WINE REGIONS: Sonoma County

Winery Listings

Sonoma County's wine history dates back to the 1820's, when Franciscan monks first planted Mission grape vineyards. In the 1850’s and 1860’s, Agoston Haraszthy  imported thousands of cuttings of 300 different grapes from Europe. He planted many of them in Sonoma County and sold the rest. 

Sonoma County was best known for moderately priced red wines made from blended Petite Sirah, Carignane and Zinfandel. White jug wines were made from French Colombard and Chenin Blanc, selected primarily for their high yields. 

Within the past 2 decades, Sonoma County has dramatically grown, producing some of the best Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Gewurztraminer. Despite trailing Napa's wine boom, there are 36,300 acres of vineyards in Sonoma County, far more than in Napa County.  The primary grapes grown are Chardonnay (12,500 acres), Cabernet Sauvignon (7,000 acres), Zinfandel (4,000 acres), Pinot Noir (3,100 acres) and Sauvignon Blanc (1,700 acres).

Sonoma County lies west of Napa County. Larger in area than Napa County, it also has a wider range of climates. For this reason, growers and winemakers divided Sonoma County into specific AVA's. These include Carneros, Sonoma Valley,  Russian River Valley,  Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Knight’s Valley. Other smaller Sonoma appellations include Chalk Hill, Green Valley-Sonoma, Lytton Springs and Sonoma Mountain.

Chardonnay grown in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Knight’s Valley and Carneros are generally excellent, and exceptional Zinfandel is grown in Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley. Pinot Noir grown in cooler areas, particularly Carneros are often magnificent. It is no accident so many of the best Champagne houses possess vineyards in Carneros. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot can be very good, but are generally inferior to those from Napa. Alexander Valley is home to some of the best dry Gewurztraminer made anywhere in the world, rivaling those of Alsace.

Today there are 180 wineries in Sonoma County. The oldest wineries in Sonoma also happen to be the two largest, Sebastiani Vineyards and Korbel.

Alexander Valley: A 12-mile strip following the Russian River from the Mendocino County border through Geyserville and Healdsburg, Alexander Valley is hotter than most other Sonoma growing areas. Vineyards there produce excellent Zinfandel, although closer to the river,  early ripening grapes like Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewürztraminer can be outstanding. 

7,000 acres of vineyards, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, command high prices from wineries that purchase grapes from this region. Its best examples exhibit ripe fruit and a strong apple and spice taste. Alexander Valley's Cabernet Sauvignon ranges in character, the finest being full of ripe berry and cherry flavors.

Carneros: Located in the south where Napa and Sonoma Counties meet at the northern edge of the San Francisco Bay, most of Carneros is comprised of rolling hills. The Bay provides cooling fog in the valleys, while the upper hillsides tend to be warmer. The vineyards primarily grow the typical cool-weather grapes like Pinot Noir, but Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon have proven surprisingly successful. It is no accident so many of the best Champagne houses possess vineyards in Carneros.

Chalk Hill: This small VA is southwest of Knights Valley and south of Alexander Valley. Perched above the valley, Chalk Hill is warm, recieving little cooling fog or bay breeze. Chalk Hill grows primarily white grapes with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc being the leading varietals.

Dry Creek Valley: The Dry Creek Valley runs parallel to and west of Alexander Valley from Geyserville to Healdsburg. Dry Creek itself is a tributary of the Russian River. The climate is wetter and warmer  than its southern neighbor, the Russian River Valley, but less so than Alexander Valley. The growing season is also longer, making it more suited to long-ripening grapes. 

Dry Creek's northern vineyards are suited best for fit for Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc. Many are "old vines" dating back to the 1880’s and produce rich, ripe wines with peppery undertones. The Sauvignon Blanc wines can sometimes be excessively grassy, benefiting from barrel fermentation and blending with Semillon. The finer Cabernet Sauvignons are very intense with strong, earthy notes. As you move south toward the Russian River Valley, the Chardonnay and Riesling are more frequent.

Glen Ellen: Glen Ellen is in southern Sonoma County, near Sonoma Valley itself. The long-time home of literary legend Jack London, it is now a haven for writers and artists alike. Wines from this area vary dramatically, but several hillside vineyards produce outstanding Chardonnay, Merlot, and other classic varietals.

Green Valley: Green Valley–Sonoma is one of two Green Valley appellations in California and the more respected. Solano County is home to the other Green Valley appellation. A subdivision of the Russian River Valley lying on the southwest corner, Green Valley-Sonoma is not as hot as the rest of the Russian River Valley. Cool climate varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are widely planted, and used to produce both table and sparkling wines. Chardonnay is medium bodied with a distinctive green apple flavor.

Kenwood: Kenwood is a city in Sonoma County, midway through Sonoma Valley. Warm, hillside vineyards here produce very heavy and intense reds and whites.

