Today I want to share my guide to a day trip to the best wineries in Dry Creek Valley with you. While small by American Viticultural Area (AVA) standards, this part of Northern California’s wine country packs a lot of punch. It’s a great place to go wine tasting in Sonoma County, and a less-crowded alternative to popular spots like Napa Valley and Russian River. Read on to find out where to go and what to drink while you’re in the region.
Best Wineries in Dry Creek Valley
I’m here on a day trip to Sonoma County, and I can’t wait to visit some of the best vineyards in Dry Creek Valley. I’ve driven up from San Francisco with three friends and two dogs, and we’re excited to see what the area has in store for us.
The AVA
Dry Creek Valley is located northwest of Healdsburg and southeast of Cloverdale, so it’s farther north than some of the more obvious places to go wine tasting in Sonoma Valley. That’s okay, though. It means the area is more laid-back (and often much more reasonably priced) than its southern counterparts.
Established in 1983, the AVA is formed by Dry Creek, a stream that runs through the county. The valley is 16 miles long by 2 miles wide, and it stretches from the Lake Sonoma Recreation Area in the north to the Russian River in the south.
There are 9,000 acres of vines grown here, and over 70 wineries. Given it’s so compact, it’s easy to get from vineyard to vineyard on a day of wine tasting.
The region has a long history by California wine country standards, too. Vines were originally planted by Italian immigrants in the 19th century, and today their descendants still own and tend to many of the vineyards. It has a truly local feel that not many other places in wine country have retained.
Dry Creek Valley Wines
But enough about facts and figures. What about wine? Dry Creek Valley is known for Zinfandel, and it produces some of the best Zins in California. If you’re a fan of this red varietal with its full-bodied, juicy character, this is the place for you.
But that’s not all. You can also find Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rhone blends like Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre (GSM) here. Along with Zinfandel, they’re some of the best wines in Dry Creek Valley.
Many wineries also serve popular varietals like Chardonnay, and you’ll find it in a lot of flights and tasting rooms.
Wineries in Dry Creek Valley
With so many wineries in Dry Creek Valley, how do you narrow it down? Good question. There are enough good ones to fill many days, and I’ve done great tastings at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, Bella Winery, and Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate in the past.
But today I’m off with my group to explore a couple new-to-me ones and an old favorite. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us.
Ridge Vineyards – Lytton Springs
We’ve pre-booked our first tasting at Ridge Vineyards – Lytton Springs. This winery is the Sonoma branch of the famous Ridge Vineyards on Montebello Road in Cupertino. Its contemporary tasting room is surrounded by picturesque fields full of old vines that date back to the early 20th century.
The tasting room itself is built of straw bales and vineyard clay in an effort to stay true to Ridge’s commitment to sustainable vineyard and winery practices. It’s primarily solar-powered, too.
We settle into an outdoor table on the terrace to enjoy the Lytton Springs Estate Tasting. There are five single-vineyard wines from their estate vineyards in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains on the list. Our sever has three extra ones open for us to try as well. Win.
The wines range from Chardonnay to Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. As we sip and savor them, our sever tells us about the wines and the history of the vineyards around us. It’s great to taste right at the source.
The wines are delicious and the experience is relaxed and pleasant. We could stay all day, but we have more on our itinerary. We buy some bottles to take home, then hit the road for the next stop.
Los Plebes
That stop happens to be lunch. No day of wine tasting in Dry Creek Valley would be complete without food, and there are some good options around here. From the restaurants in Healdsburg to the famous sandwiches at the Dry Creek General Store, we’re spoiled for choice.
But my friends know of a place locals go, and it’s only a minute away from Ridge: Los Plebes taco truck. This mobile Mexican place serves up delicious tacos, burritos, and nachos, and it’s a great spot for a quick lunch during a busy day of wine tasting.
