Dry Creek Valley History

This northwest-to-southeast-running appellation practically parallels the Alexander Valley. The eastern border stretches from Geyserville down to Healdsburg, while the Warm Springs and Dry Creek intersection defines its northwest boundary. The climate is both wetter and warmer than that of the Russian River Valley, and the growing season tends to be longer. The red soils of Dry Creek are more common in the benchlands and hills in the north, and these sites seem just about perfect for Zinfandel and close to that for Sauvignon Blanc. Zinfandels from the Dry Creek Valley appellation are ripe, rich, with berrylike fruit and peppery nuances. The area´s Sauvignon Blanc can often be too exuberant in a pungent, weedy-grassy manner, needing some calming influence from barrel fermentations or from blending with Semillon. The finer Cabernet Sauvignons are very expressive, with a strong bell pepper, green olive, earthy nature. As one moves south toward the Russian River, the plantings begin to favor Chardonnay and Riesling. Vineyards have steadily expanded through the 1980s to bring the current total acreage beyond 6,000. About a dozen producers are located within Dry Creek, including Dry Creek Vineyards, Peterson Winery, Preston, Ferrari-Carano, Meeker, A. Rafanelli, Quivira, and the North Coast outpost of Gallo.

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