Wine Friendships in Dry Creek Valley
While visiting my good friend Ray Gopfrich of Gopfrich Winery in Dry Creek Valley, I met Scott and Barbara as they pedaled through some of the most beautiful vineyards in California, those of Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg in Sonoma. With a bit of rain last week out here providing some green, and the leaves turning those beautiful vibrant colors of autumn, this is one of the nicest times to visit California wine country. The crowds of harvest time are gone while the hectic holiday rush is a few weeks away. The winemakers and tasting room staff have the time to share with you their knowledge of wines and winemaking.
Scott and Barbara are good friends from their MBA program at Wharton. Scott arrived at the winery wearing his Red Sox hat, proudly stating for all to see he was a member of the Nation. Barbara is living in Oakland but spent her time East in New York City. Through a recommendation from their bed and breakfast host, they biked out to Ray’s for a tasting, the last stop before heading back to town. Planning to stay just 15 minutes to try some Rieslings (Barbara) and some reds (Scott), all four of us chatted for more than an hour, forming that new bond that seems to occur out here in wine country. Wine is so often that magnetic force that brings people together and makes that long lasting connection. (Barbara has agreed to ride the 2010 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge.)
As for my buddy Ray, he is a retired dentist who works his 22 acres himself, selling much of his production to local wineries and reserving the best of his crop for his own wines. His production is small, less than 600 cases, divided among zinfandel, syrah, merlot, a blend he calls Heritage Cuvee (syrah, merlot and cabernet sauvignon), and his flagship wine, his cabernet sauvignon. Having tasted all his wines over the past several years, it is fair to say any of his wines can stand up to any similarly priced wines in Sonoma or Napa. His cabernet sauvignon equals any Napa cab under $100 and the price, under $40, will make your wallet smile. With such small production, all the wines are sold through his wine club or from the tasting room. The white wines he sells are produced in Germany by a good friend there who spent several months learning from Ray how to tend a vineyard and make wine. These wines are only available in the U.S. from Ray.
So as I work to plan my own production of wines, I value my interaction with folks like Scott and Barbara who are knowledgeable wine consumers, and professionals like Ray who can offer me the proper guidance that can help me produce world-class wines. March can’t come quick enough.
