In Episode 55 of the Cooking Chat podcast, we continue the Cooking Chat Virtual Winery Visit series with Darren Abel of Dry Creek Vineyard. Joining us is returning guest Stephen Nasiatka of StephenUncorked, a Dry Creek Vineyard Ambassador and wine educator. Together, we explore the story behind one of Sonoma County’s pioneering family wineries, discuss two featured wines-Mariness, the winery’s distinctive white Bordeaux-style blend, and its elegant Petite Sirah-and, of course, share plenty of food pairing ideas to inspire your next meal.
Founded in 1972 by David Stare, an MIT graduate with Boston-area roots, Dry Creek Vineyard became the first winery established in California’s Dry Creek Valley after Prohibition. Today, the family-owned winery continues under the leadership of David’s daughter, Kim Stare Wallace, building on a legacy of producing wines that reflect the unique climate, soils, and character of the valley. During our conversation, Darren explains how Dry Creek Vineyard helped pioneer Sauvignon Blanc in the region while remaining committed to crafting wines that stay true to what the valley does best.
My own interest in wine was sparked by several trips to Sonoma County many years ago. What stood out most was the personal attention and passion for wine we encountered at wineries ranging from large, well-known producers to a small operation based out of the winemaker’s garage. I also have fond memories of opening a bottle we had purchased during one of those visits and enjoying a glass while watching the Russian River empty into the Pacific from our humble hotel room with an amazing view.
I look forward to returning to Sonoma someday, but until then, this Virtual Winery Visit to Dry Creek Vineyard is the next best thing!
Throughout this episode, we discuss what makes Dry Creek Valley such a special place to grow grapes, why the winery has chosen to focus on varieties that thrive in its unique terroir, and how that philosophy is reflected in the wines. We also dive into food pairing ideas, from oysters, scallops, and lobster with Mariness to grilled pork tenderloin, barbecue, braised short ribs, and even dark chocolate with Petite Sirah. Along the way, I share my own pairing experiences-including enjoying Mariness with pan-seared scallops finished with fresh lemon-and compare notes with Darren and Stephen on some creative combinations to try at home.
So pour yourself a glass of wine, settle in, and join us for this Virtual Winery Visit to one of Sonoma County’s most enduring family wineries.
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Listen to the Podcast
Prefer to listen while you’re cooking, commuting, or relaxing with a glass of wine? Use the player below to hear my conversation with Darren Abel of Dry Creek Vineyard and Stephen Nasiatka as we explore the winery’s history, signature wines, and plenty of food pairing ideas.
You can also listen on your favorite podcast platforms, including: Apple podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music. You an also watch the interview on YouTube.
Meet Today’s Guests
Darren Abel: Born in Miami, Florida, Darren Abel studied psychology at the University of Arizona, where he developed a genuine interest in understanding people and creating meaningful connections. While he valued his education, he soon realized his true passion was hospitality-a career that would allow him to bring people together and create memorable experiences.
That passion led Darren to San Francisco, where he studied culinary arts and hotel and restaurant management before building a career in wine retail, restaurant management, and luxury hospitality across San Francisco, Napa Valley, and eventually Healdsburg. Along the way, he developed a deep appreciation for the world of wine and the craftsmanship, hospitality, and sense of community that make wine country so special.
For more than 13 years, Darren has been part of the team at Dry Creek Vineyard, where he enjoys helping guests discover the winery’s exceptional wines while creating the genuine connections and memorable experiences that have shaped his career.
Stephen Nasiatka
Returning guest Stephen Nasiatka is the Founder and Chief Wine Officer of StephenUncorked, where he creates immersive wine tastings, fundraising events, and corporate wine experiences designed to bring people together through wine. A longtime champion of community building, Stephen also serves in leadership roles across the business and nonprofit sectors, combining his background as a CPA and corporate executive with a passion for creating meaningful connections.
Stephen is also a Dry Creek Vineyard Ambassador, introducing new audiences to the family-owned Sonoma winery through private tastings, wine education, food pairings, and personalized guidance across its portfolio and wine club offerings. That makes him the perfect guest for this conversation about Dry Creek Vineyard's history, wines, and possibilities at the table.
To arrange a private Dry Creek Vineyard tasting or learn more about its wines and membership options, connect with Stephen at stephen@stephenuncorked.wine. You can also learn more about Stephen's background and approach to wine through his earlier appearance on the Cooking Chat podcast.