Knight's Valley: South of Alexander Valley and north western Napa Valley, conditions here are very warm and dry. Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are the most common grapes planted, followed by Merlot. Several small wineries also produce noteworthy Chardonnay. 

Lytton Springs: Lytton Springs is north of Healdsburg, and is world renown for Zinfandels of intense berry and pepper. The climate is very hot, ideal for dry cultivation of Zinfandel.

Northern Sonoma: Although a VA in its own right, Northern Sonoma is infrequently found on the label. Since it includes Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Knight’s Valley and Russian River Valley and its sub-regions Chalk Hill and Green Valley-Sonoma, most wineries prefer to use those appellations.

Russian River Valley: The Russian River, born in Mendocino County, is one of the longest rivers in northern California and helps define many wine regions in Sonoma County, including Russian River Valley. It includes the low-lying plains between Healdsburg and Sebastopol as it heads to the Pacific Ocean, and the western part of Chalk Hill.

The climate is relatively cool, regulated by fog and the Russian River itself. In the southwest section, the fog is more frequently seen in July and August, making great conditions for Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir. Cabernet Sauvignon does not grow as well as other grapes. The lower Russian River Valley experiences similar conditions, producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for sparkling wines. There has also been success in growing dry-styled Johannisberg Riesling and Gewürztraminer.

Sonoma Mountain: Sonoma Mountain is a sub-regional VA of Sonoma Valley located in the mountain range west of Glen Ellen. The eastern-facing vineyards are between 400 - 600 feet elevation, while the western-facing vineyards are at 1,200 - 1,600 feet elevation. Each side has a similar soil, known as Spreckles-Felta. Both sides are also above the fog line, so the temperature is warmer than the valley's floor. The mountain also receives more rain that the valley floor. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are grown.

Sonoma Valley: Sonoma Valley, often considered the birthplace of Sonoma wine lies between the Sonoma Mountain range to the west and the eastern Mayacamas Mountains. Sonoma Valley is also sometimes called the "Valley of the Moon."

West Cost winemaking began here in 1825, when missionary monks established Mission Sonoma. In the 1850’s and 1860’s, Agoston Haraszthy determined which varieties performed best in Sonoma's climate, importing thousands of cuttings from rom 300 different grapes of Europe . 

6,500 acres of vineyards stretch all the way to the San Pablo Bay. The Bay provides a welcomed summer fog that cools the valley. The cooler regions like Carneros are in the south, while the warmer areas are in the midsection between Glen Ellen and Kenwood.

Sonoma Valley boasts wide variations of soil, elevation and topography. In southern Sonoma Valley, from Carneros to the town of Sonoma, the best wines come from varietals like Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and occasionally Merlot. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the two most planted grapes in the Valley.

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A
A. Rafanelli Winery
Adler Fels Winery
Alderbrook Vineyards and Winery
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Arrowood Vineyards and Winery

B
B. R. Cohn
Balverne Vineyards
Bella Vista Estate Wines
Bellerose Winery
Belvedere Winery
Benzinger Family Winery
Buena Vista Vineyards

C
Canyon Road Winery
Chalk Hill Estate Winery
Chandelle
Chateau Souverain
Chateau St. Jean
Cline Cellars
Clos du Bois

D
Davis Bynum
De Loach Vineyards
De Lorimier Winery
Deerfield Ranch
Domaine St. George
Dry Creek Vineyards

E 

F
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery 

G
Gan Eden Wines  
Gary Farrell Wines
Geyser Peak Winery/Foxridge Cellars
Groove Street Winery

H
H. Coturri & Sons
Hanna Winery
Hanzell Vineyards
Hop Kiln Winery

I
Iron Horse Vineyards

J
J Winery
Joseph Swan Vineyards

K
KAZ Vineyard & Winery
Kenwood Vineyards
Kistler Vineyards
Kunde Estates

L
Landmark Vineyards
Laura Glen Vineyard
Laurier Vineyards
Lytton Springs/Ridge Winery

M
Mark West Vineyard Winery
Matanzas Creek Winery
Mayo Family Winery
Meeker Vineyards 
Michel-Schlumberger 
Murphy-Goode Estate Winery

O

P
Pellegrini Family Vineyards
Peter Michael Winery
Peterson Winery
Piper Sonoma
Preston Vineyards

Q
Quivira Vineyards

R
Rabbit Ridge Vineyards
Ravenswood Winery
Rochioli Winery
Rodney Strong Vineyards
Rosemount Estate

S
Sebastiani Vineyards
Seghesio Winery
Silver Oaks Vineyards
Simi Winery 
Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
St. Francis Winery
Stone Creek Wines

T
Topolos
Trentadue Winery
Turnbull Wine Cellars

U

V
Valley of the Moon
Venezia Winery 
Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace

W
Wellington Vineyards
White Oak Vineyards and Winery
Windsor Vineyards 

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Y

Z