Future’s Club Spring Newsletter - 2025

Big Things Are Brewing for 2025 Futures  - Here’s Your Insider Guide.

We’re shaking things up with a fresh, more intentional approach to our aging process, and we can’t wait for you to be part of it.

Instead of dividing wines strictly by 10- or 16-month barrel aging on the label, Dave is dialing in each varietal and blend to its perfect barrel-aging match. It’s all about letting the wine speak  - and crafting the aging process to enhance its natural character.

The best part?

You’ll now have freedom to mix and match your 2025 futures order - no need to commit to full 12-packs of a single aging profile. Build your cases, your way.

Each wine will reflect a thoughtful pairing of oak and time: some will spend their months in elegant French oak, while others will thrive in the boldness of American. barrels. It’s precision winemaking with your palate in mind.

Earlier in the season, as before, we will be bottling our whites and sparkling. In the end, we will be holding ALL wines for the 2025 vintage to be released at the same time of year - beginning in February of 2027.

This will give you the option of ordering whites and reds with lesser time in the barrel at the same as those red wines which are more intense and will see longer time in the barrel aging process.

This thoughtful shift allows us to bring out the best in every bottle, and we can’t wait for you to be a part of this inaugural new aging program.

Futures Club Member’s Only Sneak Peek: What’s New in 2025

CHARDONNAY

Our plans for the 2025 vintage is a full-throttle throwback to the golden age of California Chard - but with a modern polish. 100% Chardonnay aged in new French oak, it will deliver layers of butterscotch, toasted brioche, vanilla bean, and baked pear, wrapped in a creamy, full-bodied mouthfeel that coats the palate like velvet. In response to the glowing reviews we've received on the 2024 Chardonnay, still resting in oak barrels, we will replicate the lush, buttery style that made Chardonnay iconic, the 2024 has a refined freshness and balanced acidity that keeps it from feeling heavy. It’s nostalgia, reimagined for today’s palate.

SAGRANTINO

Our first release has proven to be bold, rare, and unapologetically powerful so we are anticipating the 2025 vintage to be even better.
Sagrantino, a deeply tannic and intensely flavorful grape from Umbria, finds a striking new expression in our estate vineyards, where warm days, cool nights, and well-drained soil give this rare variety room to shine. Tannin lovers, rejoice: Sagrantino is one of the most tannic grapes in the world, but Dry Creek Valley sunshine ripens those tannins to rich, velvety power rather than raw grip. Aging potential: This will be a wine that evolves beautifully over time -bold & exciting when you receive your futures, epic in 5–10 years.

SUPER TUSCAN STYLE

Our Super Tuscan Style will be Dave’s masterful blend of Cabernet, Sangiovese, Merlot and Sagrantino - think rich fruit, medium tannins, and Sunday dinner energy. Inspired by ground breaking wines of Tuscany that challenged tradition, this blend embodies our philosophy of crafting bold, rule-defying wines. True to the spirit of the "Super Tuscan" style, this wine will be an innovative expression of the unique character of our vineyard and winemaking style.

VIOGNIER & GEWURZTRAMINER

After the buzz from our inaugural bottlings, we’re taking things up a notch with two completely distinct white wine releases.
Viognier will be back: lush, full-bodied, and bursting with those signature floral aromatics, spicy undertones, and savory herbal layers. The Gewürztraminer steals the show with its intense tropical nose- lychee, mango, and rose petals, but don’t be fooled, it’s fermented bone dry for a crisp, clean, and seriously refreshing finish. (The 2024 is almost sold out, by the way)

SPARKLING BLANC de BLANC

We’re popping the cork (crown cap, actually) on something truly special, for the first time ever, we’re releasing a Sparkling Blanc de Blanc made from a combination of estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. With this fresh, first-of-its-kind bottling we expect a bubbly bursting with vibrant citrus, green apple, and white blossom aromatics, all lifted by fine, lively bubbles and a crisp, elegant finish. It should be zesty, celebratory, and utterly refreshing. The perfect pour for toasting milestones, summer evenings, or simply embracing something new.

