Dry Creek Valley AVA

Dry Creek Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Sonoma County, California, located northwest of the town of Healdsburg. It was established on August 3, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted on behalf of the Dry Creek Valley Association, Inc., a local grape/wine industry member group, proposing a viticultural area to be known as "Dry Creek Valley."^[5] The inverted "U"-shaped valley extends southeasterly just east of the Warm Springs Creek/Dry Creek confluence, a tributary of the Russian River south of Healdsburg and is approximately 16 miles (25.7 km) long by two miles (3.2 km) wide. The appellation benefits from the proximity of the Lake Sonoma reservoir for irrigation in this relatively dry area.^[1][4]

Dry Creek Valley AVA

Wine region
Vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley AVA
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	1983[1]
Years of wine industry	140[2]
Country	United States
Part of	California, North Coast AVA, Northern Sonoma AVA, Sonoma County
Sub-regions	Rockpile AVA
Growing season	240-270 days[3]
Climate region	Region III[3]
Heat units	3,001-3,500 GDD units[3]
Precipitation (annual average)	30 to 70 in (760–1,780 mm)[3]
Total area	80,000 acres (125 sq mi)[1]
Size of planted vineyards	9,000 acres (3,600 ha)
No. of vineyards	150
Grapes produced	Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, Black Malvasia, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Cinsault, Gewürztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Muscat Canelli, Muscat of Alexandria, Peloursin, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot blanc, Pinot noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Sauvignon Musque, Sémillon, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel[4]
No. of wineries	88[4]

History

Merlot vines in Dry Creek Valley AVA.

At the turn of the 20th century, Dry Creek Valley was one of California's most prominent producers of Zinfandel. During Prohibition, much of the valley was converted to plum, pear, and prune trees, and much of the fruit was processed by Sunsweet Growers in Healdsburg.^[6] Since the resurgence of wine grape production in the 1970s, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel have become the most planted varieties, and Dry Creek Valley AVA has become one of the state's top Zinfandel producers. Sauvignon blanc has become the most important white grape varietal produced in the valley.

Wineries

Over 50 wineries are resident in Dry Creek Valley AVA, and over 160 wineries produce wines that bear a Dry Creek Valley AVA designation. Dry Creek Valley AVA is home to the majority of the Sonoma vineyards of E & J Gallo Winery, who established winery facilities in the valley in the early 1990s.^[6]

See also

• Sonoma County wine
• Wine Country (California)