Sonoma Wineries:
Lake Sonoma and the Dry Creek General Store
At the north end of the valley, Lake Sonoma lies deep in a wilderness of craggy mountains, which are often wreathed in wispy clouds or fog from the ocean. Low hills are covered in dense woodlands of oak, alder, redwood, bay and madrone. Bass fishing is good here most of the year, and camping and picnic sites are many. Hikers often. The hawk-like birds have slaty-gray backs, white bibs, white and gray barred bodies and legs, and black sideburns. Nearly extinct in the early 1970s, their populations are now in recovery.
Returning south towards Healdsburg, you will see wide views of vineyards blanketing the valley floor. Earlier in the century, Dry Creek farmers grew primarily stone fruits, such as apples, pears, prunes and peaches. Vines gradually replaced nearly every fruit tree by the 1980s. Nonetheless, the Waltenspiels at Timber Crest Farms on Dry Creek Road continue, as they have for nearly five decades, to produce organic fresh and dried fruits, and their specialty, sun-dried tomatoes. Also here in country store setting, the Family Wineries Tasting Room offers samples of estate-bottled varietals from six small premium wineries.
One more place to buy wine, and pick up a fishing license or a deli sandwich, is the delightfully old-fashioned Dry Creek General Store, where denizens of the valley are often found at the bar. Cold beer seems to be the drink of choice here.
The article on this page is adapted from the book, Backroads of the California Wine Country by Karen Misuraca (www.karenmisuraca.com), published by Voyageur Press.
Photo Credit: The pictures on this page are by Lisa Moore. www.studioponderosa.com