Calwineries

WS Top 100 Day 6: Dry Creek Valley

Over the course of his 30 year tenure as winemaker at Beringer Vineyards, Ed Sbragia has made many award winning wines. He recently returned to he roots when he established his own label in the Dry Creek Valley AVA.

Mr. Sbragia’s father, Gino, worked for the Italian Swiss Colony in Asti before starting his own Post-Prohibition winery. Unfortunately, the timing was bad and the winery ultimately folded. This makes Ed’s homecoming all the more important to him. He produces the Gino’s Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel to pay homage to his father.

Sbragia’s 26 year old son, Adam, helps with winemaking at the family’s new venture. Adam studied acting at UCLA and originally wanted to break into Hollywood. But he grew tired of the L.A. lifestyle and longed to return to Northern California. Adam currently lives on the family’s Home Ranch Vineyard, where the grapes for the Sbragia Family’s award winning Chardonnay were grown.

The Sbragia Family 2004 Dry Creek Valley Home Ranch Chardonnay ranked #72 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list and is priced at an affordable $25. This is a full bodied Chardonnay with a mouth filling texture. It has beautiful spicy apricot and melon flavors. 1,300 cases were produced.