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- Winemaker: Hugh Chappelle
- Farming: Organic (CCOF Certified) with Biodynamic Practices
- Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Zinfandel
- Terroir: Rocky alluvial soil on a high bench separating Dry Creek Valley from Alexander Valley.
- Vinification: Fermentation takes place predominantly open-top fermenters, then spends 18 months in French barrels (10% new) of varying sizes.
- Aging: Four months in stainless steel prior to bottling.
- Tasting Notes: Juicy and fruity take on a Cotes-du-Rhone style from the heart of Sonoma County.
FROM OUR 2023 EXPLORER CLUB NOTES:
Quivira Vineyards Dry Creek Cuvée GSM Blend, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 2017
Looking for something warming for this cool weather? Look no further than this juicy blend from Quivira Vineyards, a phenomenal CCOF-certified organic estate in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. Dry Creek Valley is a warm pocket of vineyards just off the Russian River west of Healdsburg. Here, well-drained, gravelly soils are ideal for growing high-quality Zinfandel and Grenache, where warm days and cool nights create a long growing season allowing those grapes to ripen fully.
The Dry Creek Cuvée is Quivira’s homage to the Côtes du Rhône, a classic blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvredré, plus a splash of Zinfandel, the specialty of the estate. Last week I went up to Quivira and tasted the Grenache out of foudre, the huge French oak casks that can hold up to 1,200 gallons (theirs wasn’t that big). Foudres are common in the Rhône Valley and are great for hefty wines like Grenache, Mourvedré, and Syrah, as the large volume to surface area ratio means less juice is in contact with wood, allowing the wine to age slowly without picking up characteristics of the barrel.
Dry Creek Valley shares more similarities with the Rhône Valley than just the size of barrels. Many wineries in both regions use traditional winemaking techniques passed down through generations, such as fermenting the wines in open-top tanks and using natural yeasts. The climate and soils of both regions lend themselves to producing wines that are rich and full-bodied, with good structure, depth, and complex aromas and flavors, with notes of dark fruits, spices, and earthiness. Dry Creek Cuvée definitely has both great structure and complex aromatic, with notes of cranberry. black pepper, star anise, fresh strawberries, and elderberry compote.
This wine is Sonoma’s answer to Côtes du Rhône, so pair accordingly! It’s a great match for grilled steak, braised lamb, or anything with smoke and spice from the Barbeque. I don’t even eat meat, but this wine makes me crave a grass-fed burger with a thick slice of smoked gouda; in fact, I think an Impossible Burger and a glass of Dry Creek Cuvée might hit the spot! —Cara Patricia
