9990 Dry Creek Rd, Geyserville, CA 95441

Website:https://www.sbragia.com/

I visited Sbragia Family Vineyards during the Passport to Dry Creek Valley weekend.  This event has been hosted each April for the past 30+ years. Guests who want to indulge in this experience can purchase a one or two day pass to visit wineries throughout the valley, enjoying food and wine pairings at the various locations.  Each participating winery has a theme and some sort of entertainment, including live bands, barrel tastings, or games. It’s truly a fun time, but you need to prepare yourself for the large crowds.

Sbragia is in the same vicinity as Ferrari Carano off of Dry Creek Road.  To get to the winery we had to drive up a hill to the parking area following a line of cars.  This was a popular stop on the passport map. I will say that the winning feature of this winery is the large open terrace with sprawling views of Dry Creek Valley.  It is definitely a photo opportunity. During the event there were food and wine stations set up in different sections of the terrace. There are lounge chairs, couches, tables all around the terrace.  On a less crowded day it would be the ideal tasting experience to sip wine in the fresh air relaxing on the comfy couches surrounded by the beautiful view. When we visited they had a band set up in one corner of the terrace.  Despite the large crowd, everyone was having a good time.

There’s much more appeal to this property than just the outdoor views.  The Sbragia family’s history in Sonoma dates back to 1904 when current owner Ed Sbragia’s grandfather came over from Italy.  For the first several decades, the family grew prunes like many others in the area. It wasn’t until the 1950s when 2nd generation Gino Sbragia replanted wine grapes, mainly Zinfandel.  Even then, the family grew and sold most of their grapes to other wineries, keeping a small portion to make wine at home. Ed Sbragia grew up wanting to fulfill the dream of his father to own a family winery, and he did so, opening Sbragia Family Vineyards in August 2006.  Prior to starting the winery, Ed spent an impressive 32 years as Winemaster at the historic Beringer Vineyard in Napa Valley. Today Ed’s son is the winemaker, carrying on the legacy of his father and grandfather.

Even though most people were drawn to the terrace, I wanted to check out the interior tasting room.  It was jam packed with people. Somehow my husband and I managed to squeeze up to the tasting bar. The room has a modern atmosphere with some Italian touches.  One of the focal points of the room is a pretty mural of the vineyards. Typically I think the room would feel spacious and relaxing. One of the girls behind the counter was doing her best to keep up with everyone.  She noticed I was taking some notes as she walked me through the tasting and paused when she could to provide some details on the wines. The Home Ranch Chardonnay was bright with a creamy taste of pears and tangerine.  Their interesting pairing with the Chardonnay was deviled eggs and it went well together.  The reds were the standout wines to me. The 2015 Vino Rosso Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc had a smoky barbecue smell and smooth, yummy red berry taste.  The 2014 Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon was my favorite with an aroma of cinnamon, cloves, and black currant and a rich fruit taste touched with cocoa. . I was impressed with the wine and ordered some to ship home.  Sbragia has a second tasting room in downtown Sonoma and they offer several different tasting options. Check their website for details. If you are in the Dry Creek area, I would recommend going to the estate. The views are worth it!

I’d like to return to this winery on a much less busy day to truly experience the place.  We hopped around to several different tasting rooms that day, but this is the one that sticks out to me the most.  I wish I had more time to savor the wine while I was there because it was great!