In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Lauren Fremont & Amanda Brower from Dry Creek Valley Winegrowers.

Dry Creek Valley:

With roots reaching back 140 years, Dry Creek Valley’s history in winegrape growing is among the longest in California. Its fertile landscape attracted settlers soon after the California Gold Rush of 1849. By the late 1880s, the valley had nine wineries and 883 acres of vineyards – the majority planted to Zinfandel, for which Dry Creek is best known. Prohibition ended this first wine boom, with just two wineries remaining after its repeal in 1933, Frei Brothers and J. Pedroncelli, which is still operating today. While some vineyards continued, prunes and pears became the valley mainstay until the California wine revival began in the 1970’s, bringing a dramatic expansion of vineyards and wineries. And in 1983, Dry Creek Valley became one of the first California wine regions to be recognized as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Today, nearly 9,000 acres of vineyards carpet the valley, providing exceptional fruit to over 70 wineries, the majority of which remain family-owned.

Passport to Dry Creek Valley:

Passport to Dry Creek Valley is an annual wine event in Sonoma County, California, that celebrates the region’s winemaking heritage. Launched in 1990 by the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, the event was designed to showcase the area's diverse wineries and their wines.

Over the years, Passport has evolved into an immersive experience featuring themed tastings, vineyard tours, gourmet food pairings, and live entertainment. Participating wineries create unique experiences for guests and the event has played a significant role in promoting Dry Creek Valley as a premier winegrowing region, attracting both wine enthusiasts and industry professionals. After a brief hiatus during the pandemic, the festival has continued to evolve while staying true to its mission of celebrating the valley's rich winemaking traditions.

Lauren Fremont - Executive Director, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

The Paris-native was quite the traveler from a young age. Paris to Geneva to NYC by 8 years old. Lauren studied marketing and art at UMass Amherst and immediately after graduating had the entrepreneurial bug and started a small catering company. This is where her love of wine and food really got going. In 2003 she began working in fine-dining event management for the likes of Drew Neiporent/ TriBeCa Film Festival, Thomas Keller, and Daniel Boulud. In 2009 she started her own luxury event company and expanded internationally, producing $2M+ events and earning recognition from Martha Stewart Weddings and New York Magazine. By 2019 she became the Director of Experiences at Boston Ballet, leading a record-breaking $2.5M annual galas and increasing donor engagement. Lauren made the move to California in 2022 and became the Executive Director at Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, to revitalize brand trust, secured sponsorships, and lead large-scale events.

Amanda Brower - PR & Marketing Manager, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

Amanda grew up moving around frequently as a child, thanks to her father’s 30-year career in the Navy. That early experience instilled in her a deep appreciation for community and a natural love for connecting with people. She put down roots, with her mother and stepfather, in Marin County at 14 and has since called the Bay Area home, spending time between Marin, San Francisco, and Sonoma County. For the past 10 years, she’s been happily settled in Santa Rosa, with two dogs and recently became three!