The truck is sitting at the intersection of Geyserville Road and Lytton Springs Road near the 101 Freeway entrance. We pull up and order a feast, eating beside our cars as our orders come out. My veggie nachos are some of the best I’ve had in a long time, and they’re so big I could enjoy them for several meals.
Mazzocco Winery
The next stop on our day trip is a Dry Creek Valley winery called Mazzocco. Right down the road from Los Plebes and Ridge, it’s nestled in the rolling hills on the border with Alexander Valley.
As far as wines go, Mazzocco is known for robust single-vineyard Zinfandels. They also make Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.
We’ve pre-booked a tasting at an outdoor table in the beautiful garden next to the cellar door. It’s buzzing today, and even the tables tucked away in leafy nooks are full.
We sit down to enjoy a flight of five wines. The first is a Chardonnay, and the rest are Zinfandels. Lucky for us, our sever is also a local grower. As we sip, he tells us about the vineyards where the grapes are grown and the characteristics of each one. It adds a unique element to the experience.
When we’re finished, we check out the vineyard next to the cellar door and pop into the tasting room itself. It has high ceilings, dark wood, and lots of natural light. It’s a great atmosphere for a winery.
Montagne Russe
From Mazzoco we drive south to the last of the Dry Creek Valley wineries on our itinerary: Montagne Russe. Located in Bacchus Landing at the southern end of the AVA, this is one of our go-to tasting rooms in Sonoma County.
Just outside Healdsburg, the place is relaxed, doesn’t require bookings, and is so dog-friendly that both the dogs I’m here with have their photos on the wall.
Montagne Russe specializes in cool-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah from farmer-owned vineyards. They don’t stick to Dry Creek Valley for their wines, either. In fact, their grapes come from as far north as Mendocino and as far south as Santa Barbara.
We’ve tasted here many times, so we skip right to our favorite and buy a bottle of “Quatre Cinq Un”. The name comes from the French for “Four Five One”. It represents the 451-mile distance between the northernmost vineyard they source grapes from in Mendocino and the southernmost one in the Santa Rita Hills.
A Santa Barbara County wine, it’s made from grapes from the Joy Fantastic Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. A true cool-climate Pinot Noir, it’s light and offers a nice balance to the bold Zins we’ve been sipping all day.
The Shuckery in Petaluma
After enjoying the wine it’s time to head back to San Francisco. It’s been a great day of wine tasting in Dry Creek Valley, and we’ve enjoyed visiting some new vineyards and old favorites.
But we’re not done yet. Dinner calls, and we drive down to Petaluma to eat downtown. This area is alive with restaurants and bars, and it’s an ideal place to stop for a meal on the way back from wine country.
We snag an outdoor table at The Shuckery, a seafood restaurant that specializes in raw oysters and seasonal ocean-inspired dishes. We start with a dozen of their signature bivalves before enjoying everything from fried calamari to clam chowder, rock cod tacos, and classic fish and chips.
The restaurant has a lively atmosphere, and the courtyard terrace feels magical with its fountain and glowing lights. It’s the perfect way to end the day.
Dry Creek Valley
I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some of the best wineries in Dry Creek Valley, and that it’s given you inspiration for your own trips. If you have longer than a day, there are more great tasting rooms to visit, too. From Dry Creek Vineyard to A. Rafanelli Winery, Unti, Lambert Bridge Winery, and Frick, there are enough to fill several days.
In fact, the annual Passport to Dry Creek Valley is a two-day event featuring award-winning wines, events, live music, and cuisine from local chefs. Taking place every spring, more than 40 wineries participate. It’s a great excuse to visit the region.
Whether you go for Passport or at a different time, there are great places to stay in the area. From Raford Inn to Geyserville Inn, there’s a range of local options. Add to that the many hotels in Healdsburg, and you’re spoiled for choice.
You can also check out my video about a Dry Creek Valley day trip on YouTube, and my other Sonoma itineraries for additional inspiration. Happy tasting!
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