West Dry Creek Road Wine Trail
The West Dry Creek Road Wine Trail is one of our favorite backroads in wine country. Spend an entire day roaming this quiet and scenic road. Then, pack a lunch and enjoy the lovely beauty of the Dry Creek Valley. To begin the West Dry Creek wine route, head out from the Healdsburg Plaza and go south on Healdsburg Ave. Turn right on Mill St. Take Mill St. under Highway 101.
It becomes Westside Road. In just a very short distance, you should see a set of arrows pointing to the wineries. You will also see the Madrona Manor. At that point, go to the right and travel on West Dry Creek Road.
It is one of the prettiest and quietest roads you will find in wine country. The area is the perfect spot for a wine country picnic. Be sure to pack your lunch from the excellent delis in the area. See our list of places to picnic on this trail. There are many exciting wineries on this wine trail
We recommend you take two days to explore wineries in the Dry Creek Valley. Take a day to visit wineries on Dry Creek Road. On the second day visit wineries on West Dry Creek Road.
West Dry Creek Road Wine Trail
• Lambert Bridge – Very possibly the best picnic area in wine country
• Quivira Vineyards – Organic and Biodynamically farmed.
• Mounts Family Winery – Seventy years of vineyard farming
• Hawley Vineyards – Barrel Fermented Viognier is tops – Reservations only
• Zichichi Family Vineyards – Loads of great vineyard Zinfandels
• Preston Winery – Coziest tasting room, wines, baked bread, and olive oils
• Bella Vineyards – Quality Zinfandel wines, magnificent caves
Dry Creek Road Trail – opposite side of Dry Creek
We suggest that you visit no more than three wineries in one day. Relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the Dry Creek Valley
Dining and Lodging Recommendations
- See restaurants
- See lodging
- Additional wine routes in Healdsburg area
- Here is a helpful book on wineries in the Sonoma area including the Alexander Valley: Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma
Lambert Bridge Winery
Lambert Bridge is about four miles along West Dry Creek Road from the Madrona Manor Inn. It’s on the left side of the road in a quiet and very peaceful setting. Lambert Bridge is a perfect place for your picnic lunch or to just sit for a while and take in the serenity of this spot. The gardens, surrounding vineyards, and quiet country road make this a must stop. It is especially attractive in the fall when you can see the various colors displayed by the surrounding vineyards and trees. Over the years, Lambert Bridge has amassed a large number of wine club members so much so that most of their 7000 cases of wine are sold to the wine club. Visitors can purchase wines that are available and head to the picnic area. Our last visit Sauvignon Blanc ($40) and Chardonnay ($60) were available. Call the winery for a tasting reservation and consult the Lambert Bridge Website for complete visitor information.
Quivira Vineyards
From Lambert Bridge continue along West Dry Road. After passing the turnoff for Lambert Bridge Road continue on West Dry Creek Road for another one-third of a mile to Quivira Vineyards. This winery is also family owned. New owners recently acquired the winery and had continued the philosophy of biodynamic farming. A new garden patch is located at the entrance of the winery to demonstrate biodynamic agriculture. Quivira is another good winery to have a picnic lunch.
Mounts Family Winery
From Quivira, continue on West Dry Creek Road and turn left on Wine Creek Road to Mounts Family Winery. In 2005 David and Lana Mounts decided it was time to take a portion of their vineyard acreage and make wines under the family name. Today, Mounts Family Winery has several exciting single-variety wines. These include Viognier, Grenache, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah. Yes, there is the Old Vine Zinfandel as well.
Hawley Vineyards & Winery
Hawley requires advanced reservations. Hawley has a tasting room in the downtown area of Healdsburg. The next winery is easy to miss but try not to because it is one of these secret gems. From Quivira, continue on West Dry Creek Road for about one mile. There is just a small sign on the left pointing up the hill to Hawley Vineyards and Winery. Follow the road up the mountain for approximately a half mile. John Hawley and his family work this winery and make 5000 cases of wine annually. Hawley is a down-to-earth winery with no frills, just delicious wines. Don’t miss the barrel-fermented Viognier.
Zichichi Family
It all began when New Orleans Saints physician, Steve Zichichi, decided to move on to grape growing and winemaking. Steve and his wife Kristin found a lovely parcel of 22 acres in the Dry Creek Valley. The vines were planted in 1928 and 1964, which means head-pruned, old vines.
Zinfandel is the emphasis at Zichichi. There are several to try. Also, a Petite Sirah that is delicious. If you are a white wine lover, there is none to be had at Zichichi. It is a lovely setting.
Preston Vineyards
From Hawley, get back on West Dry Creek Road, turn left and drive to the end of West Dry Creek Road. Follow the signs to Preston Vineyards. Preston Vineyards is a unique and enjoyable winery to visit. Once you enter the tasting room, you’ll sense a very different atmosphere from most wineries. Besides great wines at Preston, you will be able to buy some delicious loaves of bread and fabulous olive oil; both made on the premises. The vineyards are farmed organically and the entire farm is treated with tender loving care by owners Lou and Susan Preston. Look for them roaming the tasting room and picnic area.
Bella Vineyards
This is the very last winery on West Dry Creek Road. As you near the end of the West Dry Creek Road. You will see the signs for the winery. Bella Vineyards recently constructed a cave system for storing and aging its wine. The tasting room is within the cave system. The winery specializes in Zinfandel, producing three Zinfandels from its small estate vineyards. Two of these vineyards are in the Dry Creek region, and the third is in the nearby Alexander Valley. Since the emphasis is on quality wine, production is tiny, and the wines sell out quickly. Our favorite is the Belle Canyon Estate 2001 from the Dry Creek Valley. A few other varieties are also produced, but the Zinfandels are their flagship wines.
Lou Preston in his tasting room on West Dry Creek Road
The post The Best West Dry Creek Road Wineries in Healdsburg appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.
By: Julien Raby
Title: The Best West Dry Creek Road Wineries in Healdsburg
Sourced From: winecountrygetaways.com/west-dry-creek-road-wineries/
Published Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:48:53 +0000
