Dry Creek Valley/ Rockpile/ Healdsburg
The first thing you notice when you enter Dry Creek Valley west of Healdsburg is the quaint signage. Tall picket-style signposts direct you to an impressive number of small boutique wineries, pointing in all directions like the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. To avoid overwhelm, pick up a local winery map at one of Healdsburg's many cafes, markets, or bookstores, and circle the ones you most want to visit.Dry Creek Valley is especially known for Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel, the latter produced by very old vines. While many vineyards converted to fruit production during Prohibion, a few vineyards survived and their zinfandel vines produce even today. This region is a little off the beaten path, providing less expensive tastings and more interaction with winery staff at its many wineries. Northwest of the Dry Creek Valley AVA lays Rockpile. Many of today's vineyards were converted from a reservoir by Italian immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century. Like its neighbor, Rockpile is known for ripe and fruity Zinfandels.
