Talty Vineyards is a small, seven-acre winery near the Yoakim Bridge crossing at the northern end of the Dry Creek Valley. This is "zin country," and Talty is devoted to California's signature grape. Owner and winemaker Mike Talty purchased the property in 1997, in part to fulfill his father's dream of owning a winery. It is still first and foremost a family-run winery.
The dry-farmed and head-pruned 48-year-old vines produce a very small crop — approximately two tons per acre. This technique ensures the intensity and concentration of the fruit, and the resulting wines are powerful and distinctive of the varietal. The wines are only available at the tasting room, through a mailing list or in a few select local restaurants. Ironically, one of the more popular offerings is a zinfandel from Napa Valley, the Filice Connolly Vineyard, but the estate-grown zin is the most balanced of their wines.