About Dry Creek Vineyard
A pioneer in the Dry Creek Valley
Founded in 1972 by David Stare, an MIT graduate with Boston roots, Dry Creek Vineyard became the first winery established in the Dry Creek Valley after Prohibition. While much of the area had returned to agriculture after Prohibition, Stare recognized the valley’s potential for producing exceptional wines and helped spark its modern revival. Dry Creek Vineyard also became a pioneer in planting Sauvignon Blanc in the valley, a variety that remains one of the winery’s signatures today. Today, the winery is led by David’s daughter, Kim Stare Wallace, continuing the family’s commitment to quality and hospitality.
Staying True to the Dry Creek Vineyard
One of the themes that came through clearly during my conversation with Darren Abel was the winery’s commitment to producing wines that reflect the strengths of the Dry Creek Valley rather than chasing the latest trends. As Darren put it, “We could grow everything under the sun…that doesn’t necessarily mean we should.” Instead, Dry Creek Vineyard continues to focus on varieties that thrive in the valley’s warm days, cool nights, and well-drained soils. That combination of climate and terroir helps the grapes develop both ripe fruit flavors and the balanced acidity that makes the wines so enjoyable with food.
A winery built on hospitality
That focus extends beyond the vineyard. Darren’s own career reflects Dry Creek Vineyard’s hospitality-first philosophy, and visitors are encouraged to slow down and enjoy the experience. The winery welcomes guests to relax among towering redwoods, enjoy a picnic with outside food, and discover the wines in a setting inspired by the châteaux of France’s Loire Valley. It’s the kind of place where great wine and genuine hospitality go hand in hand-a combination that has helped Dry Creek Vineyard remain a favorite destination for more than five decades.
Dry Creek Vineyard Mariness
A distinctive white Bordeaux-style blend
One of the featured wines in our conversation was the 2023 Dry Creek Vineyard Mariness ($40, 13.0 % ABV), their white Bordeaux-style blend. While the wine is built primarily on Sauvignon Blanc (79%), Darren Abel explained that Semillon and Muscadelle play an important role in adding body, aromatics, and complexity. Unlike the winery’s other Sauvignon Blancs, Mariness also sees partial barrel fermentation and aging in a combination of French oak, chestnut, and acacia barrels. The restrained use of new oak enhances the wine’s texture without masking the bright citrus and fresh acidity that Sauvignon Blanc lovers expect. As Darren described it, Mariness is “the most nuanced white wine we make.”
My tasting notes
The Mariness showed a soft, rounded texture with attractive fruit and excellent balance. Early on, the Semillon component seemed to take center stage, contributing richness, body, and a smooth mouthfeel. As the wine sat in the glass, the Sauvignon Blanc became more apparent, bringing additional acidity and freshness and making the blend more layered and vibrant.
During the interview, Darren confirmed that the Sémillon plays an important role in giving the wine its body and mouthfeel, which matched my tasting experience. I definitely agree that this is a very nuanced white wine!
Pairings for the Mariness white wine blend
Let me start by sharing the pairings I’ve tested so far with the Mariness white Bordeaux blend.
- Simple Pan Seared Scallops – This was an excellent pairing! The wine’s soft texture and rounded fruit complemented the natural sweetness of the scallops beautifully. The squeeze of lemon added brightness, and picked up the citrus elements I tasted in the wine. The pairing was harmonious and well balanced. You might recall this recipe was featured earlier this year in a wine dinner Stephen & I organized.
- Tofu Mushroom Stir-Fry – I made a simple stir-fry featuring mushrooms and herbed flavored tofu for a light, healthy summer meal. The Mariness paired nicely with this dish, too. Stay tuned for the recipe!
During our conversation, Darren and Stephen also suggested several pairings I’d like to explore in the future:
- Baby greens with citrus vinaigrette
- Oysters – including Oyster Rockefeller
- Lobster with citrus butter
- Buttermilk-marinated air fryer chicken with lemon and potatoes
I’ll continue updating this page as I explore additional pairings with the Mariness.
Dry Creek Vineyard Spencer’s Hill Petite Sirah
One of the highlights of our conversation was learning how Dry Creek Vineyard approaches Petite Sirah. While the variety is often associated with deeply colored, highly tannic wines, Darren explained that Dry Creek’s goal is to produce a Petite Sirah that retains the grape’s richness and structure while remaining approachable and food friendly. Gentle extraction during fermentation helps soften the tannins, creating a wine that can be enjoyed young while still offering excellent aging potential. Darren also noted that Petite Sirah plays an important supporting role in many California Zinfandel blends, contributing color, structure, and complexity.
