Dry Creek Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Sonoma County, California located northwest of the town of Healdsburg. It was established on August 3, 1983 as the nation's 34th and the state's 22nd AVA by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted on behalf of the Dry Creek Valley Association, Inc., a local natural resource group, proposing a viticultural area to be known as "Dry Creek Valley."[6] The inverted "U"-shaped valley extends southeasterly just east of the Warm Springs Creek/Dry Creek confluence, a tributary of the Russian River south of Healdsburg and is approximately 16 miles (25.7km) long by two miles (3.2km) wide. The appellation benefits from the proximity of the Lake Sonoma reservoir for irrigation in this relatively dry area.[1][5]
At the turn of the 20th century, Dry Creek Valley was one of California's most prominent producers of Zinfandel. During Prohibition, much of the valley was converted to plum, pear, and prune trees, and much of the fruit was processed by Sunsweet Growers in Healdsburg.[4] Since the resurgence of wine grape production in the 1970s, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel have become the most planted varieties, and Dry Creek Valley AVA has become one of the state's top Zinfandel producers. Sauvignon blanc has become the most important white grape varietal produced in the valley.
Wineries
Over 50 wineries are resident in Dry Creek Valley AVA, and over 160 wineries produce wines labelled with the Dry Creek Valley appellation. Dry Creek Valley AVA is home to the majority of the Sonoma vineyards of E & J Gallo Winery, who established winery facilities in the valley in the early 1990s.[4]
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