One of Dry Creek Valley's most dramatically sited wineries — a cave carved into the benchland hillside, with estate vineyards including Big River Ranch and Lily Hill. The old-vine Zinfandel draws from the appellation's oldest blocks, yielding wines of depth. The by-appointment cave tasting room is a memorable setting.
Bella Vineyards is one of Dry Creek Valley's most dramatically sited wineries — a cave-based operation carved into the benchland hillside, with estate vineyards including the Big River Ranch and Lily Hill sites. Their old-vine Zinfandel program draws from some of the oldest planted blocks in the appellation, producing wines of real depth and concentration. The cave tasting room, accessible by appointment, is one of the more memorable settings in Sonoma wine country.
Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley — Estate fruit from the historic Lily Hill vineyard, planted in 1915; a Bella club favorite with ripe pomegranate and black-pepper spice rounded out by small amounts of Syrah and Petite Sirah.
Big River Ranch Zinfandel, Alexander Valley — A flagship single-vineyard Zin from 100-plus-year-old vines, dark and concentrated with sustained, jammy depth.
Lily Hill Estate Syrah, Dry Creek Valley — Concentrated violet and dark fruit threaded with cedar, leather and tobacco; smooth, elegant and long.
Estate Grenache, Dry Creek Valley — Juicy and perfumed, with strawberry, rhubarb and silky layers of raspberry and spice.
Grenache Blanc, Dry Creek Valley — A crisp, refreshing white that rounds out a portfolio built on old-vine reds.
Founded in 1995 by Scott and Lynn Adams on the site of the 1915 Lily Hill vineyard, Bella specializes in ancient-vine hillside Zinfandel, with tastings held in caves carved into the hillside.
Bella is deliberately informal — Adirondack chairs scattered across the lawn, cave tastings for smaller groups, a private lounge for larger parties, and a Pinzgauer off-road truck that takes guests up the hillside to the top of the estate. The wines are serious: small-lot Zinfandel from century-old vines, plus Rhône varietals — Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah — all from the winery's own 115 acres. Kid-friendly and dog-friendly, with lawn games, making it one of the more family-welcoming stops on the West Dry Creek road.
General Manager and Director of Winemaking at Bella since being promoted into the lead role after years working up the cellar ranks. Schmaltz arrived at Bella as a harvest intern in 2012 with a PhD in organic chemistry and an immediate passion for Zinfandel and Rhône varietals — his fermentation expertise quickly moved him beyond a typical intern role and into the position of Enologist running Bella's lab. As Enologist and later Assistant Winemaker, he ran the program of fermentation-temperature and skin-contact experiments that have shaped Bella's recent style. He then spent time as winemaker at Trattore (also in Dry Creek Valley), deepening his Rhône portfolio work, before returning to Bella as GM and Director of Winemaking. He now oversees the full estate — vineyard, production, cellar — and the small-lot single-vineyard Zinfandel program that defines the house.
Scott and Lynn Adams founded Bella in the 1990s after falling in love with Dry Creek Valley — and with each other — around the same time. Their home vineyard, Lily Hill, was first planted in 1915 by Italian immigrant Adamo Micheli, and the Adamses built their tasting caves directly into the hillside beneath it. From the start they specialized in Zinfandel and Rhône varieties drawn from old-vine sites like Lily Hill, Maple, and Big River Ranch. Hands-on proprietors, they have raised four children on the property who now help tend the century-old vines.
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Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley — Estate fruit from the historic Lily Hill vineyard, planted in 1915; a Bella club favorite with ripe pomegranate and black-pepper spice rounded out by small amounts of Syrah and Petite Sirah.
Big River Ranch Zinfandel, Alexander Valley — A flagship single-vineyard Zin from 100-plus-year-old vines, dark and concentrated with sustained, jammy depth.
Lily Hill Estate Syrah, Dry Creek Valley — Concentrated violet and dark fruit threaded with cedar, leather and tobacco; smooth, elegant and long.
Estate Grenache, Dry Creek Valley — Juicy and perfumed, with strawberry, rhubarb and silky layers of raspberry and spice.
Grenache Blanc, Dry Creek Valley — A crisp, refreshing white that rounds out a portfolio built on old-vine reds.
Founded in 1995 by Scott and Lynn Adams on the site of the 1915 Lily Hill vineyard, Bella specializes in ancient-vine hillside Zinfandel, with tastings held in caves carved into the hillside.
Bella Vineyards is one of Dry Creek Valley's most dramatically sited wineries — a cave-based operation carved into the benchland hillside, with estate vineyards including the Big River Ranch and Lily Hill sites. Their old-vine Zinfandel program draws from some of the oldest planted blocks in the appellation, producing wines of real depth and concentration. The cave tasting room, accessible by appointment, is one of the more memorable settings in Sonoma wine country.
Bella is deliberately informal — Adirondack chairs scattered across the lawn, cave tastings for smaller groups, a private lounge for larger parties, and a Pinzgauer off-road truck that takes guests up the hillside to the top of the estate. The wines are serious: small-lot Zinfandel from century-old vines, plus Rhône varietals — Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah — all from the winery's own 115 acres. Kid-friendly and dog-friendly, with lawn games, making it one of the more family-welcoming stops on the West Dry Creek road.
General Manager and Director of Winemaking at Bella since being promoted into the lead role after years working up the cellar ranks. Schmaltz arrived at Bella as a harvest intern in 2012 with a PhD in organic chemistry and an immediate passion for Zinfandel and Rhône varietals — his fermentation expertise quickly moved him beyond a typical intern role and into the position of Enologist running Bella's lab. As Enologist and later Assistant Winemaker, he ran the program of fermentation-temperature and skin-contact experiments that have shaped Bella's recent style. He then spent time as winemaker at Trattore (also in Dry Creek Valley), deepening his Rhône portfolio work, before returning to Bella as GM and Director of Winemaking. He now oversees the full estate — vineyard, production, cellar — and the small-lot single-vineyard Zinfandel program that defines the house.
Scott and Lynn Adams founded Bella in the 1990s after falling in love with Dry Creek Valley — and with each other — around the same time. Their home vineyard, Lily Hill, was first planted in 1915 by Italian immigrant Adamo Micheli, and the Adamses built their tasting caves directly into the hillside beneath it. From the start they specialized in Zinfandel and Rhône varieties drawn from old-vine sites like Lily Hill, Maple, and Big River Ranch. Hands-on proprietors, they have raised four children on the property who now help tend the century-old vines.
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