Passport to Dry Creek Valley

One of the very best events held in any of California’s wine regions is Passport to Dry Creek Valley. This annual spring weekend of winery open houses by the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley features food, music, wine tastings, and as you might guess, lots of fun. The valley is located about an hour north of San Francisco in an ideal location for grape growing below the eastern slope of the Coastal Mountain range in northern Sonoma County. Last year’s event brought over 4000 visitors, not only from Northern and Southern California, but from throughout the nation.

The 2005 Passport Weekend provided an outstanding introduction to the people, beauty, and tastes of this magical winegrowing area. Visitors enjoyed rarely available old vintages, vertical, horizontal, component, and barrel tastings, delicious foods specially made to complement the wines, special tours, and every type of music from Baroque to Bluegrass. It’s a mobile party/self-directed California Wine Country excursion not to be missed.

Last year, we “Passported” at a comfortable pace over both days, enjoying each stop and making many new friends along the way. We visited just more than half the 39 participating wineries, but departed knowing the Valley and its range of wines much more intimately. We were struck by the general feeling of excitement and fun shared by all the participants. From the volunteer guides, parking attendants and hired servers, to the vintners, winery staff and visitors, everyone was having a good time. Though wine was everywhere and tastes were abundant, water bottles were freely distributed at each winery and tasting pours were controlled, so we saw no overindulgence anywhere. Local police helped to direct the traffic throughout the Valley’s narrow roads in a safe and friendly way. This was the Valley’s way of saying welcome, enjoy, and be safe.

Vines have grown in the Dry Creek Valley for over 130 years. The region was one of the first to receive designation as an American Viticultural Area in 1983. An ideal climate of warm days and cooling nights (owing to the cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean) produces most some of the finest Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc in the country, as well as outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.

For more information, visit the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley website at http://www.wdcv.com.

Photos by Fred Lyon, courtesy of Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley.

Tip: To be included on next year's invitation mailing list, contact Passport to Dry Creek Valley.