In Northern California's Dry Creek Valley, Sbragia Is A Must-Visit

Hang a left off of Route 101 onto Dry Creek Road just north of Healdsburg, and you'll find yourself in one of California's most under-the-radar wine regions, Dry Creek Valley. You'll pass dozens of wineries while driving up the narrow, hilly road, including Amphora, Truett Hurst, Dutcher Crossing, and Ferrari-Carano, and stopping in to visit their tasting rooms is a great way to spend the day. But all the way up toward the end of the road in Geyserville is Sbragia Family Vineyards, and it's one that you absolutely shouldn't miss.

The winery's large and light-filled tasting room affords stunning views of the valley below, as does the shaded terrace outside. A flight of tastings costs $20 per person, with wines by the glass and bottle also available for purchase; if you're looking for something to eat, a generous cheese and charcuterie plate costs $30. Traditional tasting flights are complemented by a unique "sensory tasting" through which you can learn to identify common aromas, as well as a comparison tasting that lets you sample wines from four of Sbragia's vineyards.

Sbragia sources its grapes from all throughout Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Napa Valley, but make sure you taste some wines from Dry Creek; founder Ed Sbragia's family has been growing grapes here for more than 100 years (it's still a family-run operation), and the Andolsen Vineyard cabernet sauvignon, La Promessa zinfandel, and Home Ranch chardonnay are standouts. The tasting room staff members are professional, extremely knowledgeable, and very passionate about the wine, and would be more than happy to impart their knowledge onto you during your tasting.