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.

Though far from the Douro Valley of Portugal, visitors to Sonoma County will be pleased with the variety of Port-style and dessert wines available in the area. It’s time to start planning: these ports are ready for pouring.

The Green Valley AVA is located in the southwestern part of the Russian River Valley, bounded by the towns of Sebastopol, Forestville and Occidental. The area is known for its foggy climate and well-drained soil, which makes the wines throughout the AVA unusually cohesive and distinct–in other words, a worthwhile tasting experience, to be sure.