{"id":2996,"date":"2015-07-23T09:16:49","date_gmt":"2015-07-23T09:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/winetraveler.info\/?p=664"},"modified":"2015-08-01T00:39:31","modified_gmt":"2015-08-01T00:39:31","slug":"quivira-vineyards-a-very-biodynamic-winery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winecountrygetaways.com\/quivira-vineyards-a-very-biodynamic-winery\/","title":{"rendered":"Quivira Vineyards \u0097 A Very Biodynamic Winery"},"content":{"rendered":"

We have reposted this article that was published a few years back. Our photos were lost in the “Cloud” so we needed to redo the photos and publish again.<\/p>\n

This winery has been on West Dry Creek Road since 1986 when just a handful of wineries were located on this beautiful backroad in the Dry Creek Valley. In 2005 the winery became biodynamic, and in 2006 the winery’s original owners sold the winery to Pete Kight who had made it big in the high-tech business. Everyone waited with bated breath to see what changes would take in place at the idyllic winery. Pete Kight has not disappointed the Dry Creek wine community. Since the acquisition, the winery has added a beautiful and extensive vegetable garden of 120 raised beds, goats, a pig, and even a chicken \u201ccondominium.\u201d\u009d Many of the vines have been replanted and additional acreage has been acquired. The winery has also added an extensive solar panel system atop its winery building. Quivira is one of the pioneer wineries in sustainable farming practices.<\/p>\n

\"quivira-vines\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Respected winemaker Hugh Chappelle is currently the head winemaker at Quivira Vineyards. \u00a0<\/span>In an effort to improve quality, the current production of wine has been reduced from over 20,000 cases of wine per year to 13,000 cases. The vines are thinned more, and much more of the crop is dropped to produce more complex wines. If you walk the vineyards you will get an idea of the replanting and see many examples of biodynamic farming. New acreage has been purchased in the western hills of Dry Creek and new vineyards are being planted with mostly Rhone varietal grapes. The best may be yet to come at Quivira.<\/p>\n

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Biodynamic vineyards at Quivira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the tasting room, the staff is friendly and accommodating. When we visited on a busy Sunday, the three Quivira staffers were welcoming a constant flow of visitors with ease while maintaining a festive atmosphere. Until Steven Canter took the realm as winemaker, Quivira flagship wines had been the Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and the Dry Creek Zinfandel. These wines are still good, but the two wines we thought were more impressive were the Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Complete and the Wine Creek Zinfandel. The Sauvignon Blanc has been barrel fermented, and that gives a totally different character to this varietal. It is wine with more structure and it is delicious but on the pricey side at $28. The Wine Creek Zinfandel was the favorite of our tasting, a very delicious and balanced Zinfandel.<\/p>\n

If you visit Quivira, ask the staff if you can take a walk to view Wine Creek. Quivira Vineyards, along with other agencies and neighbors, has been involved in the restoration of this creek and the return of Steelhead trout and Coho Salmon. The winery has taken several steps to provide the correct environment for these fish to travel from the Pacifica Ocean up the Russian River to Dry Creek, and then to spawn in the pools of Wine Creek. What a wonderful endeavor.<\/p>\n

More on West Dry Creek Road<\/h3>\n