My tasting notes
The 2022 Spencer’s Hill Petite Sirah ($44, 14.2% ABV) showed plenty of dark fruit along with a polished texture. Compared to many Petite Sirahs I’ve tasted, this wine felt balanced and approachable from the first pour, with the fruit taking center stage rather than being dominated by tannins. As it opened in the glass, I noticed the wine continuing to evolve, revealing additional layers of flavor and confirming Darren’s advice to spend some time with it before drawing conclusions.
One thing that really stood out to me was how dramatically the wine changed when tasted from a properly stored bottle. A week before recording the podcast, I had opened a bottle that I’d unfortunately left in my car for over 24 hours during some very hot weather. While it was still drinkable, the alcohol seemed more prominent and the wine lacked some of the elegance I experienced with the good bottle.
Tasting a freshly delivered bottle during the podcast was a completely different experience. The fruit was brighter and more expressive, the wine felt softer and better balanced, and it continued to evolve beautifully in the glass.
Pairings for the Spencer’s Hill Petite Sirah
Here are the pairings I’ve tested with the Dry Creek Vineyard Petite Sirah:
- Sausage and Kale Pasta worked quite nicely with this Petite Sirah. I was using and Andouille sausage that was quite hot. The spicy sausage alone was a bit much for this wine, but eaten along with the pasta worked out better. A medium spiced sausage in this dish would be perfect with this Petite Sirah.
- Air Fryer Pork Chops – I’ve been making some delicious, juicy air fryer pork chops that I promise to share soon! Topped with our No-Cook BBQ Sauce, this was an excellent pairing for the Spencer’s Hill Petite Sirah.
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels – I had Coravined a glass of the Petite Sirah to taste for the podcast, saving the rest to pair with one of my recipes. I had enough in the glass to enjoy after the recording, along with some chocolate covered pretzels. The combo was quite good – dark chocolate with a bit of salt played well with the wine.
Speaking of chocolate with Petite Sirah, that’s one of the pairings I cover in my Petite Sirah food pairings guide. I also cover the difference between Petite Sirah and Syrah in that article.
Darren and Stephen brainstormed about some great pairings for this Petite Sirah, including:
- Barbecue (they both raved about a BBQ place near the winery)
- Grilled steak – thinking my Grilled Steak Tips recipe would be a good one to try.
- Braised short ribs
- Mole sauce
- A hearty chili – I’ve tested a lot of wine pairings with chili, but not Petite Sirah yet! Need to get on that soon.
Plan your visit to Dry Creek Vineyard
Has our virtual visit to Dry Creek Vineyard motivated you to head to their Sonoma County winery? This section will help you enjoy a visit.
Experience Dry Creek Vineyard Hospitality
One of the themes that came through clearly in my conversation with Darren Abel was that visiting Dry Creek Vineyard is about much more than tasting wine. The family-owned winery has cultivated a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where guests are encouraged to slow down and enjoy the experience.
During the episode, Darren described the tasting room’s Loire Valley-inspired architecture, beautiful gardens, and towering redwood trees that provide welcome shade on warm Sonoma afternoons. The winery also welcomes visitors to bring a picnic and spend time enjoying the grounds, making it easy to turn a tasting into a leisurely wine country afternoon. If you’re exploring the Dry Creek Valley, Darren also recommended stopping at the nearby Dry Creek General Store to pick up picnic supplies before your visit.
Planning Your Visit
Dry Creek Vineyard is located just outside Healdsburg in the heart of California’s Dry Creek Valley. The winery offers a variety of guided tasting experiences, from classic seated tastings to more in-depth explorations of its Bordeaux varietals and Zinfandels. Seasonal experiences include picnic lunches on the winery grounds, vineyard walks, and even bocce for visitors looking to linger a little longer.
Reservations are strongly recommended, although walk-in guests may be accommodated when space is available. Current tasting options, hours, and seasonal experiences can change throughout the year, so it’s worth checking the winery’s website before your visit.
Stay tuned for more pairings
Joining the Dry Creek Vineyard wine club – a great way to enjoy the full range of wines they produce at reasonable prices – means I’ll have the opportunity to explore more of their wines over the coming months. As I test additional bottles with Cooking Chat recipes, I’ll continue updating this page with tasting notes, pairing ideas, and links to the recipes that worked best.
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