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Dry Creek Valley AVA

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Dry Creek Valley AVA

Looking to the West on Dry Creek Road

Dry Creek Valley AVA

The Dry Creek Valley in north Sonoma County is 16 miles long and at its widest point 2 miles. From the wine country town of Healdsburg, two beautiful backroads follow the Dry Creek Valley to its end at Lake Sonoma. Dry Creek Road is the main route along the Dry Creek Valley and West Dry Creek Road is much less traveled but very inviting to joggers, walkers, and cyclists. The Dry Creek AVA includes 9000 vineyard acres and 70 wineries. Most of the wineries are small and family-owned.

Travel Information on Dry Creek AVA

Fall Colors in Wine Country – Best Time to Visit Wineries

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fall colors wine country

Dry Creek Valley Fall colors

Fall Colors in wine country

Harvest is over; the grape juice is in the tanks or barrels, and the vines are getting ready to take a long siesta.  It is Fall Colors in wine country. Most of the tourists are gone and wine country takes on a much slower pace. Fall is our favorite time to visit California wine country. The scenery is breathtaking. Starting from now until the end of November we have Fall Colors in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendocino, and all the wine regions of California. The scene in the photo above is near the Pedroncelli Winery in the Dry Creek Valley. See the Geyserville Wine Trail for information on wineries in this area. The Dry Creek Valley is one of the best places for viewing and capturing photos of the vines turning color. If you find a great viewing area or take a great vineyard Fall color photo, please enter the information in our comment sections for our readers to enjoy. Happy Fall Colors travels!

Other Fall Colors wine country information

What is this man doing on this wine tractor? Nice job!

Quivira Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley

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Quivira vineyards

Quivira Vineyards – A Biodynamic winery in the Dry Creek Valley

A Biodynamic winery in the Dry Creek Valley – Quivira Vineyards

We spent a relaxing time on a sunny day last week at Quivira Vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley. We arrived around noon and quickly toured the Biodynamic vegetable garden and vineyards. We took a peek at a stream that runs through the vineyards, known as Wine Creek. Wine Creek empties into nearby Dry Creek. For the first time in many years, Steelhead Trout were able to navigate Wine Creek and spawn here at Quivira. It is commendable that the owners of Quivira have made it possible again to have Wine Creek healthy enough for Steelhead to return. Following our brief outdoor tour, we settled in at the picnic tables to enjoy tasting a flight of Quivira wines. There are two flights offered, one focused on the Rhone-style wines and the other flight on the more traditional wines of the Dry Creek Valley. We loved the Refuge Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a taste more in the style of a White Bordeaux, dry with slight floral and mineral characteristics.  The Katz Vineyard Zinfandel is from a small vineyard that dates back to pre-prohibition days. The vineyard is dry farmed and, because the vines are so old, there is little yield. Only 150 cases are made from this 1.5-acre vineyard. This Katz Zinfandel is delicious.  Our group purchased a bottle of each of these wines to enjoy with our picnic lunch. Nearby is the Dry Creek General Store, offering a varied menu of picnic choices. This popular spot is always packed with folks headed to Lake Sonoma or to wineries along Dry Creek Road. We’d stopped in at the fabulous Big John’s Market in Healdsburg, just east along Dry Creek Road from Highway 101. The market has a salad bar, burrito bar, a pizza oven, a fabulous deli, and a great selection of local wines.  Think of a Whole Foods store, but a step up in top-notch grocery shopping. Quivira Vineyards is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm. The winery is located on our West Dry Creek Valley Wine Route.

