Dry Creek Winery Directory
Our favorite dry creek wineries
Dry Creek Valley is a unique winegrowing region located in northern Sonoma County. With over 150 winegrowers and 70 Dry Creek wineries, Dry creek Valley is the perfect place to get away and get lost in the premium wines offered by this special region. While the area has many varietals, it is best known for its world-class zinfandel. Within this 16 by 2 mile valley, there are of a variety of soil types, elevations, sun exposure levels, and wind and water variance, creating the perfect environment for a mix of varietals and grape quality.
A Little History
Dry Creek Valley traces its winegrape growing roots back 140 years. After the California Gold Rush, settlers were attracted to the region for its fertile land around 1849. By the 1880s, there were nine Dry Creek wineries and 883 acres of vineyards – with the majority of them being Zinfandel. With prohibition came the ending of this wine boom and only two wineries, Frei Brothers and J. Pedroncelli, remained after its repeal in 1933. The valley produced prunes and pears mostly until the California wine revival in the 70s. By 1983, Dry Creek Valley was the first California wine region to be recognized as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA).
Today, 9,000 acres of vineyards and over 70 wineries, mostly family-owned, make up this charming AVA. Just 16 miles long and 2 miles wide, Dry Creek is a must visit wine country destination. Other than enjoying amazing wines form Dry Creek wineries, visitors can expect to experience agritourism, 5-star food and wine parirings featuring foods from lcoal land, and easy access tot he charmign town of Healdsburg.
If you’re looking to explore Dry Creek Valley wineries, look no further than a PLatypus Wine Tour. Our North Sonoma join-in wine tour may venture off into Dry Creek Valley, but if you want to guarentee you’ll visit some of these incredible wineries in Dry Creek, plan a private tour with us through the region. Check out some of our favorite Dry Creek Wineries below and start planning your adventure!
Make a Platypus Wine Tour reservation online now or call (707) 253-2723.
Here is a handy directory of many of wine country’s best wineries. You can use this directory while creating a custom, Private Tour. Please note that Small Group Join-in Tour wineries are selected by our experienced guides.
Auburn James
Auburn James was founded in 2005 by two winemakers, James Frost and Matthew Ospeck. They are known for their Bordeaux red blends which are lush and silky with expressive aromatics. You can taste their wines on the deck overlooking the winery, vineyards, and bocce court or in the tasting cottage. Auburn James is a small, intimate winery with a rustic artistic feel that one must see and experience!
August Briggs Winery
You are welcome to enjoy their friendly and lively tasting room for a rotating selection of delicious wines. You will be guided through samplings of the currently released wines. While many of the wines sell out quickly, we will always do our best to hold back some of our finest for our Napa Valley tasting guests.
Axios Winery
A powerhouse collaboration between proprietor Gus Kalaris and winemaker Bob Egelhoff, Axios is a super premium Cabernet Sauvignon of Napa Valley “cult” status. Axios, meaning worthy in Greek, reflects Gus’ vision to craft a wine of Bordeaux influence that represents the richness of its’ Napa Valley origin. This wine was proudly served at a reception hosted by President Bush at The White House in March of 2002.
105 Zinfandel Ln, St. Helena, CA 94574
AXR Napa Valley
The history of our estate is compounded in layers; rooted in historic tales of fierce Native American hunting grounds, wild west pioneers and the first woman vintner of California in 1886. It has changed hands over the course of 134 years to become a brewery, restaurant, inn, winery and saloon. Tales of love, lust, heartbreak, murders and great fortune create an imaginative backdrop to our present-day vision of AXR. Today, we are a winery that pays homage to its history and blazes the trail of excitement and innovation in Napa Valley as the pioneers before us did.
B Cellars
Two partners, Borsack and Keys founded B Cellars in 2002 which sits in the heart of the Oakville AVA on Oakville Crossroads. Gorgeous grounds on a knoll overlooking a valley encompass the winery and hospitality buildings as you approach life-size human sculptures depicting everyday life. This is the only winery in the Napa Valley that features a full-service demonstration kitchen. You will enjoy a variety of food and wine pairings as you experience their white and red blends, a 15,000 plus square foot cave and outdoor tastings overlooking vines and olive trees. These wines can be found in some of America’s premium restaurants from Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas. With superstar winemaker Kirk Venge at the helm (named one ot the top twenty young winemakers in the world by Food & Wine Magazine), grapes are sourced from some of finest vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
B Wise Estate
Brion Wise founded B Wise Vineyards in 2002 seated on top of a ridge in the Moon Mountain District of the Sonoma Valley. A Mediterranean style mansion/bungalow estate and home to the owner has incredible views and is known specifically for their comfortable and tastefully decorated wine cave. While you are in the cave tasting and looking at fermenting and aging tunnels, you will learn about their red blend wines while taking in the décor from 1920’s Paris with wild-west themed bronzes and vintage furniture.
Backstage Winery
Experience the allure of Napa Valley with Backstage Winery. A family devoted to the art of winemaking, they specialize in producing premium-quality wines in small, limited-release batches. Utilizing grapes sourced from more than a dozen local micro-vineyards, their wines are meticulously crafted with passion and dedication, ensuring a taste of the finest Napa has to offer.
Baldacci
What started as a real estate investment turned into a lifestyle change for the Baldacci family as their love and commitment to this property deepened. Lovely, balanced supple wines are featured.
Ballentine
Owned and operated by four generations since 1906, the Ballentine Family Winery is considered a hidden gem of Napa Valley. Their goal is to share their story and passion with guests, make approachable, quality wine while being responsible and sustainable in their vineyards.
Barnett Vineyards
Our personal and curated tasting experience includes a discussion of our history, unique terroir, and winemaking methods. Guests will explore our current releases while enjoying a spectacular view of Napa Valley if weather permits.
Bartholomew Estate Winery
A charming estate steeped in history, Bartholomew had the first recorded vineyard in Sonoma and was part of California’s first commercial winery in 1857. Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and red blends are made in extremely limited quantities and sell out quickly. Tastings can be outdoors beneath stunning mature oak trees or in the gorgeous, newly renovated historic Hacienda winery. Experience Sonoma history and natural beauty at this tucked away gem a few minutes from the Sonoma Plaza.
Beau Vigne
Beau Vigne has a great philosophy to winemaking that hasn’t changed since we began. Although we fly under the radar as a small boutique winery, we do so with impressive stature and enjoy our “hidden gem” status. We are world renown and recognized by wine critics as a winery that produces exceptional, intense, balanced, rich and multidimensional wines. Beau Vigne is home to family and extraordinary wines, where “great Cabernets are grown, not made.” Our family’s roots run deep in the Napa Valley. Martin Garzoli, Ed’s grandfather, arrived in the Valley in 1913. He was a Swiss Italian who, in Italy, was trained in winemaking. Martin would work the Hayfields of Napa and Sonoma during the day and make wine in an old barn at night. Nearly 100 years later the Beau Vigne Family is still making wine.
