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42 reviews for Dutcher Crossing Winery
42 reviews in English
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Review from Robert C.
Sherman Oaks, CA
8/20/2011
This place is a must if your in Sonoma/Healdsburg area. I joined the wine club and have been very happy with all the bottles I receive.
The grounds are really beautiful and plan on packing a lunch or bring sandwiches (that I heard were great) at the small shop about a 2 miles south of the winery. This really makes for a good time.
The wine is really excellent. The Stuhlmuller Chardonnay was very good as well as the Costello (if you like a little more Oak flavor). The Maple Vineyard Zinfandel was great as well as the Taylor Cab and the Proprietors Cab, both very good.
Really can't go wrong at Dutcher Crossing. -
Review from Lindsay L.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
I have tasted hear a few times, and always enjoy the ambiance. Last time I was there I tried a couple excellent Zinfandels and a very good Syrah. Other times I have thought that the wines were good, but this time I thought tseveral were excellent.
The grounds behind the winery are beautiful. I like that the tasting fee is only $5 as well, and they frequently yet you taste additional wines that are available for wine club members only (presumedly in an effort for you to join the wine club, but they don't explicitly encourage it or bother you about joining). -
Review from Sam H.
St Petersburg, FL
8/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good wine. Great people. Friendly staff.
Highly recommended over the Amusement-Park-Monster-Commercial wineries! -
Review from Jen S.
Berkeley, CA
3/21/2011
Had a really fantastic experience here. I enjoyed every single wine we tasted (they have a port!) and the view is amazing. The tasting room attendants were very friendly and helpful.
Such a beautiful place with delicious wines-- what more could you ask for?Listed in: Dry Creek Valley Wineries I…
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Review from Mabelle A.
San Bruno, CA
5/7/2011
We came here on recommendation from our wine club manager at Ridge and were able to stop by before they closed.
The wines were good, the grounds were beautiful with a nice view of the hills and the staff was friendly.
Tastings are $5 but waived with wine purchase, wines are moderately priced. -
Review from Lulubug R.
San Jose, CA
7/24/2011
Love. Love. Love this place. My sister joined their wine club when we went in April. It was a magical afternoon. They have beautiful grounds. Perfect way to spend an afternoon. And their wines rock. Not one bad wine. We went today for a wine event and enjoyed their futures. Do looking forward to the case we preordered of Pinot wine.
Service is great as well. We had Matt last time as our poured and he was so sweet and informative.
Met the owner as well. Really admire her for running such a wonderful winery. -
Review from Jeff P.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 3/11/2011 2 photos
Stopped in here today basically just to try their 09 Sauvignon Blanc. Despite being far from my favorite varietal, I yet again loved theirs. The 09 is 79% Sauv Blanc with 10% Viognier, 7% Semillion and 4% Roussanne. Again the blended varietals really lift this wine. I bought two this time and joined their wine club.
I also enjoyed the 07 Proprietor's Reserve Cab (it is blended with nearly 20% Syrah which is not typically my favorite blending pair but they make it work here) and the 08 Stuhlmuller Chard and the Port.
I'm looking forward to what will be in the April shipment! And, thanks to Midge who poured for me.Listed in: Dry Creek Valley Wineries
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/30/2009
Savignon Blanc is far from my favorite varietal. But, Dutcher Crossing keeps it interesting by… Read more »
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Review from jocelyn l.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/15/2010
My 2nd time to the vineyard and I have to say...I really enjoyed my 2nd visit MUCH more than the 1st one. The pourers were not as snooty and snobbish than my 1st experience here.
We descended on the tasting room right at the dot of 5p, just as they were closing, but because there were tons of people still there, they let us do a 'lightning tasting', which my friend made sure to pay them back by buying lots of wine.
The wine tastings were fairly good...but the PORT was Awesome! For whatever reason, it's NOT on the menu, but we had it with the fudge that they provided and it was amazing!
