NorCal Road Trip Day 6: Two Low-Key Sonoma Wineries to Visit
There’s no shortage of options for wine tastings in northern California. There are over 400 vineyards in Sonoma County alone, so it’s understandable if you’re not sure where to start when planning a trip there. If you’re looking for low-key, world-class wine with incredible views and warm hospitality, look no further.
Our story continues with our first morning in Wine Country …
I was surprised when my little brother and sister didn’t wake me up. It turns out they slept later than I did, so I got up and knocked out some homework before they emerged from their respective lairs. My dad and stepmom Jennifer have two kids, Dutcher and Rubye, and they moved to Santa Rosa in 2019. Plans to visit them were put on hold when the pandemic struck, so we were happy to finally spend some time with them in their new home. And, it turns out there were more perks than my dad’s delicious homemade lattes.
My dad and Jennifer are members of two wineries, so they scheduled complimentary wine tastings at both. Before arriving at the first, we hit the Dry Creek General Store to grab sandwiches and snacks to enjoy with the first tasting. I put aside my diet restrictions to try the meat-heavy Dry Creek Stacker (I’m a sucker for items with local names) and it was delicious.
Dutcher Crossing Winery
Last Christmas, my dad and Jennifer sent us a box of Dutcher Crossing wine and I absolutely loved the Zinfandel, so I was excited to visit that winery first. As the older brother of an 8-year-old named after the winery and the son of a member, I felt like a VIP. There, we enjoyed lunch, wine and a beautiful view of the Dry Creek Valley.
Dutcher Crossing is so good, you may end up wanting to name your kid after it too!
Amista Vineyards
Afterwards, we visited Amista Vineyards and sat under a tree that my dad loves. It had a beautifully twisted trunk and shaded us with a perfectly shaped green canopy. It’s one of those spots my dad described as a place where he can feel energy moving in and out of the Earth. I was happy to sit under it with him as the breeze blew through the leaves and across the vineyard, which stretched as far as the land would allow. In the distance, rows of grapes reached up onto the slopes of the dry, golden hills that surrounded us.
Everyone’s got a place that they connect with. I think Amista is a spot where you’ll be able to find your “zin” one way or another.
The night was slow and relaxing. My dad made burgers, a real treat that reminded me of weekend cookouts as a kid. Dutcher and Rubye recently started playing little league baseball. Around the same time, they also realized that Buster Posey, our third cousin and catcher for the San Francisco Giants, is a big deal. Naturally, those kids are really into the Giants now! So, we watched the Giants game on TV, played board games and Rebecca and I coached them on how to perfect their cannonball-somersault combo onto the guest bed.
I soaked in every minute I could.
Soon, we would again be separated by the full expanse of the North American continent.
