Dry Creek Valley AVA

Dry Creek Valley
Wine region
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	1983; 2001 Amend
Years of wine industry	141
Country	United States
Part of	California, North Coast AVA, Sonoma County, Northern Sonoma AVA
Other regions in California, North Coast AVA, Sonoma County, Northern Sonoma AVA	Alexander Valley AVA, Chalk Hill AVA, Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA, Knights Valley AVA, Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA
Sub-regions	Rockpile AVA
Growing season	230–270 days
Climate region	Region III
Heat units	3,001–3,500 GDD
Precipitation (annual average)	valley: 25 to 50 in (640–1,270 mm); uplands: 30 to 70 in (760–1,780 mm)
Soil conditions	alluvial loam in the valley and indurated rocky soil in the uplands
Total area	80,000 acres (125 sq mi); 2001: 79,590 acres (124 sq mi)
Size of planted vineyards	9,300 acres (3,800 ha)
No. of vineyards	90
Grapes produced	Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, Black Malvasia, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Cinsault, Gewürztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Muscat Canelli, Muscat of Alexandria, Peloursin, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot blanc, Pinot noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Sauvignon Musque, Sémillon, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel
No. of wineries	94

Dry Creek Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in north-central Sonoma County, California located 70 miles (113 km) north of San Francisco, 20 miles (32 km) east of the Pacific Ocean and northwest of the town of Healdsburg. The wine appellation was established as the nation's 34th, the state's 22nd and the county's second AVA, on August 4, 1983 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 named "Dry Creek Valley."
The name is taken from Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River, the primary waterway in the area. The inverted "U"-shaped valley extends southeasterly just east of the Warm Springs Creek/Dry Creek confluence south of Healdsburg and is approximately 16 miles (25.7 km) long by two miles (3.2 km) wide. Historically, the valley traversed by Dry Creek and the surrounding upland area have been referred to by the name Dry Creek Valley. This is substantiated by excerpts of articles from local and national publications written by 19th Century and contemporary authors. After evaluating the evidence, ATF determined "Dry Creek Valley" is the most appropriate name for the viticultural area. Approximately 20,500 acres (32 sq mi) of the appellation's 80,000 acres (125 sq mi) encompasses the valley area. The remaining acreage defines the uplands immediately surrounding and to the west of the valley. About 9,300 acres (3,764 ha) of cultivated vineyards are spread throughout the area. The appellation benefits from the proximity of the Lake Sonoma reservoir for irrigation in this relatively dry area. The plant hardiness zone ranges from 9a to 9b.