The grounds of this vineyard are gorgeous. Lovely place for a nice picnic...more low-key but beautiful.Listed in: Favorite Vineyards in Sonoma…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/6/2009
I really wanted to like their wines but it was a tad too dry for me.
friendly service
nice grounds
PS:… Read more »
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Review from Jessica B.
San Francisco, CA
I've been a club member at Dutcher Crossing for over 2 years now. I fell in love with the beautiful tasting room and picnic grounds. Now they have expanded and included a bocci ball court and a small garden. The views are incredible and worth the drive up to the top of Dry Creek Road. Not to mention that the drive is picturesque as well. Inside there is a fireplace and a few comfy chairs to sit and relax, but I am usually outside enjoying the ever changing view of the hillside and vineyards.
I am always delighted in the wines and never disappointed. My favorites are all of their red wines, Cabs, Zins and Pinots as well as the Petite Syrah and Syrah. Delicious. -
Review from Autumn K.
7/8/2008
After a night at the Endup immediately followed by a two hour cigarette-fueled drive to brother and sister-in-laws, my palate may have been a little wrecked and I may have been a little worse for wear. Dutcher Crossing made it all better. Generous pours, yummy wines, calm and comfortable surroundings, and a pour staff who pretended not to notice my bloodshot eyes and shaking hands...what more could a girl want?
Try their Maple Zin (at $39 a bottle, is one hell of a steal) and they do a decent job with whites also, which is rare if you are a truly discriminate white wine drinker.
The outside is lovely and grassy and the tasting room itself is far less generic and kitschy than some other wineries in the area. Next time I'll go sober. And I'll update appropriately. -
Review from Suzanne B.
San Francisco, CA
5/29/2007
I love three things about Dry Creek valley. First, you can't really get lost because at every road crossing they've put up these comprehensive signposts that point the way to every winery in the area. Second, if you do try to get lost, you can always find yet another gem of a wine experience.
We stumbled on Dutcher Crossing while on a failed attempt to find a different winery. The name looked vaguely familiar - and it should have been since all of us in the car had a chance earlier this year to try this winery's exquisite Maple Vineyard Zinfandel. (Find it - it's worth the effort.)
With a lovely, vaulted ceiling tasting room. nice wines and a competent staff, Dutcher's was a great accidental stop. And on a perfect spring day in Dry Creek, Dutcher is perfectly situated to enjoy the third thing I love about Dry Creek - some of the most beautiful vistas in all of Northern California wine country.Listed in: Greater Sonoma Valley
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Review from John G.
6/22/2007
Very nice winery located just next to the "heavily commercial" FC. This place is a gem to visit. Nice tasting room. Friendly people. The whites to include Chardonay and Sauvignon Blanc are simply superb.
Great picnic area behind with a vista view of the vineyards and hills of the valley.
Just another great stop in the Dry Creek Valley.Listed in: Dry Creek Valley Wineries
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Review from Bernadette N.
Annapolis, MD
9/8/2009
I don't know what happened here. We went here based soley on the yelp ratings. My husband and I were planning to do the normal tasting as well as the reserve tasting, and split them both, as the pourer recommended. Once we saw the Visa signature card sign and pulled ours out, the tides turned. The staff was immediately rude to us. Then they almost refused to pour our second flight because they were "closing". I thought the sav blanc was amazing, and was ready to ship a case home - until the attitude started. I heard the owner say, "forget them, we're closing".
It's a total shame. I mean, we had only been to one other vineyard that day and it almost ruined our experience. Thank God dinner at Scopa saved the day.
I will admit, the views are amazing though. It would be a great place to have a picnic, and the stone fireplace was neat. -
Review from Robert H.
Houston, TX
1/26/2010
Been here twice in my treks up to Napa/Sanoma County wine country. I must say that in terms of bang for your buck this is the absolutely best wine.
The advice of Savignon Blanc is not wrong. Joining their wine club is also absolutely a must (price is very reasonable and all the wines are very good). The view from this vineyard is amazing, bring lunch and the significant other, eat at the picnic tables in the back and crack open your newly bought wine, and enjoy. -
Review from David R.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2007
Dutcher is a Delight
This small winery produces some superb wines. The tasting room is warm and friendly with a fireplace and some sofa chairs to sit at and enjoy their wines.
