Dry Creek Vineyard is celebrating 50 years as a pioneering winery in Sonoma.
Dry Creek Vineyard not only is located in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, it has done much to establish the standards of quality for that prestigious wine region. The history of this multigenerational family winery is full of notable firsts within the industry:
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1972: First winery built in the Dry Creek Valley following Prohibition.
- 1972: First to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Dry Creek Valley.
- 1972: First to label a wine as “Fumé Blanc” in Sonoma County.
- 1982: First to display a sailboat on a wine label, a bold and daring move beyond the popular chateau-style labels of the time.
- 1983: First to pioneer Dry Creek Valley’s American Viticultural Area (AVA) status.
- 1985: First to label a wine as “Old Vine” Zinfandel, setting off an industry trend.
- 1987: First to label a wine as a “Meritage,” illustrating the family's love of Bordeaux blending.
- 1997: First to release a “Heritage Clone” Zinfandel from pre-prohibition vine cuttings.
- 2017: First to receive a U.S. patent for the design of printed sustainable sourcing information on a cork.
- 2022: First to release 50th consecutive vintage of Dry Chenin Blanc in the United States.
Here are the latest releases as the winery continues its 50th-anniversary celebration.
2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley
Dry Creek Vineyard really led the way for Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley and we love their vision of this wine. It is made of 81% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Sauvignon Musqué, and, 3% Sauvignon Gris. The Gris provides a creamy texture while the Musqué adds weight and juiciness. The flavors are bright tropical fruit, lemon, and melon. We love Dry Creek Vineyard’s Fume Blanc, but this is a step up in complexity and elegance. It’s also a refreshing change from the jarring acidity of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
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2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley
Dry Creek Valley is primarily known for Zinfandel, but the AVA has almost as much Cabernet Sauvignon planted. This is a wine that delivers inviting flavors in a medium-to-full body. It’s enjoyable to sip on a summer’s night – as we did. The flavors are lush and elegant with cranberry and black cherry with undertones of coffee and leather. It displays the hallmark of Dry Creek Valley wines: floral and spice notes.
The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot with small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. While this Cab can be aged for another five to 7 years, its rounded edges make it very approachable now. Also approachable is the $32 price tag.
2019 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley
The Mariner is perhaps our favorite red wine. It’s an elevated wine created with finesse and the vision of creating the finest Meritage from the Dry Creek Valley with the five noble Bordeaux grapes. Each year the footprint is a bit different as the winemakers search for the best lots in Dry Creek Valley, including Dry Creek Vineyard’s DCV9 Endeavor vineyard. This year the blend highlights Cabernet Sauvignon (61%) with 18% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 11% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc.
The wine gets 20 months of aging in French and Hungarian oak, 42% new. During the fermentation, the wine gets pump-overs twice daily. All vines are 20+ years old. The point is, that all steps are taken to make this a special wine.
Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.
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