Additional information on the wineries of Dry Creek Valley

 

West Dry Creek Road in November

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west dry creek road

A relaxed pace in wine country

West Dry Creek Road in November

West Dry Creek Road in November is one of the most serene and pleasant roads in wine country. The smell of Fall is in the air around every wonderful twist and turn of this laid-back wine country road. West Dry Creek Road begins at Westside Road just outside of the Healdsburg downtown area. The majestic Madrona Manor is where you start your journey along West Dry Creek Road. The West Dry Creek Road stretches along Dry Creek for ten miles to the Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves. There are two other entrances to West Dry Creek Road from Dry Creek Road. There is the Lambert Bridge Road four miles from Highway 101 and the Yoakim Bridge Road about eight miles from Highway 101. If the weather permits, a November picnic along this road is a must. We have some favorite picnic wineries along this route: The Lambert Bridge winery, Quivira Vineyards and Preston Vineyards at the far end of West Dry Creek Road. Both Quivira and Preston are organic and sustainable wineries. You can purchase a picnic lunch in Healdsburg at Big John’s Market or the Oakville Grocery. On Dry Creek Road, there is the Dry Creek General Store. This area of Sonoma County is famous for Zinfandel. But just about any wine, red or white, is delicious. Most of the wineries along this route are small, boutique, and family-owned. Here is our list of favorite wineries on the West Dry creek Wine Trail.

More information on West Dry Creek Road in November

Fritz Underground Winery in Dry Creek Valley

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Fritz Winery in Dry Creek Valley

It is all about being underground at the Fritz Winery in Dry Creek Valley

Fritz Underground Winery began in the late 1970s under the ownership of the late Jay Fritz. Jay was one of the many winery owners and winemakers that emerged from my alma mater, Saint Ignatius High School in San Francisco. Perhaps it was his S.I. academics that gave him the insight to construct a winery entirely built into the side of a hillside in a quiet and secluded area of Dry Creek Valley.  I know of only one other winery that was built in this underground mode and that is Field Stone in the nearby Alexander Valley. Today, Fritz winery is run by Jay’s son, Clay. It is a fun winery to visit, but unfortunately can easily be missed by the wine country traveler to the Dry Creek Valley. Clay was gracious to spend time with us, and he enjoyed meeting our friend Sam, who had attended Dartmouth with Jay. The winery is on Dutcher Creek Road, which runs west from Highway 101 in Cloverdale to Dry Creek Road. The best idea for visiting the Fritz Underground Winery in Dry Creek Valley is to travel along Dry Creek Road from the Dry Creek Road Exit on Highway 101 in Healdsburg. There are many wineries to visit along this route. See the Dry Creek Wine Trail for the best of the best to visit. Work your way down Dry Creek Road and turn right on Dutcher Creek Road. Travel up the hill for a few miles and the Fritz Underground Winery in Dry Creek Valley will be on your right. There are several tasting and tour options, and a food and wine pairing offered. Check the Fritz Website to book your tour and tasting, or just pop in. Bring your lunch and enjoy this serene area of the Dry Creek Valley. Oh, yes, the wine is very good here. We like the Rosé, two Chardonnay wines, and a delicious Zinfandel from the Fritz Dry Creek vineyards.

clay fritz

Joe with Clay Fritz

Mauritson Wines in the Dry Creek Valley

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Mauritson winery

The Mauritson winery and tasting room on Dry Creek Road

 

Mauritson Wines – Rockpile Wines

Along Dry Creek Road are many interesting wineries to visit. One of those is Mauritson Wines. The Mauritson Family has a long history in the Dry Creek Valley. The family began as sheep farmers in land where Lake Sonoma is now located. When they were forced to sell this land under the Eminent Domain laws for Lake Sonoma, they began to focus on vineyard lands in Dry Creek and above Lake Sonoma. This area above Lake Sonoma has become one of the most notable vineyard areas in Sonoma County and is called Rockpile. Just around 2000, winemaker Clay Mauritson convinced his father that is was time to use some of their vineyards to make their own label of wines. The big barn-style structure pictured above has now become somewhat of a landmark as you drive along Dry Creek Road. The tasting room is bright and cozy with an array of wines to be offered to the wine country traveler. None more sought after are the wines made from the Rockpile AVA. The Zinfandels are big, bold, and full of complex fruit flavors that delight the Zinfandel wine enthusiast. The Rockpile Zins are produced from vineyard blocks. For example, Jack’s Cabin Zinfandel and Cemetery Vineyard. There are other varietals made from Rockpile, but it is Zinfandel that is the king. Mauritson Wines is open daily from 10am to 5 pm . It is just a few miles west on Dry Creek Road from the Highway 101 Exit at Dry Creek.

