Dry Creek Valley

The Dry Creek Valley AVA is located on 9,000 acres in Sonoma County, California. Dry Creek received its designation as an AVA in 1983. The region is located northwest of the town of Healdsburg on Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River. The areas signature loamy soil is well drained and fertile dirt that produces good crops of flavorful grapes. The nearby coastal mountain range keeps cool marine temperatures at bay, allowing for daily high temperatures during the height of the growing season. The surrounding mountains provide a channel for the coastal breezes and fog to come in at night, dramatically dropping temperatures. The long, warm days allow the fruit to ripen fully while cool evenings enable the grapes to mature slowly and retain their acidity and balance. The region is perfectly suited to the production of Zinfandel and, as a result, Zinfandel grapes have been grown here for over 140 years. In addition to Zinfandel, the region has become quite famous for its world-class production of Sauvignon Blanc.