Sonoma Valley (AVA)
  Sign In
Subscribe to our newsletter
Bookmark and Share  


Framed by the Sonoma Mountains to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east, Valley of the Moon is the romantic cradle of Northern California’s wine industry. Here, at Mission San Francisco de Solano, the Franciscan monks planted their last and most northerly vineyard in 1823. In 1857 another kind of "father" - Count Agoston Haraszthy, dubbed "father of the California wine industry" - established Buena Vista Winery, launching the commercial wine industry in Northern California. Sonoma's rich history follows its unique terroirs. The Sonoma Mountains reduce the Pacific's cool, wet influence on the Valley of the Moon. In the lee of this range, Sonoma Valley’s annual rainfall is lower than in less sheltered areas. Still, cool air does penetrate from the south, off San Pablo Bay at Carneros, and from the north, through a gap into the Santa Rosa Plain. Though the valley itself is compact, a range of growing conditions and soil types exist from south to north and from valley floor to mountainsides. Subsequent sub-AVA approvals reflect some of these more specific viticultural areas and their distinctive terroirs.

Current Feature

In the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Georgia vineyards are small and few, yet the establishment of the Upper Hiwassee Highlands could bring much more.  [>] continue


Appellation Features

Lost in the Numbers By Dan Berger
December 24, 2005

[>] see all Sonoma Valley features (6)

Related Features


 

Best of Appellation

See the best wines of Sonoma Valley

See the best wines of
Sonoma Valley

BLUE BOOK PROFILES

Blue Book Taste Profiles for the Sonoma Valley AVA

Zinfandel

Alive & Well here


Cabernet Sauvignon: All hail the King! But a king doth not a gentleman make. A temperamental prince in youth, you’re  [>] continue

Recommendations

Quick Finds

Appellation Honor Role

Search the Sonoma Valley Wine List

 
select wine style:
select grape:
 

Featured Wines

Ty Caton Vineyards 2004 Syrah - Caton Vineyard Combines aromas of smoke and butterscotch with flavors of blackberry, cassis and fig with a supple, toasty oak finish.
buy wine $27.00



Buy Sonoma Valley wines
directly from these wineries

Advertisement



    Help us improve travel information to your favorite region...



Winery Sponsors

Winery sponsors of Appellation America’s coverage of the Sonoma Valley appellation.