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48 reviews for Dry Creek Vineyard
48 reviews in English
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Review from Helen L.
Irvine, CA
11/23/2011
I found Dry Creek Vineyard while searching for things to do in Sonoma and Napa Valley.
Fume Blanc
Zinfandel were great!
Bill, Sally, Matt and Karen were all so friendly and informative with the wine. -
Review from Ben N.
11/16/2011
At the encouragement of a Yelper back home who's way more of an oenophile than I'll ever be, I'm taking a stab at a winery review or two.
I'll try to avoid talking about actual wine too much if only to avoid confirming that this emperor's got few, if any, clothes when it comes to talking about the actual product. Not traveling with a winery map (or smartphones), we stumbled upon the Dry Creek tasting room and its shady, enticing picnic grounds while on a leisurely and lovely bicycle ride through the Dry Creek Valley. (Spoke Folks, just off the square in Healdsburg, is enthusiastically recommended for bike rentals.)
So, yeah, we're more or less the folks from the Midwest that Bob M. ridicules in his review, the folks who "don't really drink wine." Well, we're not actually natives of the Midwest, even if we do live there, and we actually do drink wine, even if not every day or even every week. And even if we're kinda cheapskates and are far from experts about it. So for that guy: We know Dry Creek from restaurant wine lists and from the grocery store!
The staff inside was very friendly and informative, including a guy who ended up talking with us more about baseball than wine and a lady who was almost a dead ringer for a younger Sandra Day O'Connor. Tastings here are only five bucks a person for four very different wines. Honestly, I can't exactly remember what we tried here, although I think it was like a pretty basic roundup of Chard, Sauvignon Blanc, Zin, and a Cabernet. And this tasty Mariner Bordeaux-style deal. Generally out of our skinflint price range, to be honest. At least the $60 club Cabernet is.
Anyway, a nice little buzz for navigating Dry Creek Road back into Healdsburg. -
Review from Kevin F.
Mill Valley, CA
9/2/2011
I love this place. They are so real. One day I was riding my bicycle around and saw this place. There was nobody there so I dropped in and they didn't mind me being in my bike clothes. Nonetheless, I stayed at the end of the counter while they helped me. I walked out with Royal Ambrosia=Late Harvest Zinfandel. One bottle strapped to my back, all the way back to SF! I ordered a case, later!
One other thing, the people who staff the counter are the best and the nicest in the business. -
Review from Brett M.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2011
By far, one of our favorite parts of our trip to Sonoma. Maggie & the tasting room team at Dry Creek Vineyard are knowledgeable, friendly, and go the extra mile to help you find your favorite wine. Their tasting room souvenirs and treats are fantastic, too, and fairly priced.
Although Dry Creek is known for its Zinfandel, we fell head over heals for every white we tasted, especially the Foggy Oaks Chardonnay, the Fume Blanc, and we loved the reds too, especially the Mariner blend.
Some of the vineyards we went to felt a little pretentious, but there is none of that at DCV. Just great wine, great people, and a beautiful property. -
Review from Jim K.
Cedar Falls, IA
8/28/2011
My wife stumbled upon these wines at a restaurant in Ohio, and ever since we have been fans. The Mariner is a wonderful wine at a moderate price. So when we took a trip to the Napa area, going over the hills to Healdsburg was on our list, and getting to Dry Creek top of that list. Really enjoyed the time we spent there. The grounds were nice. We were there late in the day and it was pretty slow which was nice as we had attentive help. They were friendly, let us taste several extras, and did not rush us at all.
We joined the wine club, and they were flexible interms of start date and ship date (due to heat.) Overall a very nice experience, and will always be on our list when we are in the area.
Oh, this a belated review, we were there in early June. -
Review from Michelle M.
Houston, TX
8/8/2011
I went here on the suggestion of a widowed friend who used to be a member with her husband some years ago. What a delightful place! They have these lovely green lawns, dotted with umbrella-covered picnic tables. The tasting room is in a sort of brick chateau with lovely ivy creeping up it. Inside, the tasting room greets you with a beautiful nautical decor. (I believe the owner's boat graces the bottle labels. You also know they love wine and sailing because they offered a small, Mediterranean cruise that would pair tastings with visiting the islands.)
They have a free tasting of their crisp Chenin Blanc. They do a for-fee tasting - $5 for four pours. They are very gracious about letting you taste things that aren't on the actual tasting menu but are still available for sale. (This isn't technically covered in that for-fee tasting, but they're lovely about it.) And, as other reviewers noted, they waive the tasting fee if you purchase wine. Also, they have chilled whites and roses ready for you to picnic on their lawn, once you grab your food from the Sonoma Market.