The staff is extremely friend and personable. I espcially enjoyed the Maple Vineyard Zin the their Reserve Cab, though I have to admit their Chardonnay was very good----though I don't really care for chardonnay.
It was a beautiful day in Sonoma and the tasting room's proximity to the surrounding vineyards made the experience all the more enjoyable.
Next time you're in Sonoma, be sure to give Dutcher Crossing a try---I know I'll be going back soon.Listed in: Wineries to Visit in…
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Review from Michael R.
7/25/2009
I love these guys and I love their wine.
No pretentions. No faux-welcome. They are just really great people trying hard to make their winery work.
We always go back when we are tasting with friends and receive the same familial welcome every time.
Their wine is great and is a good start to the day with a broad mix of varietals and nothing too challenging for the 11am palette.
I typically pick up a bottle of their Chardonnay. Make sure you get them to pop out the Zinfandel Port and Chocolates... Mmmmmm. -
Review from Shanna K.
5/31/2006
Love them! We went here on the recommendation of my boss, who is no slouch in the wine department for sure. Thanks boss!
We were not disappointed. Nice tasting room and grounds, excellent wines, very friendly (and funny) staff, plus an interesting story (these are the folks who founded Perrier water) behind the winery. Liked them so much we joined their wine club and brought home several bottles. Looking forward to enjoying the fruits of their labor (har har) for a long time to come.
At the time of this writing, we particularly liked the Proprietor's Reserve Cab-Syrah blend, the Nevins Cab (needs to lay down for a while), the Stuhlmuller Vineyards Chard and the Maple Zin.
Very much worth a visit.. enjoy.Listed in: Bacchanalia
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Review from Sarah W.
Oakland, CA
5/7/2011
This winery is amazing! Their wines are very high quality. The service during tasting is excellent. And, the grounds are lovely. We'll be back!
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Review from Vera D.
San Francisco, CA
10/4/2007 1 photo
Small, boutique winery - just how I like 'em! Gorgeous setting (see the photo) that's perfect for a fall wedding.
We bought the award-winning chardonnay. Wine tasting staff were great and not pushy, it almost felt like we had saddled up to a local bar. -
Review from Ellie F.
2/24/2010
This winery doesn't really stick out in my memory of the day in Healdsburg... the wines were fine, the service was fine, but nothing was all that memorable.
I can't speak for the wine club though, as the host didn't mention it, and we didn't ask.
Stop by if you're in the area, but I wouldn't make a day of it just to go to Dutcher. -
Review from Holly C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/21/2008
So glad we found this place during the last trip up to Dry Creek. It was packed with Winter Wine Road people (where do those buses come from anyway???) but we managed to cozy up to the tasting counter before the masses got there and what a treat! Delicious sauvignon blanc, yummy zin, and I like the fact that they have about 4 or 5 wines and they do them WELL. I'd rather have a smaller selection but know I am getting quality than have a ton of crap wines to choose from.
I'll definitely be coming back when the crowds are back in Napa where they belong. -
Review from krissy s.
Chicago, IL
6/18/2010
We booked this winery for a welcome dinner event for about 75 people for our wedding. Erik was wonderful to work with and helped us out with all the details. It was a destination wedding so we never saw Dutcher Crossing in person prior to the wedding weekend. We went by the day before the event and were so pleasantly surprised - the pictures don't do it justice! The views are amazing, it's landscaped beautifully and the building is new and tasteful. We got to meet the owner and her winery dog, Dutchess, which made us feel like we made the right choice.
We thought the wines were great and everyone enjoyed walking around and taking pictures of the gorgeous mountains.
If you driving down Dry Creek, Dutcher is definitely worth a stop. If you are having an event, this is a perfect spot to have it. -
Review from amy s.
San Francisco, CA
4/27/2006
Far and away the best wine tasting I have ever experienced (and Amy likes her some tastings)! We went on the recommendation of the concierge at the Hotel Healdsburg (best bed ever!) and we were not disappointed.