Other important Dry Creek details

West Dry Creek Wineries

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west dry creek wineries

This wine route signage is on West Dry Creek Road at Lambert Bridge Road

West Dry Creek Wineries

This is one of our favorite wine country backroads. The West Dry Creek wineries are small and family owned. They are all tucked away and can be easily missed. You can get to West Dry Creek Road from three different entrances. We like to start at Westside Road where the Madrona Manor B&B is located. In Healdsburg head down Headsburg Avenue and turn right on to Mills Street. Mills goes under Highway 101 Freeway and becomes Westside Road. Turn right at Madrona Manor and head along West Dry Creek Road. West Dry Creek Road is also a popular spot for walkers, runners, and cyclists, so be careful around every beautiful bend of the road. On a nice warm day, be sure to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it at Lambert Bridge, Quivira, or Preston. I took this photo a few years ago at the junction of Lambert Bridge Road and Dry Creek Road. There might be a few more wineries on the wine route indicators, but the ones you see are all wonderful to visit. One winery not on the list is a secret boutique winery. It is Montemaggiore ,and it’s located about three miles up on of the side roads from West Dry Creek Road. The winery is owned by Lise and Vince Ciolino. They make about 1000 cases of wine, specializing in Rhone-style red wines. They are open by appointment only. Vince is the grower and all his vines are biodynamic. Lise is the winemaker. This is short slide video we made on the biodynamic farming at Montemaggiore.

Other important information about West Dry Creek wineries

A. Rafanelli Winery in Dry Creek Valley – cult wines

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Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Beautiful Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

About A. Rafanelli Winery in Dry Creek Valley

There are several cult wineries in the Napa Valley but seldom do we hear about cult wineries in other California wine country areas. One exception is the A. Rafanelli Winery in the Dry Creek Valley. A cult winery is one where the wine production is small, highly sought after, and sells out immediately to its wine club members or mailing list. Most often it takes several years just to get on a cult winery’s mailing list.  A.Rafanelli Winery in Dry Creek produces only a small amount of wine and is most famous for its Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. About 7500 cases of Zinfandel are made each year. The A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon has a production of 3000 cases. These two wines are released once a year and offered only to their mailing list members. The winery was founded in the early 1900’s by Alberto Rafanelli. The winery continues to be family owned and operated, now in its fourth generation. The current winemaker is Rashell Rafanelli. The winery is open to visitors by appointment only and is located on West Dry Creek Road.  West Dry Creek Road is our favorite wine country backroad. It is quiet, secluded and beautiful. There are several other wineries along West Dry Creek Road that are open to visitors without an appointment. I recently posted an article on the Preston Vineyards located at the very end of West Dry Creek Road. Visit our West Dry Creek Wine Trail for a complete list of our favorite wineries on this lovely backroad.

Additional information on the Dry Creek Valley

Rafanelli winery

A. Rafanelli Cabernet vineyards in Dry Creek Valley

Preston Vineyards on West Dry Creek

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Lou Preston

Lou Preston in his tasting room on West Dry Creek Road

About Preston Vineyards on West Dry Creek

West Dry Creek Road near Healdsburg is one of the best of the backroads in this area. It is a favorite among walkers, runners, and cyclists. There are several wineries and tasting rooms but, at just about the end of West Dry Creek, there is one winery not to be missed by wine country travelers. It is Preston Vineyards on West Dry Creek. In our estimation this winery exemplifies the word “Boutique.” The winery is owned by Lou and Sue Preston and they have been there since the 1970’s. The winery is small and, in addition to producing wines, they also bake bread, make olive oil, and grow produce. Everything is organically farmed. The tasting room is very quaint and the staff always seems to be jovial. The Prestons produce several Rhone-style wines in both white and red varieties. Last time we visited, they were selling a red wine in a cute small jug. Preston Vineyards also has a very attractive picnic area and it is a perfect and peaceful spot to enjoy lunch with a glass of the Preston wine. Preston also offers a self-guided tour of the farm. The tasting room is open from 11am to 4:30pm daily.