We happened to take a very late lunch on their lawn and sort of lounged until they closed. I found it a little peculiar that they are very strict about closing times. They didn't open their doors to a member who came about 5 minutes after closing with a person who just did a half-triathlon. We ended up giving these two folks free pours of the wine we had purchased there. The staff was also quick to scoot us off their lawn upon closing time. I understand the time-check, but my elder friend was certainly miffed watching the whole thing. So, just be wary of this should you visit towards the end of their operating hours. -
Review from Alexia A.
Alameda, CA
12/11/2011
I am literally outside sitting at a picnic table with a glass of wine here as I type this. Amazing! Karen was incredibly helpful, gave us an extra tasting, and even went out of her way to open a bottle of expensive Cab (that is not opened on weekdays) this Monday for my fiance. The tastings are $5 w/ a complimentary one before, and the bottle range from 12-120+ dollars. All and all, it's been a fabulous experience I must get back to :)
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Review from Valerie O.
Bartlett, IL
7/1/2011
I love that this winery is family owned. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. And, the zinfandels, meritage blends and sauv blancs are delish! The tasting room experience rocked. I appreciated the straightfoward, down to earth explanation of the wines. This is what visiting the wine country is all about - great wines, fun and memories. The tastings and the experience reminded me why I love wine so much. It is truly divine! I will definitely be back.
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Review from Britton B.
New York, NY
6/21/2010
"Enjoy The Wine, Put Up With The Winery"
The grounds are pretty and there were tons of people using the picnic area, but boy oh boy was the tasting room crowded. This may have been due to the fact that it was the first sunny day in a while, but I can't imagine it would be much different on any other day of the week considering Dry Creek is a major vineyard when it comes to wine tours.
As others have noted, the tasting room itself can be a bit of a circus, and the wine can be pricy, but the staff are knowledgeable and helpful.
It was so busy that I felt a bit rushed when it came to tasting the wines, but that being said the few I did get to taste did not disappoint. The 2006 Mariner ($40.00) and the 2005 Endeavour Cabernet Sauvignon ($55.00) were so tasty that I ended up leaving with a bottle of each.
After it's all said and done, this is a review of the grounds more so than the wines, and that's why it's getting three stars instead of four.
Larger wineries sometimes have to sacrifice personal service and relaxed atmosphere for the more chaotic commercial feel which fuels their success. I'd drink their wines again and again, but probably wouldn't stop at the actual winery to do so.Listed in: My Hometown, Buying Booze
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Review from Lindsay C.
Sacramento, CA
7/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
First of all, Maggie is awesome!!! She is bright and helpful & fun!!! The chenin blanc is gorgeous and a great affordable bottle!!! The pours are good sized for only $5 per person and tasting is free if you buy a bottle. It was a good stop on our wine tasting adventure!! ;)
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Review from Katharine W.
San Diego, CA
6/20/2011
Awesome place to visit. Loved Maggie. Very informative about the tasty wines. Beautiful property and great place for a picnic ....
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Review from rosquete b.
Belmont, CA
11/23/2010
There was a $5 tasting fee
John was a fun host with an attitude -
Review from Lacey B.
Oakland, CA
7/18/2011
DCV was our final stop yesterday after biking up and down the valley. Laid back, beautiful scenery and tasty wines. They started us off with a comped splash of Fume Blanc, then our flight and another splash of syrah. Loved it!
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Review from Mikey U.
8/17/2009
The 24th mile: last stop of the wine country bike ride...
The charming brick chateau, lush green lawn, creeping ivy, and tall shady canopy of trees provide a venue nicely suited for a midday picnic/lunch. Once beyond the gate/wall that separates this estate from the gravelly country road outside, the setting is like a scene from an English countryside (or French, more appropriately?).
The tasting room had a cool aire, set in a high ceiling'd brick/stone room furnished in wood and accented with sailing and nautical decor.
Behind the room length counter, our hosts were helpful and friendly, tending enthusiastically to our varying tastes; for the price of the tasting, we individually chose 4-5 wines from the estate's offerings. [http://www.drycreekvin...]
To freshen and ready our palates, we were treated to a tasty and crisp Chenin Blanc...
Having been exposed to Zinfandels for much of the day, I craved a flight of more robust, full-bodied redss, opting for the Old Vine Zin, Cabernet Sauvignon, the Meritage, and Mariner. The Meritage, and moreso the Mariner, were particularly impressive Bordeauxs.
The unique setting makes Dry Creek a picturesque departure from the wide open spaces just outside its walls... a highly recommended visit, especially for a quiet picnic lunch...
