Hopland, California

Hopland is a small town of less than 800 people located at the start of the Redwoods in Mendocino county of Northern California. It is about two hours drive along the 101 Freeway north of San Francisco, and a thirty minute drive along Highway 175 to California's largest natural lake Clear Lake. It is a rustic farming community situated amongst oak covered coastal foothills. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

There is an indigenous Hopland band of Pomo Indians, who originally lived off the natural resources of the land in Sanel Valley with deer, fish, acorns and berries. In 1996 they opened the 40,000 square foot Sho-Ka-Wah Casino and through it have funded health, educational and social benefits.

Notable establishments in Hopland include the Mendocino Brewing Company, famous for Red Tail Ale and started in 1983 as the Hopland Brewing Company and Fetzer Vineyards, a major producer of both red and white wines in North America, including Zinfindels, Chardonays and Merlots predominately.