One more thing…hoping to produce a 2025 Merlot to be offered later this year....stay tuned!

Dave's Club Spring Newsletter - 2025

By Jesse Malvesti & Catalina Perez

Wow, can you believe 2025 marks 30 years since we first opened our doors to the public? Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come—what started as Dave’s passion for wine has grown into a thriving winery, thanks to the loyalty and enthusiasm of customers like you. Some of you have been with us from the very beginning, and many more have joined along the way, happily sharing our wines with friends and family. Your support has allowed us to stay true to who we are—personally answering phone calls, promptly responding to emails, and keeping a personal connection alive in an increasingly digital world.

While Dry Creek Valley is often synonymous with Zinfandel, our story started with a love for Bordeaux wines. Dave’s fascination with these French classics began in 1969, when he worked in San Francisco as a bank credit analyst and built a collection of Bordeaux wines from local shops. That passion eventually led him to Dry Creek Valley, where he started growing grapes and crafting blends modeled after the wines he admired. With that tradition in mind, this spring’s wine club shipment highlights two Bordeaux-inspired wines: Petit Verdot, a rich and structured single-varietal expression, and Aca Modot, our signature Bordeaux-style blend. Of course, variety is key, and this spring collection offers something for every palate. If you enjoy lighter-bodied reds, Grenache and Terre Mélange are perfect for easy sipping. If you’re looking for something balanced yet structured, Block 4 and Block 6 Zinfandel hit that sweet spot between elegance and power. And for those who crave bold, full-bodied wines, Petit Verdot and Aca Modot deliver deep complexity and age-worthy intensity. Whether you prefer delicate or daring, we hope these wines bring joy to your glass and your table. Here’s to another season of great wine, wonderful company, and lasting connections—cheers

Announcements

White Wines for Spring! We’re excited to announce the release of 3 new whites:

2024 Viognier
2024 Sauvignon Blanc
2024 Gewurztraminer

New Futures Available!

2024 Super Tuscan
2024 Sagrantino
Never before offered: 2023 Super Tuscan

Passport To Dry Creek Valley

April 26th-27th 2025
Tickets are still available at www.drycreekvalley.org
Be a part of the legacy & join 25+ wineries as we open our doors with unique themes and award winning wines.

Recipe

Gnocchi with Grilled Garden Vegetables

Ingredients:

3-4 wood skewers
1 – 17.5 oz package potato gnocchi
½ of a fresh zucchini squash
½ of a fresh yellow squash
½ of a large red onion
1 cup of sweet Cherry tomatoes
1 Tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves fresh garlic
¼ cup of salted butter
1 bunch of fresh basil (torn)
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt & pepper, to taste
Other optional grilled vegetables you could add: corn, mushrooms, asparagus

Method:

Soak 3-4 wood skewers in water for 30 minutes. Pour yourself a glass of Grenache from this shipment. Preheat your grill to medium high heat, approx. 450°. Add the olive oil, salt & pepper to coat the vegetables and place just the tomatoes on the skewers for grilling. Grill the vegetables until tender, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the vegetables from the grill and cut into ½ inch pieces. Remove the tomatoes from the skewers, add to the vegetables and set aside.

In a medium-sized sauce pot bring 6 cups of salted water to a boil. Add gnocchi and boil until they float, no more than 2 minutes. In a saute pan over medium heat, add the butter. Gently swirl the butter until the milk solids begin to brown. Strain the gnocchi. Next, add gnocchi to the browned butter and saute for 1 minute. Add salt, pepper and the garlic. Add in the reserved vegetables & tomatoes and toss with torn fresh basil. Top the entire dish with a healthy mount of Parmesan cheese and be sure to refresh your glass of Grenache. Enjoy!

