The Enchanted Lands of

by Millie Howie
Quivira was the name of the mystical city of gold sought, and some say “found” by explorer Francisco Vasquez de Francisco in 1541. No records exist to pinpoint the location of the enchanted land, but it was generally identified with villages of the Wichita Indians somewhere in Kansas. Later explorations indicated that de Francisco had been deliberately misled and Henry and Holly Wendt, who purchased the property on which their Quivira winery arose, felt sure the site was not too far from their 90-acre wine estate in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley and that the fabulous wealth of the lost city lies in the soil and climate of the land which produces wines of outstanding flavor and quality.
In the beginning, Quivira made small experimental lots of Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc, two wine grape varieties known to excel in the Dry Creek Valley, and by 1987 the first commercial vintages of Quivira’s Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc were introduced to the consumers. Those same two varietals still flourish in the estate vineyards along with small lots of Rhône varietals.
Like the Wendts, the present owner, Pete Kight, who purchased Quivira Vineyards in 2006, lauds the local character of the Quivira wines, which make them so distinctive.  “From the earth in the vineyard, to the grapes on the vine, to the blend in the bottle – every step is a hands on commitment to gain that perfect balance of discipline and artistry that yields truly great wine. This is our true passion.”
Winemaker Steven Canter also agrees that grape varieties are developed to their full potential by the locality in which they are grown. He is also dedicated to working within the disciplines of organic and Biodynamic® farming, working with Quivira’s vineyard manager, Tony Castellanos, who has been tending these vineyards for more than 20 years, and walking the vineyards every week with the noted Biodynamic vineyard consultant, Alan York 
In 1989, Quivira’s estate vineyards were expanded to include small plantings of a selection of Rhône varietals and the quickly popular Dry Creek Cuvee, a blend of these wines, came into being.  Shortly thereafter a group of outstanding vineyard designate Zinfandels were introduced along with the first vintage of Mourvedre Rosé.
As part of their continuing concentration on good stewardship of the land, Kight and his staff continue working on a creek restoration project started nearly a dozen years ago to restore the steelhead and Coho salmon population of the area. This project has led to further environmental commitment through certification as an organic and Biodynamic winery and recognition as the official winery of Trout Unlimited and installation of solar panels on the roof of the winery that generate 100-percent of the electricity used, replacing the use of conventional power.
As important as all these commitments are, the real draw for members of Quivira’s Club Queue and visitors who daily find their way to the rustic winery nestled in the heart of the premium estate vineyards, is the opportunity to taste the family of exciting wines in a pleasant and inviting setting. The hospitality center, completed in 2002, is spacious and airy, with a high arched ceiling, a natural cork floor and a curvaceous slate-colored tasting bar with an ever-changing view out wide paned windows across the vineyards to Mt. St. Helena.
Tasting may begin with sips of the bright citrus and generous pineapple flavors of the Fig Tree Sauvignon Blanc, followed by the juicy richness of Grenache, and moving on to the old-vine Zin with its rich, jammy raspberry and blackberry flavors and concluding, perhaps with pours of Petite Sirah which develops its spicy plum flavors from the hillside vineyard site where it is grown.
When planning a stop at Quivira, it is a good idea to allow time to take the tour which leads down the rows of the Biodynamic vineyards and rewards the walkers with a special tasting of the Sauvignon Blanc under the majestic 100-year-old Black Mission Fig Tree that gives the vineyard, immediately behind the winery, its name. To complete the picture of the grape’s transition from plump, ripe fruit to dazzling premium wines, the friendly guide leads the way through the cellars, describing the winemaking process along the way.
The tasting room, at 4900 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  An excellent website at www.quivirawine.co provides a tempting preview of the enjoyment offered by an in-person visit.  For directions or information, call 1-800-292-8339. m