The beauty of Dry Creek Valley is greater than that which meets the eye. The lush vineyards that extend from the valley floor to the hills signal the real allure of the region: deft blend of climate, soil and exposure that produces grapes of singular quality and character
Appreciation for the subtle variations that distinguish one grape growing region from another in California has developed relatively recently. After years of consideration, the United States government established a system of American Viticultural Areas in 1983 to give individual regions the recognition they deserve. Dry Creek Valley was among the first regions approved under this system, receiving viticultural area status in July of 1983.
Dry Creek Valley's distinctive growing conditions are the result of both landscape and location. From its source in southern Mendocino County, Dry Creek flows south into Sonoma County, emerging from its narrow canyon at Warm Springs Dam to enter Dry Creek Valley. Approximately 16 miles long and only 2 miles wide at its widest point, Dry Creek Valley was created by uplift and subsidence along ancient earthquake faults, accompanied by the deposit of alluvial material. Dry Creek joins the Russian River near the northern edge of the Santa Rosa Plain, only 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean
The soils in Dry Creek Valley fall into two general categories, based on geography. The soil on the valley floor, deposited by Dry Creek over thousands of years, is primarily gravelly and sandy loam. Dry Creek's relatively small size and frequent course changes have limited the breakdown of sedimentary material, producing soil with unusual concentrations of gravel and sand. Deep, well drained and fertile, this soil produces good crops of flavorful grapes
The soil on benches and hills above the valley floor is composed primarily of gravelly clay loam. Often a distinctive red color, this very rocky soil drains exceptionally well, stressing the vines late in the growing season and concentrating varietal character. Due to this narrow configuration and gentle geography, Dry Creek Valley has one of the largest concentrations of bench lands and bench land vineyards in Sonoma County
Dry Creek Valley's climate is another key to its success as a viticultural region. Under the system for measuring vineyard climate developed by the viticulture and enology department of the University of California at Davis, Dry Creek Valley is classified as Region II, a cool climate similar to that in the Bordeaux region of France. However, such a general classification cannot detail the characteristics that make the climate in Dry Creek Valley unique
Dry Creek Valley's climate reflects both coastal and inland influences. Like Alexander Valley to the east, Dry Creek Valley enjoys daily high temperatures in the mid-80s during July, August and September, the critical months of the growing season. But like the Russian River Valley to the south and west, Dry Creek Valley also experiences frequent late afternoon/evening cooling from the coast - usually accompanied by fog - during the growing season
Two elements in Dry Creek Valley's climate set the region apart. While Dry Creek Valley experiences coastal cooling in the late afternoon during the summer, fog rarely enters the valley until after nightfall. As a result, the vines receive the long hours of sunshine needed to bring grapes to full maturity. Climate records also show that the average nighttime low temperature in Dry Creek Valley during the growing season is lower than that in either Alexander Valley or upper Russian River Valley. These cool evening temperatures enable the grapes to mature more slowly and also preserve the natural acidity that gives wine balance
Exposure - the direction a vineyard faces - can influence the aroma and flavor of wine. With bench land and hillside vineyards on both flanks, Dry Creek Valley provides winemakers with an exceptional palette from which to work. Grapes from vineyards facing west-southwest often have powerful varietal character, as the vines are in full sunlight during the heat of the afternoon. Vineyards with an east-northeast exposure present an oblique angle to the sun during the afternoon, and grapes from these vineyards frequently achieve great complexity
With these natural advantages in the vineyards, it's only natural that Dry Creek Valley creates truly exceptional wines.
REFERENCES
United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. Soil Survey of Sonoma County, California. Washington, D.C., 1972.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Climatological Data, California. Asheville, North Carolina (various volumes). Compiled by Michael Pechner, Golden West Meteorology, Cordelia, CA.
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers. Lake Sonoma Master Plan, Design Memorandum No. 14. San Francisco, CA, 1979.
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