Russian River Valley

Sonoma Dry Creek Valley is one of the jewels of San Francisco's Wine Country. Only its distance from the city prevents it from being swamped by visitors. A minimum of half past one of the Golden Gate Bridge and travel north of the Dry Creek exit of Route 101, just past downtown Healdsburg. Turn left and soon you will see the valley unfold before you, a remarkably beautiful place with a floor of wide, lined with vineyards, surrounded by lush hills that protect the valley of the freshness and moisture that might impinge on it at from two directions.

To the east, the Russian River provides moisture fresh mountain through Alexander Valley, known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. But the river flows through Healdsburg and just south of the valley, then turns the result of the Russian River Valley to the sea west, the Pacific Ocean fog pours cool to the Russian River as water poured into a funnel, the surface of the hills and the production of ideal conditions for Chardonnay and Pinot their famous Black.

Accordingly, Dry Creek Valley, nestled behind the hills, enjoys a constant heat which is great for grapes and people. During the winter and cool humid North Bay, the fringes of the mountains north of snow, Dry Creek is a haven hot and dry. In spring, its location protects it from high winds that come off both the bay and the ocean. The conditions are ideal for most varieties of Californian Zinfandel.

Among the three adjacent valleys, Alexander, Russian River and Dry Creek, it is by far the smaller, more intimate in its meaning. Many things can damage the grapes, temperature spikes that transform the grapes into raisins unnecessary, untimely rains which wash the pollen of flowers offshore gale delicate skin or promote mold taste alteration, high winds that can stop maturation and of course there is always freezing. Although many varieties of grapes are grown on ten thousand acres of vineyards in the valley, the tight clusters of thin-skinned Zinfandel especially appreciate the protection and produce some of the best examples found anywhere.

The valley is planted here and there with old Zinfandel vines, and Twisted other reds left by the ban when the demands of home-growers across the country and boosted prices tripled production of wine grapes in Sonoma. There are many new vineyards of the other popular varieties throughout the valley so the tenants have a range of wines to offer. Even if they can buy grapes from throughout Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino, the valley offers most of what they need.

Most vineyards in Dry Creek wine lists are small because they are small wineries. People paying for you can be owners or tenants and their house is often missing. They employ local people who know the area, wine and stories. Dry Creek is quieter than the southern Sonoma and Napa so they have more time to talk with visitors and add a different taste. There are few other places where the wineries are so convenient to the other or ever so charming and friendly.

For more easily visit Dry Creek, intending to stay in Healdsburg. From the center of Sonoma and Napa North, it is also practical. San Francisco is a day trip, but worth the trip. Just start early and have either a designated driver or hire a car with driver. Plan a picnic, because there are no restaurants in the valley just the Dry Creek store where you can pick up delicious sandwiches to eat outside at their picnic tables or take a winery nearby . As you follow Dry Creek Road to the valley, you will see the store at the first intersection real.

From the veranda of the shop Dry Creek, you will see the cutting Lambert Bridge Road, and on this road, you will see two caves in front of the Othe.