Sonoma County - What Wine Country Should Be

Sonoma County is truly one of the world’s premier spots for growing and making great wines of all types, thanks to its ideal climate and varied terroirs. But it’s the environment that surrounds those growing conditions that also sets Sonoma County apart — the natural beauty, ranging from coast to redwoods to mountains; the history and heritage; the agricultural diversity leading to a bounty of locally grown foods. Most of all, it’s the people — a true community of growers, winemakers, and friends whose artisan passion makes Sonoma a place like no other.

Terroirs of Sonoma County

Sonoma County covers slightly over 1,000,000 acres, with 60,000 of those planted with wine grapes in the 13 wine regions. The County offers an almost unlimited range of microclimates and growing conditions within its AVAs, unparalleled among the world’s premium winegrowing regions. The major influences to create these terroirs are:

Climate & Temperature: Sonoma County is blessed with an ideal long growing season, with sunny days and almost no rain from May through September. Summer average high temperatures range from the 70s to the low 90s — ideal for ripening grapes — but even in the warmer inland regions of Alexander Valley and Knights Valley, cool evening temperatures in the 40s and low 50s preserve the wines’ acidity and balance.

Soil: It has been said that Sonoma County has more soil variation than in all of France, with 11 major formation types, 31 different soil series within those types, and innumerable permutations within each series.

Fog/marine influence: The Pacific Ocean provides a cooling maritime influence, bringing cool air through the Petaluma Gap that cools the western part of the County and creates morning fog to prevent grapes from ripening too quickly. On the southern inland end of the County, the San Pablo Bay’s influence generates afternoon fog to achieve the same effect in Carneros.

Elevation: Sonoma County’s vineyards range from sea level to 2,600 feet above sea level. The array of valley, benchland, and mountain elevations and slopes heavily influences soil fertility and grape ripening times, adding yet another variable for grapegrowers as they match the right varietal and rootstock to each vineyard block’s unique growing conditions.

By the Numbers:

Size of county: 1,050,000 acres
Vineyard acres (2007): 60,302
Wineries: 350 wineries (250 open to the public)
Grape Growers: 1,800
Tons harvested (2007): 198,533

Varietal Diversity:

Most top winegrowing regions are known for growing just one or two varietals well, but Sonoma County’s vast diversity of terroirs enables wineries to produce a wide variety of classic wines. Altogether, more than 60 varietals are grown in Sonoma County.

The leaders by acreage are:
Chardonnay: 15,768
Cabernet Sauvignon: 12,075
Pinot Noir: 11,031
Merlot: 6,895
Zinfandel: 5,669
Sauvignon Blanc: 2,546

American Viticultural Areas

Rockpile
AVA established 2002
14,800 acres /150 vineyard acres
Stark, craggy, hardscrabble ridgelines overlook
Lake Sonoma in the northwestern most part
of Sonoma County. Leading varietals: Zinfandel,
Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon

Dry Creek Valley
AVA established 1983
78,000 acres /9,300 vineyard acres
At the foot of picturesque Lake Sonoma, morning fog gives way to warm, comfortable days that produces food-friendly wines such as Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel, from both the narrow valley floor and the wooded hillsides above.
Leading varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel

Russian River Valley
AVA established 2003
125,500 acres /15,000 vineyard acres
Morning fog moderates afternoon temperatures, leading to full fruit maturity while retaining depth and the famous Russian River suppleness. Leading varietals: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Sonoma Valley
AVA established 1982
115,300 acres /14,000 vineyard acres
A viticulturally diverse AVA, Sonoma Valley produces exceptional Chardonnay in its cooler regions, structured Merlot on the valley floor, and robust Cabernet Sauvignon on its mountain slopes.
Leading varietals: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah

Bennett Valley
AVA established 2003
8,700 acres /650 vineyard acres
Volcanic-laced soils are the product of ancient eruptions from three nearby peaks. Well-drained slopes, with morning fog filtering through Crane Canyon, allowing the grapes to retain their natural acidity.
Leading varietals: Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah

