Quivira Vineyards

Quivira is one of those wineries that makes you feel glad you’re a wine fan. Start with consistently high-quality wine from a classic California wine region, Dry Creek Valley. Add in extraordinary care for the land: biodynamic viticulture in the vineyards and habitat restoration for the salmon-spawning streams that wind through them. Then there’s the warm welcome in the tasting room, which is tucked into the solar-powered winery and with a flowery patio right outside. And the value? Every Quivira wine I’ve ever tasted gave pleasure well beyond its price. This is true not only for the wines in general release, but also the special bottlings available only in the tasting room.

The 2004 Quivira Sauvignon Blanc from Fig Tree Vineyard ($16) starts with impressive green apple, clover honey and summer herb aromas that come out of the glass in waves. They're all there when you sip as well – along with a pillow-soft texture at the entry that glides effortlessly into a gentle grip on your palate and warming caress on your tastebuds. Takes on some pretty yellow cherry, Bartlett pear and – is that the vineyard speaking? – ripe fig overtones in the finish. If this were from Napa the price would be $10 higher.

Reviewed June 16, 2006 by Thom Elkjer.