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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

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

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

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

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

Popular Wineries in Dry Creek Valley View all

Mushal Winery & Vineyards

A 60 acre family owned boutique winery for 38 years, producing award winning exceptional wines wi...
Passalacqua Winery

Seeking to create wines which capture the spirit of the region, we combine prized harvests from s...
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...
Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate

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

Quivira is committed to making the finest wines that showcase the unique terrior of Dry Creek Val...

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Page 161 of 208
Dry Creek Valley on Snooth

November 2008

Dry Creek Vineyard Zinfandel Sonoma County Heritage 2006

Snoothrank:

Effusively aromatic with baked earth and fruit tones baked plum, tobacco and smoky oak with a tarry edge. A bit heavy on the nose. Big and rick with a sleek sweetness to the wine. There is a distinct dried fruit tone to the intense cherry/cranberry fruit here and fine pepperiness and briar accentuates the mid-palate. The tannins a fairly substa... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
November 2008

Quivira Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Anderson Ranch 2005

Snoothrank:

This has a sweet, brambly/herbal nose that shows its alcohol a bit too much. The heat accentuates a minty, chalky character but there are nice notes of lingonberry jam. Sweet on entry with pure raspberry fruit that is backed up with grace notes of tree bark, orange peel, and backing spices. The texture is a bit thick and slick with integrated a... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
November 2008

Pedroncelli Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Mother Clone 2006

Snoothrank:

This value priced bottling has a low key nose that is very true to type with a ... ... is recognizable, typical Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. 86p Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
November 2008

Collier Falls Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Private Reserve 2002

Snoothrank:

This is a previous selection from the Gold Medal Wine Club-Platinum Series. ... west corner of the renowned Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma, Collier Falls Vineyard hand harvests its estate Zinfandel fruit from eight acres planted in 1982. 93% Estate Zinfandel blended with 7% Estate Petite Sirah and aged for fifteen months in oak. Enjoy tonight or ... Read More

Wine review by Gold Medal Wine Club
November 2008

Lambert Bridge Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2002

Snoothrank:

A previous selection of Gold Medal Wine Club-Gold Series. Created to be a casual and versatile wine without losing dimension or complexity, this Zinfandel won a Gold Medal at the California Zinfandel Competition. Gourmet Magazine included this outstanding wine on their Recommended list. The Wine Report rated it 88 points stating, Not a wine to ... Read More

Wine review by Gold Medal Wine Club
November 2008

Pedroncelli Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Mother Clone 1996

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by TommyG188
November 2008

Cellar No. 8 Zinfandel California 2006

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by mallard
November 2008

Quivira Grenache Dry Creek Valley Wine Creek Ranch 2006

Snoothrank:

Very fresh on the nose with youthfully estery fruit and a strong floral top note. The alcohol is a bit noticeable here though there are lovely sp[ice tones on softly jammy fruit with just a touch of cool melon adding freshness. Front loaded with fruit and surprisingly crisp in the mouth with crunchy fruit and some nice earth and tree bark tones ... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
November 2008

Dry Creek Vineyard Red Bordeaux Blend Dry Creek Valley Meritage 2005

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by paulc
November 2008

Dry Creek Vineyard Red Bordeaux Blend Dry Creek Valley Meritage 2005

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by paulc

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