Monthly Archives: November 2014

Grower Spotlight: Susan Lentz of Mountainview Ranch Vineyard

Dry Creek Valley Vineyard view horizon

View from the top of Mountainview Ranch Vineyard

Grower Spotlight: Susan Lentz of Mountainview Ranch Vineyard

Dry Creek Valley winegrowers work diligently to promote and practice sustainability in their winemaking. Susan Lentz, winegrower and co-owner of Mountainview Ranch Vineyard, has lived in the region for 25 years and has been certified sustainable under the California Sustainable Winegrowers Alliance (CSWA) for the last three years. Lentz took time to share with us a bit about her vineyard, how she came to be a winegrower, and what sustainability entails. (more…)


What to Drink with All Those Holiday Leftovers

Thanksgiving leftovers turkey ham rice risotto creamy

What to Drink with All Those Holiday Leftovers

If you’re anything like us, your Thanksgiving menu is delightfully decadent and, no matter how big your appetite is, you’ll spend the next week living off of the leftovers. Everyone talks about what wines to pair with Thanksgiving dinner, but hardly anyone gives due attention to the luscious leftovers. We put together a list of Dry Creek Valley wines we think will elevate even the most thrown-together meals.

If you’re eating: Turkey Hash

This brunch dish is going to call for bubbles. The soft berry nose and toasty flavors in David Coffaro Estate-grown Sparkling Pinot Noir will have your family and friends asking why Thanksgiving isn’t on a Sunday morning!

If you’re eating: Turkey Brie and and Apple Butter Sandwich

A sandwich with the sweetness of an apple butter spread will pair best with something high in acid and off-dry.  We recommend DH Gustafson Heritage Tree Vineyard Estate Riesling 2013. They make one of the only rieslings from Dry Creek Valley fruit, thanks to their remote vineyard site that sits at 1800’ above the valley floor. With its spicy nutmeg and subtle orange blossom flavors, it will compliment the savory and the sweet side of this yummy melt.

If you’re eating: Mashed Potato Cakes

These creamy, cheesy potato cakes will be a lovely contrast for a crisp white like Hawley Winery Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc. The bright, green apple and lightly-grassy flavor in the wine goes well with this dish in the same way that a nice homemade apple sauce would enhance the flavor and offset the richness of the potato cakes.

If you’re eating: Mushroom Risotto with Ham or Turkey

This savory dish will be stunning with Seghesio Family Vineyards 2011 Cortina Zinfandel.  Sourced from classic low-yield sites in Dry Creek Valley, the wine has flavors of tart cranberry, ripe red currant, thyme, and black pepper. Its perfect blend of fresh and heady flavors and its sturdy acidity will enhance the earthy flavors in the risotto.


Join us at the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival

attention wine lovers sonoma county san diego bay wine and food festival

Join us at the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival!

If you live in a big city, you probably can’t escape to wine country every weekend to enjoy the winding roads, lush vineyard views, and visits to your favorite tasting rooms. If you’re in or near San Diego, California, this weekend you’re in luck–we’re bringing the best of Sonoma County right to you.

Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley have partnered with Wine Road to bring 17 wineries from Northern Sonoma County to the 11th Annual San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival, which runs from Nov 16-23.  Seven Dry Creek Valley wineries will be pouring wines events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Join Collier Falls Winery, Fritz Underground Winery,  Kokomo Winery, Papapietro Perry Winery, Pedroncelli Winery, Peterson Winery, Wilson Winery, and many other fabulous Sonoma wineries for these exclusive events!

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Dry Creek Valley Holiday Wines – Join Our Virtual Tasting

Winemakers with wine bottles glasses cheers toast dog
Ashley Herzberg of Amista Vineyards, Bill Frick of Frick Winery, & Dan Teldeschi of F. Teldeschi Winery

 

Dry Creek Valley Holiday Wines – Join Our Virtual Tasting

On November 6 at 5pm PST, Dry Creek Valley will host a virtual press event with top wine bloggers from across the nation — a real-time tasting with three of our winemakers, focused on top holiday wine picks. With the holidays right around the corner, this is the perfect time for you to get some inspiration for what to serve at Thanksgiving and with other special meals.

Ashley Herzberg of Amista Vineyards, Bill Frick of Frick Winery, and Dan Teldeschi of F. Teldeschi Winery will gather to taste and discuss their wineries’ favorite red blends for the holiday season. It isn’t uncommon for these winemakers and others within our close-knit appellation to get together to drink and talk about wine–but this time, they’ll be on camera, broadcasting their tasting for you to watch from home. Twelve wine bloggers all over the country will be at their homes, drinking the same three wines and chatting their questions to the winemakers.

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