes at Lo and Behold, where participants gather on the patio for a final tasting and a bonus pour.

Now in its third year, the Healdsburg Sake Crawl reflects the curiosity about sake and the chance to taste something different while walking the town’s downtown blocks.