Dry Creek Valley: 2 Day Tasting Itinerary

  • Guides
  • by WINECOUNTRY COLLECTIVE
  • on AUGUST 22, 2016
  • 1590
  • 0

Well into the north end of the Sonoma Wine Country, surrounding the charming city of Healdsburg, the fabled wine-producing region known as the Dry Creek Valley consistently produces fabulous wine year after year. Far from the bustling tasting rooms of Napa, this special part of Sonoma County offers a much more intimate tasting experience while allowing wine aficionados the opportunity to immerse themselves in the winemaking process and become friendly with the families that inhabit the valley.

Day 1: Olive & Vine

1
Wineries / Healdsburg

Trattore Estate Wines and Dry Creek Olive Company

Perched high upon a hilltop above the valley and boasting a spectacular vista, Trattore Farms is the proud home of Dry Creek Olive Oil Company and Trattore Estate Wines. The first thing you will notice as you wind up the olive tree terraced driveway is the collection of tractors for which the farm is appropriately named, and every detail put into the farm’s aesthetics and production exudes a passion for great food and wine.

Trattore Farms offers two daily tasting experiences without a need for reservations, both pouring several wines from either of the Estate or Appellation menus, and a taste of the entire selection of olive oils.

Insider Tip

Immerse yourself in a full experience and reserve the “Boots on the Ground” tour. You will be carted around the entire property and receive a first-hand account of the olive oil pressing along with a tour of the winemaking facilities.

Directions

From Trattore Farms turn left onto Dry Creek Rd. and head back toward Healdsburg for 1.5 miles. Turn right at Dry Creek Store onto Lambert Bridge Rd. Destination will be on the left after several hundred feet.

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Heart of the Valley

2
Wineries / Healdsburg

Dry Creek Vineyard

Steeped in history as the first new winery established after prohibition, Dry Creek Vineyard has been a fixture in the valley since David Stare first planted his coveted Sauvignon Blanc Grapes in the early 1970’s. Now operated by the next family generation, the winery continues the tradition with fantastic vintages, such as the “Flagship“ Fume Blanc, and signature Zinfandels.

Dry Creek Vineyard has a “belly up to the bar” tasting room that’s open daily, but we recommend immersing yourself in the Dry Creek Vineyard history with one of the reserve tasting experiences where an extremely knowledgeable staff member will guide you around the vineyard grounds and cellars whilst pouring generous samples of fabulous wine. Along with a marvelous gift shop, the winery also has a bocce ball court and charging stations for electric vehicles, just to take the Dry Creek Valley’s culture of sustainability one step further.

Insider Tip

Stop in at the famous Dry Creek Store on the way in and pack a picnic to enjoy under the shady courtyard at Dry Creek Vineyard.

Directions

Turn left from Dry Creek Vineyards onto Lambert Bridge Rd. and go .6 miles. Turn right onto West Dry Creek Rd. Destination will be on right after .4 miles

Details Visit Website

Garden Getaway

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Wineries / Healdsburg

Quivira Vineyards & Winery

Tucked away on the western hillside of the Dry Creek Valley sits one of the pioneering biodynamic wineries in all of Sonoma County, Quivira Vineyards. With a heavy focus on sustainable farming practices, Quivira hosts a large estate garden, a livestock farm, and of course, acres of ripening grapes. Everything is grown and produced in house, generating an authentic flavor of the specific terroir.

Guests are invited to wander the grounds on a self-guided tour, or sign up for the outside tasting experience where 5 wines are sampled with charcuterie on the spacious patio. We recommend spending a bit more time and take the Estate Tour and Tasting for a more comprehensive experience of the biodynamic farming practices that make Quivira such a special part of the Dry Creek culture.

Insider Tip

Take the Quivira experience to new heights by reserving a seat at the 2016 Farm-To-Table series where renowned chefs from Bay Area restaurants prepare meals from produce grown onsite.

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Day 2: Flavors that Sparkle

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Wineries / Healdsburg

Amista Vineyards

At Amista, it’s all about the bubbles. As the premier producer of sparkling wines in Dry Creek Valley, Amista proudly offers a unique collection of handcrafted sparkling wines produced with traditional methods harking back to France. Additionally, wine lovers can taste delicious classic offerings such as Syrahs and Cabernets, complete with food pairings and several delightful tasting experiences.

Make reservations for the Discovery Wine and Artisan Cheese Pairing, and sit down with the owner and founders Mike and Vickie Farrow as they tell the story of the wines and the vineyard while tasting local artisan cheeses such as the Ewephoria sheep milk Gouda perfectly paired with Amista’s Sparkling Fusion.

Insider Tip

If you have time, sign up for the full Estate Tour, or put on your trail runners and embark on the self guided ``Vineyard Adventure Walk``.

Directions

Turn right onto Dry Creek Rd. and your next destination will be in 2.1 miles.

Details

Dry Creek Renaissance

5
Wineries / Healdsburg

Comstock Wines

Considered to be the new kid in the valley, Comstock Wines brings a fresh approach to hosting guests while maintaining continuity in the flavor of Dry Creek wine. Housed in an impressive facility just off of Dry Creek Road in the heart of the valley, Comstock offers several tasting experiences to accommodate visitors with a wide variety of interests.

Wine enthusiasts interested in enology can sign up for the Blending Seminar and play wine maker for the day with Comstock’s own Chris Russi. Want to mix in some fitness with your tasting experience? Comstock Wines offers a morning yoga class complete with an outdoor breakfast and a glass of their Sauv Blanc. If you are new to wine culture, reserve the Sensory experience for an education in deductive tasting methodology and broaden your knowledge of wine vocabulary.

Insider Tip

If you decide that you want to stay a while, Comstock has luxurious accommodations for those interested in experiencing life as a “resident” on a working vineyard.

Directions

Turn Right onto Dry Creek Rd. Destination will be on the right after 0.2 miles.

Details

Walk the Vines

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Wineries / Healdsburg

West Wines

Just a short hop from Comstock, West Wines inhabits the south end of the valley where Dry Creek feeds into the Russian River creating the perfect micro-climate for cultivating luscious wine grapes. Owners and winemakers Bengt Akerlind and Katarina Bonde proudly offer Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cuvee, and an assortment of other fantastic varietals to savor.

West Wines is most famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Selected to be served at the 2010 Nobel Prize awards banquet, the 2005 Cab is a must try if you can get your hands and taste buds on it. The tasting room is small and unpretentious, so come right in and try what you like.

Insider Tip

We recommend carving out extra time to experience the “Winemaker’s Vineyard Hike” where guests can walk the vineyard with the winemaker and sample grapes plucked from the vine and perform pH tests using vineyard equipment. With its robust vineyards, one of a kind tasting experiences, and future forward farming practices, the Dry Creek Valley appellation truly sets itself apart from the myriad of Northern California Wine Country regions that produce world famous wine.

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