Sonoma Mountain
AVA established 1985
5,800 acres /800 vineyard acres
Well above the fog line with Sonoma Valley to the east and the Santa Rosa plain to the west, Sonoma Mountain enjoys primary eastern exposure for a long, even ripening season.
Leading varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot

Carneros
AVA established 1987
37,400 acres /7,500 vineyard acres
Nestled on the northernmost edge of San Pablo Bay (also known as San Francisco Bay), the region features thin-soil and cool climate and rolling hills.
Leading varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines

Green Valley
AVA established 1983
19,000 acres /3,600 vineyard acres
Within the Russian River Valley, Green Valley has a higher percentage of goldridge soils and is slightly cooler and more exposed to the Pacific Ocean’s influence.
Leading varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines

Chalk Hill
AVA established 1988
22,600 acres /1,400 vineyard acres
Christened after the warm, blanched volcanic ash hillsides that provide the excellent drainage and sunny exposures of the region, Chalk Hill lies on the north side of Windsor along a short, yet fertile, stretch of the Russian River.
Leading varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon

Knights Valley
AVA established 1983
36,800 acres /2,000 vineyard acres
Protected from direct Pacific influence, Knights Valley is the warmest of Sonoma County’s wine regions. Its unique blend of climate and soil is a result of an ancient eruption of Mt. St. Helena.
Leading varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot

Sonoma Coast
AVA established 1987
516,900 acres /2,000 vineyard acres
The largest region in the county at over 750 square miles, which overlaps other cool climate regions in Sonoma County.
Leading varietals: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Sonoma County Wine History

1817 Russian Colonists planted grapes at Fort Ross (Sonoma Coast)
1823 Spanish Franciscans planted several thousand vines at the Sonoma Mission.
1834 Mexican government begins secularizing the missions, and wine begins to move from the altar to the dinner table.
1845 Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma; California becomes independent.
1856 Cyrus Alexander plants grapes in northern Sonoma County.
1857 The Hungarian Count Agoston Haraszthy, “The Father of California Wine Industry,” founded Buena Vista winery in Sonoma Valley. Now known as Buena Vista Carneros, it is California’s oldest premium winery.
1858 Gundlach Bundschu Winery founded. It is now California’s oldest family-owned winery.
1873 Worldwide outbreak of phylloxera.
1920 256 wineries in operation, with more than 22,000 vineyard acres.
1920 18th Amendment launches Prohibition. Vineyards survive by selling grapes for home winemaking.
1933 Repeal of Prohibition. Less than 50 wineries in Sonoma County survive.
1960s With acreage down to 12,000 acres, a new generation of wineries begins following a nationwide wine boom. Consumption grows at a 40% rate
1975 Planted acreage grows back to 24,000 acres.
1976 The now-famous “Judgment of Paris” tasting in which California wines trumped their French counterparts in a blind tasting, bringing worldwide credibility and renown for the state’s wines. The winning white wine, a 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, was made primarily from grapes grown in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley.
1982 Sonoma Valley AVA designated, the first in Sonoma County.
1999 Over 49,000 acres of vineyards owned by more than 750 growers and 180 bonded wineries.
2008 Sonoma County is now home to 13 AVAs, more than 350 wineries, 60,000 vineyard acres, and 1,800 growers.

Leaders in Sustainable Winegrowing

Even before sustainability was a buzzword, Sonoma County’s grapegrowers have been naturally farming the land with respect for generations. More than 30% of the County’s vineyard acres are enrolled in the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Programs. Additionally, many Sonoma County wineries utilize some or all of the following practices to preserve the land for the generations to come.

  • Solar power to reduce energy use. Sonoma County features two of the wine industry’s largest solar arrays.
  • Biodynamic and organic farming, and integrated pest management practices to reduce the use of chemicals.
  • Wastewater recycling and reuse to preserve this natural resource.
  • Preservation of natural forests, streams, and other agriculture, ensuring a diverse and healthy natural ecosystem.
  • Biodiesel fuel for tractors.

For more information

www.sonomawine.com to learn more about the wines and wineries of Sonoma County
www.sonomawinegrape.org for information about Sonoma County’s grapegrowers
www.sonomacounty.com to plan your trip to Sonoma County

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