Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2008 Shines with Seafood Dishes

The crisp, mineral-driven white wine pairs perfectly with calamari and scungilli salad as well as shrimp scampi.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Wine writer Randy Fuller raves about the 2008 Chenin Blanc from Dry Creek Vineyards, a stainless steel-fermented white wine with a creamy texture and bright acidity that he finds pairs exceptionally well with seafood dishes like the calamari and scungilli salad and shrimp scampi at his favorite local restaurant, Fabrocini Beverly Glen.

Why it matters

This review highlights how a well-crafted, food-friendly white wine can elevate a dining experience, showcasing the importance of thoughtful wine pairings to bring out the best in both the food and the wine.

The details

The 2008 Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc is made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes grown in Clarksburg, in California's Sacramento Delta region. Fermented in stainless steel with no barrel aging, the wine clocks in at 12.5% ABV and features a nose of minerals, citrus, and tropical notes. On the palate, the wine has a sweet edge to the citrus flavors, perhaps evoking Meyer lemon, along with a bracing acidity and a creamy mouthfeel that is uncommon for a steel-fermented white.

The 2008 vintage was the first for the Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc to have a vineyard designation.
The 2008 vintage was also the first to feature a screw cap closure.

The players