_________________________________
I got an extra pour of Meritage. Then another.
Then finished off my cohorts' pours. =)
Ready to bike!! *wobble*Listed in: Wino Wisdom
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Review from phil h.
10/15/2007
Looking for a great picnic location in Healdsburg? Give Dry Creek Vineyards a shot! We picked up a couple of bottles of their Chenin Blanc (a steal at $11.50 a bottle and perfect for a warm day) and grabbed one of the tables on their grassy lawn. It was a nice way to take a break from wine tasting while enjoying the company of some great friends.
ps...they have a small area in their tasting room selling salami, cheese, olives, crackers, etc. If you want to avoid the madness at Dry Creek General Store wait and pick up your lunch supplies here.Listed in: One day in Healdsburg...
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Review from Herra Chink y.
San Francisco, CA
7/31/2006
I'm gonna be honest. This was our sixth winery of the day, and I'm surprised I was able to move my muscles at that point. BUT apparantly I enjoyed their cabernet - since I bought a bottle. And also they have these pretty awesome "coasters" which are sandals and shoes for your wine glass! I bought 4.
Man, someone needs to take my credit card away from me when I'm this drunk.Listed in: Wine Country without Wine is…
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Review from Jeff P.
Oakland, CA
4/20/2009
OK. I'll be honest.... I had no intention of stopping here.
BUT....I ...............really needed to pee.
So..............my bladder took control of the wheel and pulled us in here.
You needn't enter their tasting room to use the facilities but, being the NJB (Nice Jewish Boy) my mother raised me to be, I went in to the tasting room and did their "Reserve" tasting.
Everything sucked.
Sorry, Ma! That's as nice as I can be!
And, you owe me ten bucks!
You know the address! -
Review from LaSha G.
Oakland, CA
5/28/2008
This was our first stop during our day of wine tasting. The grounds are gorgeous, including a garden area and picnic tables surrounded by tall trees. When we got inside, there was only one other couple tasting wine and two people behind the counter pouring, but it took us a while to get some service and to complete the tasting of our four wines. Unfortunately a couple of the wines were terrible...like maybe rancid terrible. The other 3 wines were ok, but nothing I'd order again.
The staff were sort of friendly, and tried to help us out as much as possible with directions and places to eat in Healdsburg. The two highlights of our visit, was that they gave us two free wine tasting coupons at some local vineyards in the area and they also honored the coupon on their website, even though we didn't have it in hand.
Reservation Needed: No
Tasting: 4 wines for $5
Coupons Online: Yes; 2 for 1 -
Review from Mary H.
Kentfield, CA
10/22/2011
While the picnic area is lovely and inviting, that's the best part of this winery. The staff were nice but the wines were mediocre. The chardonnay was pricy for average quality. The Mariner and Petite Sirah were so heavily tannic that we could barely drink them. At $40 and $28 respectively, they are overpriced considering that both had an unpleasant finish. Very disappointing.
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Review from Suzanne B.
San Francisco, CA
6/11/2006
A great tasting room (large - thank you Bacchus!) staffed by knowledgable folks ready and willing to share about the wine they pour. Dry Creek Vineyards may not be the smallest producer out there but they are just as passionate about their wines as a boutique winery.
And the wines are lovely too! I have three words: Late Harvest Zinfandel. Oh, and Miriam W is absolutely correct about the Chenin Blanc.
Come early, though, as this place does get tour buses which can fill up even this tasting room.Listed in: Greater Sonoma Valley
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Review from Maggie S.
Healdsburg, CA
6/27/2011
Dry creek vineyard is awesome, the staff is so fun and welcoming and the wines are so delicious especially the bordeaux blends (meritage) wines. Highly recommend bringing food and buying a bottle of wine for their awesome picnic grounds.
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Review from Shanna K.
6/5/2006
Stopped in and tried several wines but I just didn't care for most of them, nor did I really care for the vibe here. Very business as usual.. not particularly friendly or interesting. To me, there are better places in the area to visit.
If you like dessert wines, the Soleil Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc is worth a taste. -
Review from Berg W.
San Jose, CA
1/21/2008
This was one of my favorite stops on my Winter Wineland trip. From top-to bottom, they had really good wines, and the people were friendly and knowledgeable as well.
First, we tried the Fume Blanc, which I'm not typically into, but it was really good. Next we had the Heritage Zin, which they paired with their pulled pork sandwich. This proved, once again, that zin is the quintessential barbecue wine. I liked the meritage blend a lot, and the Cab was very good also.Listed in: In Vino Veritas
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Review from Bob M.
