Dry Creek Valley Wine

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The Carneros AVA straddles between both Napa and Sonoma Valleys, with distinct climates. The Napa side is warmer, more suited to varietals such as Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot, while the Sonoma side is cooler, where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay can thrive.

The history of wine-making in Carneros dates back to the 1840s, when California was still under Mexican control and General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, who was also the Director of Colonization of the Northern Frontier, secured a land grant to settle and cultivate Rincon de los Carneros and surrounding territories. This section was managed by his son-in-law, Jacob P. Leese. Grape cultivation began with Leese and as the US gained control over California, more settlers became attracted to the fertile land in Sonoma and Napa Valleys and planted their own vineyards. By the 1870s, William H. Winter purchased 1,200 acres from Leese and cultivated what became the area’s first commercial vineyard, Winter Winery.

In 1881, Winter Read more »

In 1881, Winter Winery was sold to James Simonton, who renamed it Talcoa Vineyards. By this time, the Phylloxera epidemic that devastated most of Europe had taken hold in California. Simonton, with aid from Missouri oenologist George Husmann, was the first to experiment in grafting Phylloxera-resistant rootstock. By the late 1880s, the Stanly Ranch winery in Carneros was winning awards at viticultural fairs.

The Prohibition halted most of the grape production in the region between 1920 to 1933. But soon after, wineries such as Beaulieu, Bouchaine and Louis M. Martini came into prominence, with others on their heels. By the 1940s, wine-makers were discovering that varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were well suited to the cool climate region on the Sonoma side, heralding the modern era of local wine-making in Carneros. ~Amanda Schuster

– Description from Amanda Schuster (hide)

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Zinfandel Bucket List

When you think of Zinfandel, what region comes to mind? For me, first and foremost it’s the Dry Creek Valley. This is followed by Paso Robles and Sonoma Valley, with some sentimental favorites coming from Mendocino. 1981 Edmeades Du Pratt Zinfandel, ...

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Varietals Produced in Dry Creek Valley View all

Zinfandel

Parentage of the grape: Crljenak to Austria to America. In the 1970s, claims surfaced that the Italian Primitivo is l...
Cabernet Sauvignon

“King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Caber...
Chardonnay

British wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson, once noted that throughout the 80’s and 90’s in the United States, C...
Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown in California -- at over 15,000 acres, it’s now the third most planted variety -- and...
Syrah

The irony here is that Syrah’s origins could give Carmen Sandiego a run for her international wallet. Syrah’s deepest...
Merlot

The Occitanian word “merlot” translates to “young blackbird.” An accurate description for this popular, early-budding...

Popular Wineries in Dry Creek Valley View all

Unti Vineyards

Unti Vineyards is a small, family-owned and operated winery specializing in red varietal wines wi...
Montemaggiore

We were captivated by the genuine quality of life in Montemaggiore, a small moutain village in so...
Pezzi King Vineyards & Winery

James P. Rowe, Sr., is passionate about his Italian heritage. His love of agriculture is rooted i...
Lake Sonoma Winery

You can’t make great wine from mediocre grapes. Lake Sonoma Winery is dedicated to creating th...
J. Pedroncelli Winery

Since 1927, when John Pedroncelli, Sr. purchased vineyard and a small winery in Sonoma County's D...
Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate

The estate was founded in 1979 and named Domaine Michel by Jean-Jacques Michel. A native of Switz...

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Page 157 of 208
Dry Creek Valley on Snooth

December 2008

Dry Creek Vineyard Red Bordeaux Blend Dry Creek Valley Meritage 2005

Snoothrank:

Smoky, deep and layered on the nose with dried floral, dried herb and vanilla tones accenting the mulberry and plum fruit. There is an underlay of dirt and high toast wood as well and that gained through the course of the evening turning a bit too green and funky, though by the end of the evening that began to re-integrate. At first this deliver... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
December 2008

Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley Three Vineyards 2006

Snoothrank:

Soft on the nose with gentle herb notes, cedary, pencil shaving oak, forest floor, with some mineral back ground tones and a touch of leather. Smells a bit Bordeaux like. Light bodied, a touch astringent but that is well balanced by the ripe fruit sweetness right behind the astringency. Lovely purity and freshness with judiciously used oak frami... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
December 2008

Wines tasted for this report Flight 12005 Simi Alexander Valley Cabernet ... ... Pedroncelli Three Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Cabernet 13.8% - $17 90ptsFlight 22005 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet 14.4% - $50 92pts2005 Duckhorn Cabernet 14.5% - $75 87pts2005 Bennett Lane Cabernet 14.7% - $60 91ptsFlight 32005 Bennet Lane Maximus Feasting ... Read More

Forum post in the topic Snooth PTP - California Cabernet
December 2008

Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2005

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by claytonmorris
December 2008

Pedroncelli Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Mother Clone 2003

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No written review

Wine review by claytonmorris
December 2008

Cline Cellars Zinfandel Sonoma County 1999

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No written review

Wine review by Ayershamilton
December 2008

Thumbprint Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley 2005

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No written review

Wine review by jeffmacintyre
December 2008

Michel-Schlumberger Syrah 2005

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No written review

Wine review by RachelNYC
December 2008

Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2005

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No written review

Wine review by mallard
December 2008

Fritz Cellars Zinfandel 2004

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by iamwills

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