The history of Dry Creek Vineyard is a long and colorful one. Founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard paved the way for a renaissance of winemaking and viticulture in the Dry Creek Valley. Before his arrival, the Dry Creek Valley was little more than a few family farms and prune orchards. It was Dave's vision to start a Loire Valley inspired winery, which triggered a viticultural reawakening in northern Sonoma County.
Without a doubt, David Stare is a pioneer. Heading west in the late 1960s, he personified the character and work ethic of early Gold Rush pioneers. Educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dave worked for the B&O Railroad for several years but quickly realized that his true calling was in the wine industry. Inspired by his trips to the Loire Valley, he headed west to California to start his own family winery.
Upon his arrival, Dave began taking winemaking classes at UC Davis as a graduate student. On the weekends, he spent time looking at vineyard land from Monterey to Mendocino. It was during one of those weekend trips that fate drew Dave to the Dry Creek Valley. When he saw an old prune orchard across the street from the Dry Creek General Store, Dave realized that he had found his dream location. He purchased the orchard and began planting vines. Captivated by his memories of Loire-style wines, Sauvignon Blanc seemed destined to figure prominently in the Dry Creek Vineyard portfolio. However, several famed vineyard specialists advised him against planting Sauvignon Blanc. Always looking to push the envelope, Dave planted the varietal anyway and the rest is history.
Today, our second-generation family owned winery continues to evolve and grow to meet the demands of a global wine marketplace. The primary mission of our winery is to produce distinctive wines that overdeliver on quality. For 45 years, this pursuit of winemaking excellence has led to many international awards and accolades. With a loyal following of wine club members and customers, the future of Dry Creek Vineyard has never been brighter.
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California » Dry Creek Valley
Wilfred Wong 92 “Seeking out top Cabernets that won't break the bank can be frustrating. The 2016 Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon could be the best
Wine Spectator 91 “Briary and vibrant, with zesty raspberry, toasted sage and cracked pepper flavors that take on richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2025.”-WS “This
“The 47th vintage of Fumé Blanc is a beautiful wine that emanates the classic Dry Creek Vineyard “house” style of Sauvignon Blanc. At first swirl,
11cCalifornia » Clarksburg
“This beautiful wine is wonderfully consistent vintage after vintage. At first swirl, aromatics of honeydew melon, white peach and watermelon rind spring forward from the
“The complexity of our Old Vine Zinfandel lies in the spicy notes that are unique to these historic properties. This vintage presents alluring aromatics of
“This beautiful wine is wonderfully consistent vintage after vintage. At first swirl, aromatics of honeydew melon, white peach and Meyer lemon spring forward from the
Wine Enthusiast 91 WS TOP 100 Rank No.17 "Best Buy" "This beautiful wine is wonderfully consistent vintage after vintage. At first swirl, aromatics of white pear, pineapple and
Wine Enthusiast 90 Editor’s Choice " This wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Smoky, toasted oak
Wine Enthusiast 91 "What’s so appealing about this wine is the precise control it exhibits. That’s partly the winemaker’s touch, but it’s also the terroir of
Wine & Spirits 94 “Tim Bell made this 2014 primarily from four centenarian vineyards, including Beeson Ranch, a relatively cool east-facing site planted against Dry Creek's
Wine Spectator 88 "Wins points for subtlety and finesse, this ripe, smooth and polished white shows ripe pear, melon, spice and hazelnut, ending with a fleshy,
Wine & Spirits 92 "A blend of all five Bordeaux varieties from vineyards throughout Dry Creek, including several hillside sites, this is firm and mouthwatering in
Wine Enthusiast 90 "This is a lovely wine, based on Cabernet Sauvignon, but comprised of all five classic Bordeaux varieties. It’s smooth in tannins and soft
Wine Spectator 92 "Zesty and expressive, with jammy black raspberry and licorice aromas and supple, layered blackberry, toasty dill and pepper flavors. Drink now through 2026.
Wine Spectator 91 "Shows the benefit of bottle age, with a mature edge to the gravelly texture, offering dried berry, currant, cedar and tobacco notes. Maintains
Wilfred Wong 91 “One of California's most consistent and high-quality white wines, the 2016 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc shows us, once again, why it so
Wine Spectator 92 "Sleek, tight and focused, harmonious, well-proportioned and complex, offering layers of ripe plum, black cherry, currant, black licorice, mineral and spice. Ends with
Wine Enthusiast 92 “This well-made wine, blended with small percentages of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot, is an astounding value. Currant and cranberry notes
Wine Enthusiast 92 "This is a big, powerful yet well-mannered Zinfandel, blended with 16% Petite Sirah. The Zinfandel vines average 30 years of age, and it’s
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points, Editors' Choice "The 2012 vintage is a true standout. The even ripening conditions and near perfect sugar acid balance in the
Empire Wine Best Value "This is a delicious, balanced Sauvignon Blanc that's the equal of many wines costing much more, which makes it a great value.
Wine Spectator 88 "Still fresh and tight, but the core pear, apple and hazelnut shadings give this a nice range of flavors. Full-bodied and complex." -
Wine Enthusiast 91 This lovely wine is big and bold, but like an peratic tenor, it possesses elegance and grace. Black currants, coffee, bitter chocolate,
Wine Spectator Earth, game and leather character accent plum, cherry and currant flavors, with firm structure. Drink now through 2007. 8,000 cases made.