Dry Creek Valley · Est. 1981
Quivira Vineyards and Winery
Certified organic Dry Creek wines with two Wine Spectator Top 100 appearances
Quivira Vineyards and Winery occupies 110 certified organic acres along Wine Creek in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, producing Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rhone varieties that have earned multiple placements on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list. Founded in 1981 by Holly and Henry Wendt and acquired in 2006 by Pete and Terri Kight, the estate ranks among the most sustainability-focused wineries in Sonoma County, running on more than half solar power and maintaining an active creek restoration program for Coho salmon and Steelhead trout since 1998. Winemaker Hugh Chappelle crafts roughly 12,000 cases per year across four distinct vineyard sites, ranging from gravelly valley floor parcels to a hillside block called Goat Trek Ranch at 1,200 feet elevation.
Biodynamic and Organic Farming at Quivira
From the early 2000s through 2015, Quivira held Demeter biodynamic certification, and the estate continues those regenerative practices today alongside CCOF-certified organic farming. The property runs a 55-kilowatt solar installation that powers more than half of winery operations and manages a half-acre compost program that feeds soil health across all 59 planted acres. More than 100 raised-bed garden plots grow heirloom vegetables and herbs, tended year-round as both a working farm and an educational feature for estate visitors. Winemaker Hugh Chappelle approaches production with thoughtful restraint, allowing the land to express itself rather than correcting it in the cellar. Native cover crops are seeded each winter between vine rows, adding nitrogen, suppressing weeds, and encouraging the complex microbial communities that biodynamic farming prizes above all else. The result is a farm ecosystem where chickens, diverse insect populations, and native plantings work alongside the vines, reducing the need for chemical inputs and building long-term soil resilience that translates directly into the aromatic depth and textural interest found in every bottle.
Wine Creek, the Creek-side Setting, and Watershed Stewardship
The Quivira estate sits at the confluence of Wine Creek and Dry Creek, two waterways that define the southwestern corner of Dry Creek Valley. Since 1998, the winery has maintained an active creek restoration program designed to support Coho salmon and Steelhead trout spawning runs, removing invasive plant species and stabilizing stream banks to protect the broader watershed. Coho salmon appear on the federal Endangered Species list, and their presence in Wine Creek signals real ecosystem health on the Quivira property. The creek bisects the estate, providing natural riparian corridors that support bird populations, native willows, and the cool air drainage that moderates summer temperatures across the valley floor. A 145-year-old fig tree stands near the creek as the most storied landmark on the property, lending its name to the flagship Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. This creek-side setting gives Quivira wines a freshness and aromatic lift that separates them from Zinfandels grown in the warmer, drier northern reaches of Dry Creek Valley.
Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Terroir
Dry Creek Valley earned its American Viticultural Area designation in 1983, and Zinfandel has been its defining grape for well over a century. Quivira farms two distinct soil types across the estate: gravelly sandy loam on the valley floor, which drains fast and stresses vines just enough to concentrate flavor, and Dibble Clay Loam with Clough Gravelly Loam on the hillsides, where the Goat Trek Ranch vineyard climbs to 1,200 feet elevation. That hillside site captures the coolest temperatures on the property and produces Zinfandel with higher natural acidity and lower alcohol than the California norm, resulting in wines with genuine aging potential. The Mediterranean climate delivers warm, dry summers moderated by afternoon breezes funneled in from the Pacific through the Petaluma Wind Gap, encouraging even ripening while preserving the bright red fruit, pepper spice, and earthy complexity that define classic Dry Creek Zinfandel. Chappelle uses native yeast fermentation, large oak foudres, and basket-press extraction to honor the terroir rather than overwhelm it.
Sauvignon Blanc, Rhone Varieties, and the Fig Tree Legacy
While Zinfandel anchors the estate, Quivira has built an equally strong reputation for Sauvignon Blanc and for Rhone varieties grown on the cooler southern end of Dry Creek Valley. The Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, named for the 145-year-old tree that marks a corner of the vineyard, ranked 26th on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of the World in 2020, its second consecutive Top 100 appearance. Chappelle blends two distinct Sauvignon Blanc clones and ages the wine in acacia and French oak, producing a style with grapefruit, lemon bar, and ripe pear character alongside textural richness that sets it apart from lean Marlborough-style interpretations of the variety. The Wine Creek Ranch Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre program taps the cooler estate blocks and reflects the same restraint applied to the reds: gentle extraction, barrel-to-barrel racking, and blending ratios adjusted vintage to vintage. A Wine Creek Ranch Rose from Grenache rounds out the lineup in a dry, food-friendly style with strawberry and watermelon character.
Plan Your Visit
4900 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Open daily 11am to 4pm, reservations recommended, call (707) 431-8333
Classic Tasting, Reserve Tasting, and Redwood Grove Picnic; seasonal farm-to-table dinner series on the estate grounds
Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ranked No. 26 on Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2020 (second consecutive Top 100 appearance)
CCOF-certified organic; 55kW solar; biodynamic practices continued since Demeter certification (2005-2015); active Wine Creek salmon habitat restoration since 1998
North on Dry Creek Road from Healdsburg approx 4 miles, west on West Dry Creek Road; free parking on site
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Quivira Vineyards known for?
Quivira Vineyards is known for estate-grown Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc from certified organic vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. The Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc has appeared twice on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list, and the winery is equally recognized for its active Wine Creek salmon restoration program and solar-powered farming model.
When was Quivira Vineyards founded?
Quivira Vineyards was founded in 1981 by Holly and Henry Wendt on 110 acres in the Dry Creek Valley appellation of Sonoma County. The estate was purchased in 2006 by Pete and Terri Kight, who deepened the organic and biodynamic farming programs and added a 55-kilowatt solar installation.
Is Quivira Vineyards certified organic?
Yes. Quivira holds CCOF certified organic status and was Demeter-certified biodynamic from 2005 through 2015. The estate continues all biodynamic farming practices including composting, cover cropping, biodiversity plantings, and avoidance of synthetic inputs.
What is the Fig Tree Sauvignon Blanc at Quivira?
The Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is named for a 145-year-old fig tree that stands on the Quivira estate near Wine Creek. The 2020 vintage ranked 26th on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of the World, crafted by blending two clones aged in acacia and French oak to deliver citrus, pear, and lemon-bar character with textural richness.
What is the Wine Creek restoration program at Quivira?
Since 1998, Quivira has maintained an active habitat restoration program along Wine Creek, which runs through the center of the estate. The work focuses on supporting spawning runs of Coho salmon and Steelhead trout by stabilizing stream banks, removing invasive plant species, and maintaining the riparian corridor connecting Wine Creek to the broader Dry Creek watershed.
What Rhone varieties does Quivira make?
Quivira produces Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre under the Wine Creek Ranch label from the cooler estate blocks. The Rhone program reflects the same restraint applied across the portfolio: gentle extraction, barrel-to-barrel racking, and blending ratios adjusted each vintage. A dry Wine Creek Ranch Rose from Grenache also rounds out the lineup.
How do I visit Quivira Vineyards?
Quivira is open daily from 11am to 4pm at 4900 West Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg, about 10 minutes from downtown. Visitors can book a Classic Tasting, Reserve Tasting, or Redwood Grove Picnic experience. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (707) 431-8333.
Content by the Popular Wines editorial team. Information verified against official winery sources.
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