Sonoma County wine refers to the growing of grapes and the making of wine in Sonoma County, California, United States. In the United States, the names of counties can be used as official names for wine regions without needing to register with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which is part of the Treasury Department. The TTB was formed in January 2003 after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) was restructured under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
Sonoma County is one of California's largest producers of wine grapes. It produces much more wine grapes than the Napa Valley AVA.
History
In the early 1800s, two groups from different countries were settling in Sonoma County: Russian explorers living at Fort Ross on the coast and Spanish settlers moving north from San Francisco. Around 1834, General Mariano Vallejo, the military governor of Mexican California, was sent to take control of the land above San Francisco and stop the Russians from expanding further. He founded the town of Sonoma and was given Rancho Petaluma by Governor José Figueroa. The large land grants given by Vallejo helped speed up the settlement of Sonoma County in areas like Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, and Kenwood. One of these grants, a small area southeast of Santa Rosa, was called "Yulupa." The boundaries of the Yulupa land grant match closely with and completely surround the area now known as Bennett Valley. Viticulture in the Sonoma area is believed to be the first in what is now the North Coast AVA. Vitis vinefera vines may have been planted as early as 1817, according to historian Charles L. Sullivan. These vines were planted by the Russians near Fort Ross, where they were reported to be bearing fruit in 1823. Padre Jose Altimira planted thousands of grape vines at Mission San Francisco Solano, which is now the city of Sonoma in southern Sonoma County. Grape cuttings from the Sonoma mission vineyards were taken to start new vineyards throughout northern California. By the time of the Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma and California’s annexation by the United States in 1854, viticulture was already an established part of the region’s agriculture. General Vallejo’s vineyards were producing $20,000 annually at that time. The grapes planted then would not be considered high-quality today.
In 1855, a Hungarian man named Agoston Haraszthy arrived in Sonoma Valley. He bought the Salvador Vallejo vineyard and renamed it Buena Vista. In 1861, he was commissioned by the California legislature to study viticulture in Europe. He returned with over 100,000 cuttings of high-quality grape varieties. Many immigrants to the area came from Northern Italy or other European wine-growing regions. After the Civil War and before Prohibition, wineries such as Bundschu, Foppiano, Korbel, Simi, Gundlach, Quitzow, and Sebastiani were established and still exist today. By the 1880s, vines were growing and wine was being made commercially in several places across western Sonoma County, including areas around Freestone, Occidental, Bodega, Forestville, Guerneville, and Cazadero. Steve Heimoff, a wine writer, noted that there were ten acres of vineyard "at Plantation above Fort Ross Road, northwest of Cazadero." In the 1920s, there were 256 wineries in Sonoma County, with over 22,000 acres of vineyards in production. Most of the western Sonoma County wine industry did not survive outbreaks of phylloxera and Prohibition. After Prohibition ended in 1933, fewer than 50 wineries in Sonoma County remained. Lemoral Winery near Occidental, built in 1903, operated until the 1960s. Even as late as the 1960s, only 12,000 acres were used for vineyards. However, as wine consumption in America grew, by 1999, Sonoma County had over 49,000 acres of vineyards owned by more than 750 growers and 180 bonded wineries. Of the 250 wineries existing in 2007, more than half were less than 20 years old.
During the 2019 Kincade Fire, some wineries and vineyards faced a week of intense heat, smoke, and neglect of newly fermenting wine due to evacuations.
Winemaking
In 2004, farmers collected 165,783 tons of wine grapes valued at $310 million. By 2006, the Sonoma County grape harvest reached 216,000 tons, valued at $430 million. Approximately 73% of Sonoma County's agricultural output comes from growing wine grapes. This includes 60,302 acres of vineyards managed by more than 1,100 growers. The most frequently planted grape types are Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot noir. The region is also known for producing Merlot and Zinfandel.
Appellations
Sonoma County has 19 American Viticulture Areas (AVAs), which show the many different climates and soil types in the county. The large amount of wine produced in Sonoma County and its importance in the wine market also contribute to the number of AVAs. Differences in climate and soil (called terroir) mean that cooler climate grapes grow well in some areas, while warmer climate grapes are better suited to others. Because Sonoma County produces so much wine, each AVA is important on its own.
Sonoma County is well-known worldwide for its wines because of California’s strong wine industry. However, the many AVAs in Sonoma County have sometimes confused consumers. In 2006, growers formed the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, which represents more than 1,800 growers. The commission works to increase recognition of Sonoma County and encourages all wines from the county to include the label “Sonoma County.”
