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tAStiNg ROOM OF tHE WEEK| WiNE COuNtRY tHiS WEEK54DUTCHER CROSSING WINERYOpen daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.8533 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg CA(707) 431-2700 | www.dutchercrossingwinery.comtAStiNg ROOM OF tHE WEEKdutCHER CROSSiNg WiNERYBY SUE STRAIGHT, THE WINE WENCHDutcher Crossing Winery has everything a wine-loving visitor could hope for –delicious, reasonably priced wines, a beautiful tasting room staffed with friendly andknowledgeable employees, a gorgeous picnic area with stunning views of Dry CreekValley and a winery dog to welcome you. It’s no surprise that they were ranked #2 of 82attractions in Healdsburg from www.tripadvisor.com.Let’s start outside – you pull into the parking lot and notice the beautiful landscapingsurrounding the brown, barn-like building that is the winery and tasting room. Aflagstone path leads you through a riot of colorful flowers to a breezeway that separatesthe winery from the tasting room. Glass doors provide a view into the barrel room andwinery. Most likely, you’ll be greeted by Dutchess, a sweet, tail-wagging yellow LabradorRetriever, owned by Dutcher Crossing Winery’s Proprietor, Debra Mathey.The picnic area is lovely and its views of the Dry Creek Valley are breathtaking. Thereare six picnic tables under a wisteria-covered arbor. The colorful, fragrant landscapingand manicured lawns will make you want kick off your shoes and stay a while.The tasting room is large, bright and airy, with high ceilings, glossy wood floors andtasteful décor. A goodly selection of tasteful non-wine items is artfully displayed aroundthe room.During the week, there is a $5 tasting fee (waived for wine club members) to samplea variety of six wines, and on weekends a $10 reserve tasting is available as well.Winemaker Kerry Damskey does a wonderful job with these wines!I really enjoyed all the wines I tasted, but the following three wines were my favorites:2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Estate ($23): Oooh! Pretty! Alluring aromas of pink grapefruit,ripe melon and hints of mineral lead into a clean, juicy mouthful of consistent flavors.2009 Maple Vineyard Zinfandel ($40): Picture a warm blackberry pie, dusted withcinnamon and pepper and you’ll have this wine in a nutshell, er, wineglass. Aromas andflavors of sweet, ripe blackberry and peppery spice abound, all wrapped up in aluscious, velvety mouthful of Zin goodness.2009 Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $29: In a word, wow! What afantastic Cabernet Sauvignon! Seductive scents of plum, black cherry, anise and spiceleap out of the glass and lure the taster into a voluptuously rich mouthful of ripe darkfruit and spice flavors.Follow us on twitter @WineCountrytW