Let's explore the Dry Creek Valley

One of the best known regions in the world for Zinfandel is the Dry Creek Valley in California, and because Zin is our grape of the month, it would be a good idea to learn more about this area. Dry Creek Valley is located in the northern part of Sonoma county and is an American Viticultural Area (AVA).

AVAs are federally-defined areas in the United States the have such unique properties that grapes grown in that area will differ from ones grown in others. So far, I've found AVAs to be easier to understand than designated areas in France or Italy. A new AVA can be created via petition or requests to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. AVAs can span multiple states or cover less than 100 acres.

The valley is compact: 16 miles long by 2 miles wide - it's kind of a slogan for the AVA. It was formed via uplift and then subsidence. Once the valley had subsided, it was filled in with alluvial deposits. This has caused the valley to contain different soil types on the floor of the valley and on the slopes and benches. The hillside vineyards also receive different amounts of sun exposure depending on the direction they face. For such a small AVA, there is an amazing variety of microclimates!

During the day, the coastal mountains protect Dry Creek Valley from the cooler ocean temperatures. This means the valley can see some higher temps, but those same mountains bring in the cool ocean breezes at night. Due to these variations in temperature, the vines are allowed to ripen fully and mature slowly. This is a perfect combination to get the higher alcohol content seen in Zins, giving them their characteristic flavors! If you see a lower alcohol content, this may mean your Zin grapes did not mature fully. Zins from warmer areas will be a bit spicier - this explains why our Dry Creek Vineyards Zin had a nice peppery finish to it.

The valley is also home to other grapes, most notably Sauvignon Blanc. It is actually the most-planted grape in the valley and is grown in vineyards located on the valley floor. The valley has a similar climate to the Bordeaux region in France and is also known for Bordeaux-style blends.

From: www.drycreekvalley.org/ So pretty!!

Dry Creek Valley may be tiny, but it really puts out an amazing variety of grapes grown in a large number of microclimates. Trying a Zinfandel from this region is a definite must!

References:

Dry Creek Valley Wine Region and Appellation

Wine Growers of Dry Creek Valley

Sonoma in Spring

A Guide to Zinfandel Wine Regions