LYFT, SIP AND SUPPORT* SONOMA WINE COUNTRY

Today in Dry Creek Valley, we’re looking for the award winners. The show stoppers of the wine world and a scenic corridor, wouldn’t hurt much either. We know that a wine’s character changes daily and that tasting wine is very subjective, but we cannot deny that the 100 pt scale has become a benchmark of quality in the wine industry. A small disclaimer, because of the average size of wineries in Dry Creek Valley, not many of them submit their wines for ratings and are still impeccable. So don’t let the point scale be your only guide which is why we’re also including local wine competitions in the mix.

Here are some wineries that are known for their highly rated, crowd favorites, and incredible production quality. Continue reading this itinerary to find out how you can Lyft, Sip, and Support Sonoma Wine Country with 5 free rides in Dry Creek Valley.

*the promotional Lyft campaign has expired as of 12/31/17. But please enjoy this itinerary and keep an eye out for future promotions by signing up for our email list here. 

MAZZOCCO SONOMA WINERY

Mazzocco is all about enjoying wine and living the good life.  A visit allows you to experience all that the wine country has to offer. A favorite destination for wine enthusiasts Mazzocco holds high standings for dozens of Zinfandels and other varietals. Winemaker Antoine Favero is often seen in the tasting room, so look for him when you are at the winery and get some firsthand secrets from one of Dry Creek valley’s master winemakers.

Last year in the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Mazzocco walked away with an incredible 9 Double Golds and 11 Gold Medals for their diverse line-up. Locally, at the 2017 Harvest Fair this past October, Mazzocco earned 2 Best of Glass and 8 Double Gold medals. You’ll definitely need to come back multiple times if you want to taste through all of their celebrated wines.

QUIVIRA VINEYARDS

Over the creek and through the one lane road to Quivira Vineyards for a unique biodynamic and tasting experience. Earthy, vibrant and rich with character, you will find that Quivira wines deliver one of the most authentic wine drinking experiences you can find. Recently mentioned in The New York Times, as a “Must See in Sonoma County,” Quivira won’t stay a local secret for long.

Quivira’s winemaker Hugh Chappelle is earning incredible points for his expression of Dry Creek Valley’s signature varieties. Their Fig Tree Sauvignon Blanc has earned a well-deserved 90 pts from Wine Enthusiast and 92 pts from Wine Spectator making the 2015 Fig Tree the highest rated California 2015 Sauvignon Blanc. (FYI 90-94 pt wines are ‘superior’ to ‘exceptional.’)

Perhaps one of our favorite honors for Quivira came from a local Zinfandel tasting of winemakers and wine industry who came from around Dry Creek to do a blind tasting of Zinfandel. Their Black Boar Zinfandel was the winner, making it the Winemaking Peers Best.

PAPAPIETRO PERRY WINERY

Next stop brings us to the top of the hill at Timber Crest Farms to visit the only Pinot house in the Valley – Papapietro Perry. This winery got their start in a garage, with good friends, some old equipment, great enthusiasm, a burning passion for wine and a lot of humor. Boy, have they come a long way! Each vintage of wine that Papapietro produces is one for applause.

Their mouthwatering, spicy Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel is made using the same techniques as their Pinot Noir but is still very quintessential Dry Creek Zin. Wine Spectator gave this “focused and well-built” wine 90 pts. You’ll definitely want a few bottles of these in your cellar for its food friendly appeal. This is but one of 49 90+ scores from Wine Spectator for their variety of Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noirs, and Zinfandel. This is truly a tasting room with something for everyone.

WILSON WINERY

Wilson distinguishes itself with superb wines and a reputation for family and tradition – evident in the century-old tin barn that houses the Wilson’s facility. One of the oldest structures in the legendary Dry Creek Valley, the barn has been restored by Ken and Diane Wilson to provide a state-of-the-art venue for their award-winning winemaking while offering previews into both past and future. Walking into Wilson, is like walking into Zin-heaven!

Year round, Wilson displays a banner near their winery that calls out their acclaimed wines and each year the number grows and grows thanks to winemaker Diane Wilson. This past Sonoma County Harvest fair, Wilson received 12 total medals ranging from Best of Class, Double Golds and Golds. Their Gold Medal winnings range from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo competition, the International Women’s Wine Competition, SF Chronicle Wine Competition not to mention coveted 90+ points from Robert Parker.

SEGHESIO FAMILY VINEYARDS

A visit to Seghesio Family Vineyards is where we end, conveniently located in the town of Healdsburg on Grove Street. Seghesio Vineyards have been a part of Sonoma County’s history and fabric since 1895. What started with a small vineyard in Alexander Valley, became a multi-vineyard tribute to their Italian heritage in Sonoma County. In present days, Seghesio produces a wide variety of Italian wines – full bodied and carefully crafted.

Their winemaking team is led by fourth-generation winemaker, Ted Seghesio, follows the path forged by founder Edoardo. Ted gracefully captures the essence of each variety and vineyard which earns him great accolade from the press. Wine Advocate rated Seghesio’s Rockpile Zinfandel with 92 points and their Cortina Zinfandel (from a vineyard planted back in 1972) with 90 points. Wine Spectator has awarded these same wines 93 points and an incredible 94 points respectively!

Lyft, Sip & Support Sonoma Wine Country

We made the itinerary work easy for you! Now all you need is the ride! We’ve partnered with Lyft to give you 5 free rides (up to $10 each) from anywhere in the Bay Area to Dry Creek Valley and for use within. Use the code LYFT2DCV.

We love using their Scheduled Rides feature for our wine tasting days. It’s like having your own personal driver, there at exactly the time you need them, avoid the high cost of a limo, and you don’t need to wait anymore for a ride to come to you. Try it out with this Award Winners Itinerary and join us #todayindrycreekvalley.

*the promotional Lyft campaign has expired as of 12/31/17. But please enjoy this itinerary and keep an eye out for future promotions by signing up for our email list here. 

Be sure to check out our other Dry Creek Valley Itineraries here.

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Limited quantity available. Free rides up to $10. Valid until Dec 31, 2017. Pickup or drop-off must be within the coverage area. Cannot be combined with other ride credit or offers. Subject to Lyft’s Terms of Use.