Fritz Winery
24691 Dutcher Creek Rd, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Website: https://www.fritzwinery.com/
I have visited over 200 wineries in California, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg compared to how many are out there. I’m always intrigued by what makes each one different. What’s their “calling card” so to speak? Before I visit most wineries, I look them up online and read about their story because I want to understand what got them started. It gives me a deeper appreciation for the wine they create.
Fritz Winery is located in the northern hills of the Dry Creek Valley. What makes this winery so different is that it is underground. It is literally built into a hillside. Original founder, Arthur J. Fritz (referred to as Jay), started the winery in 1979. His son, Clay Fritz, and family run the winery today. Jay had the foresight of building an efficient, environmentally friendly place with his subterranean design that is an attribute to modern day winemaking. By being a part of the hillside, the winery is able to maintain naturally cool temperatures for cellaring and fermenting the wine. They are also able to take advantage of gravity flow to minimize any manual interference with the grapes and juice as it moves from the crush pad to the tanks and barrels.
Fritz Underground Winery
When we drove up to the winery we passed by the picturesque scenery of rows and rows vines. As we walked up to the winery from the parking lot, we saw the white structure that was the front entrance with two large glass doors. The rest of the structure was completely covered in green plant life that formed the hill that the winery sits in. Off to the right is a patio with some picnic tables and red umbrellas for guests. As we walked through the big glass doors, we entered directly into the wine cave where we were surrounded by tall stainless steel fermentation tanks.
Between the wine cave and the outdoor patio there is an indoor tasting room that has a natural look and feel. The ceiling and walls are dome shaped and look like they are made of stucco. The shelving and trim around the room, as well as the tasting bar, are framed of dark wood. The square-shaped, white marble top tasting bar in the center of the room has room for a few small groups of guests at a time. Even though is inside of a hill, the room is brightened by the natural light coming in from the big glass doors leading to the patio. The patio is also pretty spacious with several tables to accommodate a few groups of guests. From the patio is a nice view of the vineyards down below.
Fritz vineyards
Fritz is open to the public for tastings inside or for picnics on the patio. Check their website for specific days and times because they are closed a couple days during the week. You can also sign up for an underground cave tour if you reach out in advance. The winery focuses on producing wines from the Russian River and Dry Creek Valley areas, and their varietals include Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and a sparkling Blanc de Noirs. My personal favorites were the Estate Zinfandel with lovely black currant flavor and the Estate Proprietor’s Red that had notes of dark fruit and spice. Both wines pair well with grilled or BBQ meat. Fritz recommends pairing their sparkling wine with a doughnut, which we tried and it did pair amazingly well.
I wasn’t sure what to expect leading up to my visit, but I left feeling pleased that I stopped in. I can sum up my overall sentiment with the 3 things I liked most about it – family run, environmental stewardship, and good wine!