AVA - Dry Creek, Sonoma
Grist Vineyard is located at 1,000 feet above the Dry Creek valley floor, this certified organic vineyard
adds a bit of mountain structure and spice to traditional Dry Creek brambly, red
fruits. The vines are head pruned and sit in iron-rich red volcanic soils that stress
the vines into low yields and concentrated wines. Needless to say, this vineyard
has an incredible track record and we're very excited to be working with it for
the first time in 2007.
Dry Creek Valley has an optimal climate for high quality Zinfandel production. The
narrow AVA is about 14 miles long, and is never more than two miles wide.
Dry Creek Valley’s climate is generally warm, but there are some important distinctions
that can be made between the wine region’s microclimates. The southern part of Dry
Creek Valley is located near the Russian River, and can be quite foggy and cool,
especially in the morning. Chardonnay and other cool-weather grapes do well here.
Moving north, temperatures steadily rise, and fuller-bodied red grapes like Zinfandel,
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah begin to dominate the vineyards.
The eastern hills tend to receive more sun exposure, causing temperatures to be
warmer than in the western hills. The western side of the valley generally produces
leaner Zins than the jammier, more opulent cousins from the east.
The ridges that form Dry Creek Valley are made of igneous rocks with high iron content.
There is also a substantial amount of sandstone in these hills. Top soil is made
of a combination of eroded volcanic rock and sandstone. The result is porous, sandy
soils that are often red from oxidized iron.