★★★★★
rated 5.0 on Yelp, Google & TripAdvisor
One of Sonoma's most rewarding wine touring regions — compact, family-owned, and built on some of California's finest old-vine Zinfandel.
Dry Creek Valley sits just northwest of Healdsburg in northern Sonoma County — a narrow, sixteen-mile valley that punches well above its size. Over seventy wineries operate here, most of them family-owned. Zinfandel is the anchor, with old-vine plantings that trace back to the Italian immigrant farmers who settled the valley more than a century ago. It's one of the most satisfying day-trip wine regions in California, and one of our personal favorites.
Zinfandel is the signature grape — bold, spicy, and complex in a way that reflects the valley's warm days, cool evenings, and well-drained benchland soils. Many of the old-vine Zinfandel plantings date to the late 1800s, when Italian immigrant farmers established field-blended vineyards that still produce today.
Beyond Zinfandel, Dry Creek is one of California's best regions for Sauvignon Blanc — grassy, crisp, and distinctive in the classic style established here in the 1970s. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, and Rhône varieties round out a diverse portfolio. The valley's Mediterranean climate — long warm summers, mild winters, significant diurnal temperature swings — creates ideal conditions across a wide range of varieties.
The Rafanelli story starts with Italian immigrants Alberto and Letizia, who arrived in Dry Creek Valley in the early 1900s. Their son Americo relocated the family operation to its current site in the early 1950s, focusing on what the valley does best: Zinfandel. Today the fourth generation — David Rafanelli and his daughter Shelly — continues the tradition with no signs of compromise.
Production is small and deliberately so. The wines — Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and a sparkling Blanc de Blanc — are estate-grown, handcrafted, and sold direct. The winery has no distributor, which means the only way to get the wine is to visit or join the mailing list. Guests often meet family members; the hospitality feels like being welcomed into someone's home, because in many ways it is. A true Dry Creek institution.
Dry Creek Vineyard was the first new winery built in the valley after Prohibition. Founder David S. Stare planted the region's first post-Prohibition Sauvignon Blanc vines and spent decades helping establish Dry Creek Valley's identity as a distinct and serious wine region — including securing its official AVA designation in 1983. His daughter Kim Stare Wallace now leads the winery with her husband Don.
The portfolio spans 185 estate acres certified 100% sustainable: grassy Sauvignon Blanc, old-vine Zinfandel, Chenin Blanc, Meritage blends, and Cabernet Sauvignon — all terroir-focused, food-friendly, and consistently well-made. If Rafanelli represents the intimate side of Dry Creek, Dry Creek Vineyard represents the region's founding legacy.
Set at the confluence of Dry Creek and Dutcher Creek, the tasting room occupies a restored early 1900s farmhouse with vineyard views in every direction. Owner Debra Mathy purchased the property in 2007 and built a boutique operation now spanning 75 acres with wines sourced from top sites across Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino.
The portfolio is deliberately diverse — Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Rhône-style blends — all small-lot and terroir-focused. The atmosphere is dog-friendly, family-friendly, and genuinely welcoming. On warm days, the outdoor seating and creek-side setting make it one of the most pleasant places to taste wine in all of Sonoma County.
Begin at Dry Creek Vineyard or A. Rafanelli just outside town. Both open early. Order a Sauvignon Blanc at Dry Creek to get oriented to the valley's whites, then move to Zinfandel. Rafanelli requires an appointment but is worth planning around.
Dutcher Crossing makes an ideal midday stop — bring a picnic or grab something in Healdsburg beforehand. The farmhouse setting and outdoor seating are perfect for slowing down. Dogs welcome.
The valley has dozens of smaller producers worth discovering — old-vine Zinfandel specialists, Italian varietal producers, and Rhône-style estates. Your driver can route you based on what you're drinking and how much time you have.
Healdsburg's town square is one of the best dining destinations in Northern California — Barndiva, Valette, and SingleThread are all within walking distance of each other. Let your driver take you back to your hotel after.
We've been running Sonoma wine tours since 2010, including Dry Creek Valley, Russian River, and Healdsburg. Your driver rides in your vehicle, knows the wineries, and handles all the logistics. Book online or give us a call.
Call or book online — we're happy to answer questions before you reserve.