Healdsburg, CA
1/13/2009
Ho hum... another "California Style" winery that makes a little bit of everything for everybody. Dry Creek Vineyards is one of those wineries that has been around for ever and now has become a victim of trying to please everyone. They don't seem to specialize in anything.
Two tasting lists to taste from a basic (things that are in distribution) and a reserve (things that are only available at the winery) give you some 15 wines to potentially taste. Most of the red wines have green vegetable note to them that makes them taste under ripe and less than tasty. The white wines are perfectly fine for the price but nothing really earth shattering.
This would be a great place for beginning wine tasters or your family from the mid-west that "doesn't really drink wine."
If you are really serious about wine you could probably pass on Dry Creek Vineyards and live the rest of your wine tasting life just fine. -
Review from Miriam W.
10/24/2005
A long-held favorite of mine, DCV is as sweet as can be.
Once, one of their employees gave me a free jar of mustard. Another time, a different employee highlighted my map and recommended a bunch of wineries I would have never found on my own.
The tastes are always free and the wine is fabulous. Do not miss buying a bottle of their well-priced and super tasty Chenin Blanc. -
Review from John G.
9/13/2006
Pleasant winery located off the main Dry Creek Road. Turn left at the old store. Nice picnic grounds with lots of tables and nice tall trees. Big green grass field.
Pleasant and charming tasting room. Open glass windows so you can see the barrel room. Nice shop and tasting bar.
They have a great selection of wines. I prefer red and their zinfandel and cab were really good. Try their meritage if you can. That one is really good. The Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonay are also of a very high quality.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. We got to go into the barrel room for a special tasting. They also are very social as they have many events each year for their wine club members.
Just another good stop for you in this Valley of Great Wine.Listed in: Dry Creek Valley Wineries
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Review from Christopher M.
Malden, MA
6/10/2008
I had a rather poor experience when we stopped at Dry Creek for a tasting. The server seemed very uninterested in our experience, didn't talk to us about the wines, didn't answer our questions well, and overall seemed put-off by the interaction. We basically felt we were given the obligatory service, and pushed out the door as quickly as possible.
This didn't seem to be the norm, based on the experiences of other Yelpers and the couple at the other side of the tasting bar, who seemed to be having a wonderful time.
Also, we were charged two tasting fees (one for the Zinfandels, and another full fee just to taste the desert wine), in spite of buying several bottles.
In the end I was impressed with a couple of their wines.
The Fume Blanc was quite nice, although it seemed a little pricey at $15. If you can find it at your wine shop around $10, I'd suggest you pick up a bottle or two.
I'm a Zinfandel fan, and of their several Zinfandels I was most impressed with the '05 Anniversary Cuvee. I've never seen it in stores, and it doesn't seem to be available on their website, but if you can find a bottle, it's a winner.
Also, for those of you with a sweet tooth, the Late Harvest Zinfandel is a wonderful desert wine - not too syrupy, well balanced and flavorful (and a good value for a desert wine). -
Review from Marie W.
Los Angeles, CA
12/4/2009
This was our first stop on our winery adventure in Healdsburg. I had wanted to try this winery because I really enjoyed a glass of their chenin blanc I got at dinner a few night ago at a restaurant in Sacramento.
The winery from the outside is pretty and the tasting room was very warm and well decorated location. The trouble for us started at the tasting. The woman behind the counter was nice but drunk (I am assuming, or just lacking anything of an attention span) so semi impossible to deal with. The wines they were pouring were ok. The whites were getting warm which left them rather unimpressive tasting. The reds were good but nothing that struck me as worthy of buying.
Overall a very disappointing experience. -
Review from Courtney R.
San Francisco, CA
3/2/2011
What a fun place to taste wine and hang out. I went here with a few friends, enjoyed (and bought some wine) and toured the grounds. I love their Fume Blanc. Not many folks make that wine and it's the bees knees here! I'm looking forward to my next visit to this lovely winery and area.
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Review from Catie C.
San Pablo, CA
6/7/2009
Apparently they are known for their Fume Blanc but I really didnt think it was anything special. There are picnic tables so planning to eat lunch here would be good. The tasting room was medium sized but the people were really nice. There were 6 of us tasting and the gentleman let us taste one wine complimentary. You can either choose the $5 flight or the $10 flight (which includes some reserve wines). I have nothing bad to say about the wines, they were all pretty good. I specifically enjoyed the 2006 Meritage...a light and fruity yet bold tasting red.
I dont think the location itself was very picturesque. Sonoma county definitely has other places that are more camera worthy. -
Review from T K.