At first glace we contemplated not visiting Dutcher Crossing, eyeing it from Dry Creek Road, the winery didn't look like more than an old, weathered barn. However, a few tastes at Ferrari-Carano, located just up the way , encouraged us just enough to pull into the gravel parking lot . Upon closer inspection, we saw that the "old barn" was in fact a brand new, well thought out, visually friendly combination of staff offices , breezeways and tasting room
We went on a Friday , which has to be the only reason we were the only people in the modern, yet, warm and inviting tasting room. We were greeted by the lovely and knowledgeable Katrina, a family friend of the winery founders (who also founded Perrier North America), who talked us through each of the six wine tastings. In expert and friendly fashion, she told us how all of the grapes come from local vineyards, in some cases where the families themselves still tend the vines. This definitely showed in the wines, as taste after taste revealed remarkable glasses of liquid deliciousness. The only one that had a slightly weak showing was the Taylors Reserve and that only confirmed how great the other five were. And get this, NO TASTING FEE!
I imagine that this winery is a little glimpse into what Napa and Sonoma used to be. A place where it was about the local growers and wines makers, sharing their wares, in an informal and friendly environment to folks who appreciated what they did. Truly amazing!
(Oh, and plan to go around lunch time, pick up a sandwich from the Dry Creek General Store and when your tasting is done sidle up to one of the picnic tables out back. Magical!) -
Review from Bruno B.
Tillamook, OR
3/24/2011
Relaxing tasting room with a great pourer. Wines are a bit pricey but their club seems worthwhile.
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Review from Lisa R.
6/21/2010
This winery has an absolutely gorgeous view of the hillside and lower valley. The staff was very friendly and relaxed and they had chocolate for the dessert wine tasting. I would recommend trying this place out if your in the area, but it's not necessary to make a special trip.
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Review from Holly T.
9/24/2006 2 photos
Fantastic, one of the best wine tastings of the area. Lovely tasting room, and the friendliest people I have encountered in a long time. They knew the regulars by name, and it's no wonder that this place is a favorite among the locals. The wines were all pretty incredible, and I think we walked out the door with one of each that we tried, plus two that we hadn't tried (they weren't pouring either due to low supply, but based on the quality of their other wines I trust that they'll turn out great). Melt-in-your-mouth chardonnays, and big delicious cabs. As we were finishing up, the guy behind the counter invited us to take our glasses outside and walk around the vineyards, which as you can see from the photos I posted, were gorgeous at this time of year. The tasting sheet said there was a $5 tasting fee, but I was under the impression that even if we hadn't bought some wine, they had no intention of actually charging us. Even if they had, a measly $5 would have been well worth it.
Edit: Downgraded to 4 stars because the wines just didn't stand up when we took them home. Made us wonder what we were thinking when we bought them. Still, it was a great tasting experience in the moment. -
Review from Valerie F.
Fremont, CA
2/18/2008
This is not a place to get drunk (though I did because..lets face it I'm a lightweight). Never the less the staff here is really really genuinely personable, the wines were all really good (save maybe the port which was so-so) and the setting was beautiful.
Listed in: Bacchus in my Backyard...
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Review from Jeff W.
10/7/2006
4 picnic tables located next door to Ferrari Carano winery. since FC winery does not have picnic tables to use. come here.
the chardonnay was pleasant and the grounds are lovely.
the staff was very friendly too! -
Review from Doug ..
San Francisco, CA
7/13/2009
good wine and excellent friendly staff.
bring a picnic lunch as they have a great picnic area.
girl and i will REDO this place sometime soon.. -
Review from Andrew K.
San Francisco, CA
12/21/2008
The $10 tasting here put me over the edge, so take this with a grain of salt. I thought the wines were nice! Maple Zin seems to be their thing. They seem to borrow grapes from neighboring vineyards, which I respect. The wine guide dude was pretty nice, but Quivira's dude was nicer. Wine tasted great though!
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Review from melinda a.