The following are some AVAs in Sonoma County:
The Alexander Valley AVA is one of the most densely planted areas in Sonoma County. It is located along the Russian River, with its boundary extending north of Healdsburg to Mendocino County. Viticulture in the area began in the 1850s, but the wine industry became successful in the 1960s with Simi Winery. Purchases of vineyard land by E & J Gallo Winery in 1988 and Kendall-Jackson in 1996 helped raise the profile of the Alexander Valley. Alexander Valley wines are known for being easy to enjoy and rich in flavor. Cabernet Sauvignon is a leading grape variety, often noted for its chocolate notes and warm mouthfeel. Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, and Zinfandel are also widely planted.
The Bennett Valley AVA is one of Sonoma County’s newest AVAs and is a major supplier of grapes to Kendall-Jackson. The AVA is surrounded by the Sonoma Mountains to the south, east, and west, and by the city of Santa Rosa to the north. The area’s climate is made milder by cool ocean air and breezes that flow into the region from the southwest through Crane Canyon.
The Chalk Hill AVA is a sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley, located near Windsor along the foothills of the Alexander Valley and the Santa Rosa plain. The name “Chalk Hill” comes from the unique volcanic soil, which works well for white wine varieties like Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. Most wineries in the area are located on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains.
The Dry Creek Valley AVA is in the Russian River Valley and centers around Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River. It is about 16 miles long and 2 miles wide. The AVA is known for producing Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. The area is home to most of the Sonoma Gallo vineyards, which built winery facilities in the valley in the early 1990s.
The Fort Ross-Seaview AVA covers 27,500 acres in western Sonoma County and includes 18 commercial vineyards growing grapes on 506 acres. It is entirely within the Sonoma Coast AVA and does not overlap with other AVAs. Vineyards in this area are often located on rounded ridges and steep, mountainous terrain with peaks reaching up to 1,800 feet. Areas above 900 feet are warmer due to longer sunlight exposure.
The Fountaingrove District AVA, established in 2015, covers 38,000 acres in eastern Sonoma County. It includes over 600 acres of hillside vineyards with elevations up to 2,000 feet. The region is best known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.
The Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA, formerly called the Sonoma County Green Valley AVA, is located in the southwestern corner of the Russian River Valley AVA. Its closeness to the Pacific Ocean makes it one of the coolest areas in Sonoma County. The climate is even cooler than other parts of the Russian River Valley, making it ideal for growing cool climate grape varieties. The AVA changed its name to Green Valley of Russian River Valley in 2007 to connect it with the more well-known Russian River Valley name.
The Knights Valley AVA is located between the southern end of the Alexander Valley AVA and the northern end of Napa Valley. Some of the earliest vineyards in the area were owned by Beringer Vineyards. The region is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Los Carneros AVA spans the low hills of the Mayacamas Mountains, dividing Napa and Sonoma Valleys just north of San Pablo Bay. A large part of the AVA is in Sonoma County, and grapes grown here can also use the Sonoma Valley AVA designation. The area’s closeness to the bay makes it ideal for producing Pinot noir and Chardonnay. International producers like Moët et Chandon and Taittinger have vineyards or source grapes from the region.
The Moon Mountain District Sonoma County AVA, established in 2013, is a sub-appellation of the Sonoma Valley AVA. It shares an eastern border with the Mt. Veeder AVA, a sub-appellation of Napa Valley.
The Northern Sonoma AVA covers all of Sonoma County except for the Sonoma Valley and some areas of the Petaluma River watershed. It was proposed by E & J Gallo to include wines made from grapes grown in scattered vineyards across the county.
The Petaluma Gap AVA was approved in 2017 and is named after the geographic feature that allows cool ocean air to flow into the valley. Cool winds from the San Pablo Bay make the region ideal for growing Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.
The Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA is one of the highest elevation grape-growing regions in California. It ranges from 1,600 feet at its lowest point to 3,000 feet at the peak, with most grapes growing at 1,800 feet and above. The high elevation affects fog cover, daylight hours, temperatures, rainfall, and wind, which influence wine grape production.
The Rockpile AVA is located northwest of the Dry Creek Valley AVA, past Healdsburg. The area was first planted by Italian immigrants at the start of the 20th century. Many vineyards in the region were once part of a reservoir created by the Warm Springs Dam on the Russian River. The area is known for producing fruity, ripe Zinfandel.
The Russian River Valley AVA is located near Santa Rosa and includes the southern part of the Russian River, where the river bends westward and flows into the Pacific Ocean. Cool fog from the coast regularly moves into the area through the Petaluma Wind Gap and the river’s channel. The fog usually arrives in the evening or early morning and leaves by noon. The AVA was granted