The Dry Creek Valley Loop is a scenic 22-mile (35km) ride through Dry Creek Valley, which is a part of Sonoma County – one of California’s renowned wine-growing regions. It begins and ends in the historic town of Healdsburg, taking you through a sun-kissed landscape of vineyards.
“Sonoma County offers a much more connected, homey experience than Napa Valley, our most well-known wine growing region,” says adventure guide Ryan Romito. “There's also a lot of farm-to-table restaurants. There's a huge microbrewery atmosphere. Some are sought after worldwide by people. You have a lot of cheeses from different cattle farmers. Cideries are huge. In short, the local flavours of Sonoma County are premier – there’s even some Michelin star restaurants.
“Sonoma is beautiful as well. You have these rolling hills and the colourful vineyards and apple orchards. The sky almost looks painted on some nights. It's known for the fog that rolls over the whole area. We also have redwoods, and a majestic coastline. One of the reasons I love living out here is there's so many trails and so many beautiful spots to get to.”
You have these rolling hills and the colourful vineyards and apple orchards. The sky almost looks painted on some nights
For wine lovers, Ryan particularly recommends cycling the Dry Creek Valley Loop. The Dry Creek Valley is a 13-mile-long (21km) narrow valley extending northwest from the town of Healdsburg to Lake Sonoma. It’s a landscape dominated by vineyards, framed by rolling hills and the low mountains of the Coast Range. Surrounding the vineyards you’ll find patches of eucalyptus trees (said to impart a light herbaceous note into the wine) and gnarled oak groves.
Wine has been made in Dry Creek Valley since the mid-19th Century, by Italian settlers who populated the valley after the California Gold Rush: some of those heritage vines are still used in viticulture today.
“Dry Creek has great weather for winemaking,” Ryan says. “It's warm, and sheltered from the coast. That fog will come over the mountains and settle and often lift after the morning, but it creates a unique environment for those wines, especially Zinfandel, which is very popular. These heritage old vine Zinfandels are a big piece of what Dry Creek is specifically known for. Different varieties of pinot are also very popular. “
Dry Creek Valley’s ‘old-vine’ Zinfandel is a red wine celebrated for its bold, spicy flavour profile. If you’re more of a white wine drinker, the signature white of the region is a crisp, mineral Sauvignon Blanc.
There’s ample opportunity to stop for a wine tasting along the cycle route, which Ryan says is suitable for people of all ages – particularly if you choose to do it on an ebike.
“You have to be active enough, but you don't have to be a young athlete to make it,” he says. “By the time you get out there to do your tasting, you're typically not pouring sweat and really feeling it. That's how to approach this trail – enjoying the ride, having some lunch, getting out to a spot where you can all sit back, relax, have the sommelier come out and discuss the different wines that are available that day.”
The Dry Creek Valley Loop starts and ends in Healdsburg, a town with a big gastronomic clout. It boasts two Michelin-starred restaurants, artisan bistros and bakeries – and numerous wine tasting rooms. In other words, it’s the ideal spot for indulging after your ride.
There are these winding country roads that weave in and out through all of these farms, and little fruit stands where people are selling their produce
“You’ll take the bike path in town out towards Dry Creek,” Ryan says. “There are these winding country roads that weave in and out through all of these farms, and little fruit stands where people are selling their produce. You’ll pass vineyards with colourful vines rolling through the hills and down into the valley. The hills are on either side of you, you don’t have to climb them – the path itself is gently undulating.
“The route is a figure of eight shape. On one side it's a little bit busier with a bike lane, but a little bit more of a main road. On the other side it's much narrower, with more bikes. So you connect back and forth between the two, and loop through the more undulating path along the valley. Especially on the less busy side, the hills just go up as do the vineyards.”
Ryan explains that the route can be customised to the rider, and made shorter or longer depending on experience level. There are also numerous places to stop if you want to take photos or buy refreshments. He recommends having lunch at the Dry Creek General Store, which is famous for its tri-tip (sliced steak) sandwiches. And when it comes to wine tasting, you have plenty of options.
“All of the farms and the tasting rooms are unique. Some are much more rustic, some are a bit more opulent,” Ryan says. “There's everything out there. Many of them have very well-kept gardens with beautiful flowers.
“The majority are family-owned, in some cases multi-generational. You rarely feel like you're being pushed through. The sommeliers will discuss the different wines that are available that day, and they'll let you know all about the different varieties that they're growing, how they're being grown, why they're being uncorked at these different times. The age, the process.”
After you’ve finished your tasting, you’ll pedal back to Healdsberg, and the ride will have come full circle. It’s about moving at a pace that lets you take in the details — the fog lifting off the vines in the morning, the scent of sun-warmed eucalyptus and that first taste of old-vine Zinfandel. So take your time and let the day unfold, enjoying the pauses as much as the pedalling.
Inspired? Join us on the Dry Creek Valley Cycle Loop, part of our Hike and E-Bike in Yosemite and California's Wine Country adventure.