Featured Wines

2023 Grenache (10 month)

100% Grenache Retail: $36 – Club: $21.60

Bright and translucent, our lightest wine in this lineup shows vibrant ruby red tones and hints of crimson. With a quintessential Grenache nose it is surprisingly mature for its age. Excellent long-lasting fruit reminiscent of fresh raspberry and strawberry with a subtle spiciness is rounded out by silky tannins and moderate acidity. We love how this Grenache has a smooth, elegant finish with a touch of spice and minerality.

Pairs with: Gnocchi with grilled garden vegetables (The Featured Recipe)

2022 Terre Melange (10 month)

31% Syrah / 25% Mourvédre / 24% Peloursin / 20% Grenache Retail: $36 – Club: $21.60

Upon initial smell, the Syrah permeates the glass with a complex mix of blackberries, plums and herbs, but the other varietals have married together to give this blend bold, yet balanced flavors in true Rhone fashion. There’s a brightness almost like kalamata olives on the tongue that opens up to flavors of pink peppercorn and violets. The Syrah brings dark fruit, spice and structure, adding depth and a velvety texture.

Mourvédre contributes earthy, gamey, and smoky notes, along with firm tannins that enhance the wine’s aging potential. The Grenache lifts the blend with red berry fruit, floral aromatics, and a touch of bright acidity, softening the tannins and adding a juicy, approachable quality.
Pairs with: Colossal shrimp cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce (Don’t skimp on the horseradish and lemon).

2022 Block 6 Zinfandel (10 month)

75% Zinfandel / 25% Petite Sirah Retail: $36 – Club: $21.60

Block 6, a Zinfandel blended with Petite Sirah, combines two of our estate’s hallmark grape varieties to create a robust and flavorful wine. The blend displays the strengths of both grapes, resulting in a wine that is both complex and well structured. In the glass this wine exhibits a deep dark hue with opaque rich ruby colors indicative of its intensity and concentration. Block 6 is a full-bodied experience with a harmonious balance between fruitiness and a robust mouth feel. The interplay between these two varietals results in a wine that is both lusciously fruity and structurally sound, with a lingering satisfying finish.

Pairs with: Your favorite All American Burger; whether it’s beef, Impossible or portabella

2022 Block 4 (16 month)

50% Zinfandel / 25% Petite Sirah / 9% Carignan / 8% Peloursin / 8% Syrah Retail: $40 – Club: $24.00

Hands down, our most popular blend offers a profound expression of our viticultural legacy. The 4th block of the vineyard, as venerable as Dave himself, is made up of vines interspersed with a mix of ancient grape varieties creating a complex and harmonious wine. B4 exhibits an intense bouquet of blackberry flavors that would be expected from such seasoned vines. Dark chocolate, hints of cedar and vanilla from the extended 16-month aging presents velvety tannins & concentrated fruit flavors with a balanced acidity.

Pairs with: Creamy polenta topped with sun dried tomato pesto & lots of parmesan

2022 Aca Modot (16 month)

47% Merlot / 23% Cabernet Franc / 17% Petit Verdot / 13% Malbec Retail: $40 – Club: $24.00

The earthiness is dominant on the nose, almost dusty or reminiscent of dry soil. With subtle hints of tarragon and chamomile, a complexity not common in wines this young, Aca Modot presents a harmonious blend of lush, dark fruit complemented by herbaceous, musty undertones. Pairs with: Spring mushroom risotto with tarragon and a mix of creamy & salty cheeses

2021 or 2022 Petit Verdot (16 month)

100% Petit Verdot Retail: $38 – Club: $22.80

With aromatic notes of cedar, sandalwood, and lavender, both vintages of Petit Verdot offer a distinctive and complex sensory experience. Traditionally a blending grape in Bordeaux, we love showcasing it as a varietal wine. The lavender from the 2021 adds an aromatic freshness, contributing to the wine’s complexity and elegance. Both have a flavor profile of sweet licorice, blueberries and frontward tannins which could easily be a $100 bottle of wine, but we’re happy to share that we recommend it with your favorite everyday foods.

Pairs with: Your favorite local plate of truffle fries