Los Angeles, CA
7/4/2010
Dutcher Crossing Winery is in a beautiful setting. Boutique Wines. Great prices, good wine and an unpretentious feel.We went mid week so it was not full. Beautiful gift shops. The grounds where wide open for my toddler niece( with parents) to freely explore the flowers and the butterflies.Be sure to stop in if you are up in the area.
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Review from Tracy A.
Oakland, CA
10/27/2007
We had a great time tasting here on Friday afternoon. In addition to the usual tasting menu, we also got to try the 2006 Dry Creek Valley Zin Proprietor's Reserve. It was young but really good. The 2006 Sauvingnon Blanc was sweet. The 2006 Castello Vineyard Chardonnay was dry. 2006 Stuhlmuller Vineyard Chardonnay had a good mouth feel and a sharp taste. 2005 Maple Vineyard Zinfandel was a little young that tickles the back of your tongue. 2005 Proprietor's Reserve Cabernet Sauvingnon had a bright Syrah finish and a rich taste. We finished with the 2004 Dutcher Crossing Port with some chocolate. I am always a sucker for port but I did not feel moved to buy.
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Review from Glenn G.
San Francisco, CA
8/26/2008
One of our favorites in the area. Beautiful grounds, friendly staff, and of course delicious wine. They have great sauvignon blancs and ports!
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Review from Jeannie L.
North Bethesda, MD
9/2/2007
After our second visit today, I can say that Dutcher Crossing has secured itself as one of my fav's among Healdsburg wineries. I love their laidback setting and friendly staff. Their wine is among some of the best I've had in Dry Creek although they are relatively a young winery. Definitely try their Cab Sauvignon and Zinfindale. Btw, they will apply the $5 tasting fee to purchase. What else can you ask for!!!!
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Review from Piper B.
Santa Monica, CA
1/18/2008
This is a very friendly winery with an excellent setting. I am loving their zin's - very tasty. What is great about this place is their outdoor area. You can grab a sando at Dry Creek General store, head up the road to Dutcher's, pick a bottle to share and enjoy out on their picnic tables. And they are extremely dog friendly!
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Review from Berg W.
San Jose, CA
1/21/2008
I'm not going to lie, this was the eighth winer I tried on day 1 of my Winter Wineland tour. Take what I say how you will, but I really liked this place. Their Chardonnay was my second-favorite of the journey, and they had one of my favorite cabs. I wish I could provide more details, but it was a little hazy.
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Review from Shelley B.
Burlingame, CA
2/10/2008
Stopped in yesterday, the first thing that caught my eye was they amazing view of the hillside as the sun was setting. They were really friendly, their wines were great. Loved the Maple Zin. We would definitely go back here great spot to picnic.
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Review from Claire D.
San Diego, CA
9/12/2008
We got here just in the nick of time... actually I think they stayed open for us :) It was such a lovely day that this place just sparkled! The view is absolutely breathtaking... I will post a picture soon. I decided to purchase the port... I have never been much of a port drinker, but this trip really changed my mind, I was practically licking the glass! (OK... maybe I was) Can't wait to go back and spend some more time here!
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Review from Shad A.
Fayetteville, GA
7/31/2009
Brad. Best in the business! Every wine tasted was excellent and the views spectacular! The best wines are found in the dry creek valley. A must stop for all those who can appreciate great wines!
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Review from Gwendolyn B.
Santa Rosa, CA
1/15/2011
We have lived in wine country for eight years. Initially, we had several wine club memberships but, over the years, we have become much more discriminating. Currently, our only wine club membership is Dutcher Crossing Winery and it is the only one we feel we really need. They have, without doubt, the most awesome line up of wines, both reds and whites. Our personal favorites are the Maple Vineyard Zin and the Maboroshi Pinot. They have several great Chardonnays and we buy the Sauvignon Blanc by the case because it is the best "sitting and sipping" wine. Their staff is relaxed and friendly and the owner, Debra Mathy, is a very generous donor to good causes. If you are in Sonoma county, it is worth a special trip.