Additional information on West Dry Creek Road

Sbragia Family Vineyards – Dry Creek Road in Reverse

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Visitors who drive along the Dry Creek Road in search of great tasting rooms often miss one of the best, the Sbragia Family Vineyards. It is a really fun winery with some terrific wines and one of the best views of the Dry Creek Valley. How is it possible to miss this winery? Well, the typical tourists begin their trek on Dry Creek Road from the town of Healdsburg or from Highway 101. There are so many inviting tasting rooms along Dry Creek Road that one seldom drives more than just a few miles before they have had their daily fill of tasting room visits.

We have a suggestion for the next time you travel the Dry Creek Valley. Do Dry Creek Road in reverse. From the Dry Creek Exit, head West 10 miles to the last tasting room on this road, the Sbragia Family Vineyards. Then work your way back to Healdsburg and you will certainly be impressed with the very enjoyable group of wineries at this end of the Dry Creek.

image of winemaker Ed Sbragia

Ed Sbragia talks wine with wine blogger Mike Beltran
on the deck overlooking the Dry Creek Valley

Sbragia Family Vineyards


There are many things to like and enjoy at Sbragia Family Vineyards. First and foremost is the view of the Dry Creek Valley. Unless you own or rent a home in the hills of the Dry Creek Valley, it is doubtful that you’d find a better view of this Zinfandel powerhouse of a valley. Secondly, the deck at Sbragia is large and accommodating for a picnic or wine tasting. You won’t be bumping into other guests even on a busy weekend.

Now to the wines! Ed Sbragia is the owner and winemaker. Need I say more? This man is a legend in the Napa Valley. He made wine at Beringer for 18 years and still is a consulting winemaker at Beringer and a few other wineries. Even the great Joe Montana enlisted Ed Sbragia to help and the two have collaborated on a label called Montagia. Ed Sbragia has estate vineyards in Dry Creek and elsewhere and uses his long-standing friendships with vineyard owners to garner some of the best grapes available. This all adds up to a wonderful tasting adventure at the Sbragia Family Vineyards.

We met Ed at his Sbragia Family Vineyards tasting room and had a delightful visit speaking with him and tasting through his lineup of wines. He is a man of passion and conviction when it comes to his wines. He likes his wines to be “fruity, but not robust, and be distinctive.” Ed Sbragia grew up in the Dry Creek Valley and his father taught him his winemaking skills. While still at Beringer he began the Sbragia label and was making his wine in small amounts. It always had been his dream to own a winery and, by good fortune, the Lake Sonoma Winery became available in 2005. He snapped up the winery and his Sbragia label found its home.

All the wines are well made and tasty but I think the Zinfandel wines are the standouts here. If you get a chance, try them and do a side-by-side tasting of three different vineyard-designated Zinfandels. It’s interesting to see what the different terroirs and winemaking treatments do to the same grape. It is a good learning experience.

Pack your lunch or stop at the General Store on Dry Creek Road for a hearty sandwich or salad. The deck at Sbragia Family Vineyards has views of the valley in three different directions. What a way to enjoy an adventure in the Dry Creek Valley than to bask in the sun, sipping Sbragia Sauvignon Blanc, and taking in the view!

Nearby wineries that are interesting to visit are Ferrari Carano and Dutcher Crossing. Three wineries in one day should be sufficient.

Other wineries that we like on this route can be found on our Dry Creek Wine Trails.

Lodging in Healdsburg
Dining in Healdsburg

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