Preston Vineyards

9282 W Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Website: https://www.prestonvineyards.com/

Welcome sign to Preston Vineyards

Preston Vineyards is a hidden gem in Dry Creek Valley. While visiting Ferrari-Carano, my friend Denise asked our server for a recommendation of other wineries in the area to visit and she recommended Bella Vineyards and Preston Vineyards. We drove by the sign to Preston on the way to Bella Vineyards and weren’t sure about the place because all we saw was a small yellow building next to the sign that looked like someone’s house and we questioned where the tasting room would be. Then the staff at Bella Vineyards also recommended Preston to us, so we decided to stop in on the way back through. As we pulled up closer to the sign, we noticed the arrow pointing to the path to the winery ½ mile down the road. We drove along the road past the vineyard until we came upon the winery and tasting room. I didn’t expect there to be a lot of people at the winery but the parking lot was almost full.

Picnic area at Preston Vineyards

The winery building is modeled after the historic Trefethen Winery in Napa Valley. It is immediately obvious that the Prestons are environmentalists from the solar panels on the roof. Outside the front of the winery is a large open picnic area and bocce ball courts. The very friendly family cats roam around greeting visitors. Although the side of the winery building facing the parking lot does resemble Trefethen Winery, the front of the building and tasting room are much more like a family residence. There is a large farmer’s porch out front and inside the tasting room is simple with a small white tasting bar and a chalk board with the day’s tasting menu.

Preston Vineyards tasting room

Preston is not only a winery. It is a full-fledged organic farm. Their farm fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and eggs are available at the onsite farmer’s market right outside the front doors to the tasting room. Inside the tasting room, visitors can also purchase homemade sourdough bread, estate grown and pressed olive oil, and cured olives. The bread and olive oil is available for sampling. According to the locals, people flock to the winery for Lou’s fresh sourdough bread. Another reason why locals come to this winery is for the jug wine. The jug wine is a red table wine made up mostly of Zinfandel, and also some Cinsault, Carignane, and Mourvѐdre. On Sundays, individuals can bring in their jugs for a refill. It just so happened that I visited on a Sunday and was able to sample some of the jug wine. It certainly wasn’t a premium wine, but it was a totally unique experience for me. Aside from the farmer’s market and jug wine, Preston is also one of a kind because of the types of wines it produces. Their wine selection includes less common varietals like Rousanne, Barbera, and a red blend of Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvѐdre, Carignane, and Grenache. They were also the first local growers of Syrah and Petite Sirah. The only downside for me was at the time I visited the said that they don’t ship their wines to New Hampshire.

I am very happy that the winery was recommended to us and that we chose to stop in. I’m also happy that we were lucky enough to visit on a Sunday and had the opportunity to try the jug wine. This winery has a lot to offer that guests won’t find anywhere else.