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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It’s not all about Zinfandel.

Zinfandel lovers unite in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. Eno-tourists are anxious to visit the area known to some as the Zinfandel grape’s spiritual home. But please, don’t come for the Zinfandel alone.

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Varietals Produced in Dry Creek Valley View all

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...
Sauvignon Blanc

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

Popular Wineries in Dry Creek Valley View all

Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate

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

Why Bordeaux varieties? While honeymooning in France, Peter and Diana Merriam fell in love with t...
Kokomo Winery

Started in 2004 with the production of a single vineyard Cabernet from Mounts Vineyard, Kokomo ...
Preston of Dry Creek Valley

Preston of Dry Creek is an organic family farm rooted in the agrarian traditions of Dry Creek Val...
Unti Vineyards

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

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

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Page 214 of 254
Dry Creek Valley on Snooth

September 2008

Dry Creek Vineyard Chenin Blanc Clarksburg Dry Chenin Blanc 2007

Snoothrank:

Super easy to drink and great with mild cheeses. Read More

Wine review by drift75
September 2008

Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2002

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by drift75
August 2008

A. Rafanelli Dry Creek Sonoma Cabernet/Blends 2005

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by TM
August 2008

Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel Dcv 2005

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by jfoland
August 2008

Wilson Winery Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Dry Creek Reserve 2005

Snoothrank:

Our Reserve Zinfandel is a blend of the best of our Zin lots. A magical marriage of structure, texture and flavors occurs from the additional oak aging this wine receives. The nose presents creamy mocha and vanilla in a backdrop of dark ripe fruit. Delicious flavors of plum, raspberry, blackberry, mocha and vanilla are perfectly woven into the s... Read More

Wine review by dawn1
August 2008

Quivira Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley Fig Tree 2007

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by msmith
August 2008

Quivira Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Anderson Ranch 2002

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by msmith
August 2008

Sequum Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Riverwash 2005

Snoothrank:

Dark fruit (blackberry). Very approachable, dark fruit up front with a smooth subtle tannin finish. Read More

Wine review by jkagel
August 2008

Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Napa Valley 2006

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by enotheque
August 2008

Rosenblum Cellars Marsanne Dry Creek Valley Preston Vineyard 2006

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by zekezorro

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