San Mateo, CA
8/17/2006
Dry Creek specializes in white wine, which I don't typically drink. However, they have a chardonnay (don't remember the year) which actually wasn't too gooey and perfumey for my taste. The best white I tasted there was a 2004 Fume Blanc - nicely crisp, light.
My biggest surprise was their limited run 2003 Pinot Noir. Dry Creek doesn't usually work with Pinot, but you'd never guess it, because this one was well-balanced and perfect for drinking RIGHT NOW! It seemed light on the tannins though, so I don't think it will age well -- get a bottle and drink it within a few years.
In contrast to Shanna, I had a pretty good experience with the staff at Dry Creek -- the two women there that day were warm, witty and provided cheerful, friendly service to everyone who walked in. -
Review from Ess H.
Oakland, CA
6/6/2006
Every wine here is fantastic. Each and every one. The meritage is so good, and at $28 is even better than $40 or $50 bottles I've had. Get the chenin blanc, head to Tomales Bay and pick yourself up some oysters, and enjoy! The pairing is beyond ecstacy!
And - I never do this - I even joined their wine club. Fantastic. -
Review from Heinz S.
Coronado, CA
3/2/2007
They are pioneers in Dry Creek, how else doy think they snagged the catchy name. They almost invented the Fume Blanc and it is one of their outstanding efforts, but for me, any wine that could be red, would. So give me some Zin! The tastingroom staff is knowledgeable and friendly, not pushy! Dave Stare, the owner is a yachtsman, which is reflected in the wine labels, he is a pioneer there too.
I have never had a disappointing visit there and was a bit taken aback by the review "Pissypants", as she calls herself, posted. Her tastebuds should not be the only criteria reflected in her review. To compensate in a small way, I added a star to my 4 star rating! I hope you understand. And as Robert Parker said, its not so much the number score as the description, be that in wine as well as winery. -
Review from Amy B.
Harlingen, TX
4/18/2011
We stopped at this winery on our bike tour. I'm very glad we did, as it was the best one out of the three we stopped at. The guy in the tasting room was crazy funny, and we really enjoyed tasting there. I couldn't say that about any of the others we had visited earlier that day. Opposite to the other reviews, we were the only ones in the tasting room. It was a lot of fun, and we really enjoyed their wines. My husband even signed up for their wine club since we liked so many of their wines. We had several bottles shipped home, I can't wait til they show up at our door!
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Review from Robert L.
San Francisco, CA
7/23/2007
We were driving through Sonoma and one of my friends knew the area and liked this particular vineyard. We had hoped for free wine tasting, and I guess they changed their policy within the last year because my friend remembered it being free here. Tasting is only free with purchase of a bottle now.
The vineyard looked nice, there was plenty of grassy area for picnicking and benches, too. Inside, the tasting room was nice, with high ceilings. The server was really good about letting us taste different wines, even letting us sample from the "expensive" list a little although we were paying for the "regular" list. The server was really friendly that way.
I ended up buying a really light white wine that was really refreshing for a hot summer day. -
Review from Lena R.
Windsor, CA
9/3/2011
We went for a ladie's wine tasting day in the Dry Creek area; our dad loves Dry Creek Vineyard, so he suggested we go there. It was great! Matt helped us pick out some amazing tastings, and was super knowledgeable and sweet. The wine was delicious and we even learned a little bit about the Revolutionary War as it relates to Windsor's population.... Thanks Matt!
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Review from Mattie P.
San Francisco, CA
7/7/2011
Super friendly staff. Matt was very fun and very knowledgeable, both about wine in general and about the many microclimates of this region. They've got picnic tables too!
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Review from Josie M.
San Francisco, CA
3/5/2007
they were pretty friendly here, but the tasting room was a bit too hairy for me, even on barrel tasting weekend. we didn't buy anything.
according to wikipedia bible:
"It is not considered rude to spit out wine at a winery, even in the presence of the wine maker or owner. Generally, a spittoon will be provided. In some regions of the world, tasters simply spit on the floor or onto gravel surrounding barrels. It is polite to inquire about where to spit before beginning tasting."
well, wouldn't you know?! and dry creek was no exception! -
Review from jocelyn l.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2009
Very busy, crowded tasting room, ok wines. But too many tourist and tour groups going there for my taste
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Review from Robert H.
Santa Rosa, CA
11/8/2007
Great picnic spot. Go down the street to the Dry Creek General Store for picnic goodies and sit on the benches here. Very nice. Great looking tasting room. We always enjoyed the wines, but the wine tasting room staff were too distant and cool. This isn't necessary. You can skip all of that. You won't miss anything worthwhile. Go across the street to Passalacqua Winery for some appreciation of you and some great wines.
