Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sunflowers, lavender and crowing roosters greet your arrival at this winery and biodynam-
ic farm, with self-guided garden tours and a picnic grove beside the vines. Kids can giggle
with pigs and chickens, while you sample Rhône varietals, unusual blends, and lip-smack-
ing Sauvignon Blanc. Bottles are $22 to $45; the tasting fee is refundable with purchase.
Unti Vineyards
WINERY
by appointment 10am-4pm; )
Inside a vineyard-view tasting room, Unti pours all estate-grown reds - Châteauneuf-du-
Pape-style grenache, compelling Syrah, and superb Sangiovese - favored by oenophiles
for their structured tannins and concentrated fruit. If you love small-batch wines, don't
miss Unti. Bottles are $23 to $40 and the tasting fee is refundable with a purchase.
Family Wineries
WINERY
( 707-433-0100;
familywines.com
; 4791 Dry Creek Rd; tasting $10; 10:30am-4:30pm)
Sample multiple varietals at this cooperative, which showcases six boutique wineries too
small to have their own tasting rooms. Tasting fee is refundable with a purchase.
Truett Hurst Vineyards
WINERY
707-433-9545;
www.truetthurst.com
;
5610 Dry Creek Rd; tasting $5-10;
10am-5pm)
Pull up an Adirondack chair and picnic creekside at Truett-Hurst, Dry Creek's newest bio-
dynamic winery. Sample terrific old-vine Zins, standout petite Syirah and Russian River
Pinots at the handsome contemporary tasting room, then meander through fragrant butter-
fly gardens to the creek, where salmon spawn in autumn. Saturdays there are snacks,
Sundays
live music
(1pm to 4:30pm). Bottles are $18 to $50.
Bella Vineyards
WINERY
707-473-9171;
www.bellawinery.com
;
9711 West Dry Creek Rd; tasting $10;
11am-4:30pm)
Atop the valley's north end, always-fun Bella has caves built into the hillside. The estate-
grown grapes include 110-year-old vines from Alexander Valley. The focus is on big reds
