Sonoma AVAs Flashcards
Describe Alexander Valley AVA
The Alexander Valley AVA sits at the top of Sonoma County with about 15,000 acres of much prized vineyards. Within the 76,000 total acres of this AVA, there are a variety of microclimates supporting a substantial range of grape varieties. Originally, the AVA was designated for the alluvial floodplain vineyards on both banks of the Russian River, but those boundaries have since been expanded to include mountainside vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme on the gravelly terrain of the valley floor.
Established 1984
Region III
Describe Bennett Valley AVA
Bennett Valley, is located almost completely within Sonoma Valley, and partially crossing over into the Sonoma Coast and Sonoma Mountain AVAs. Bennett Valley is an 8,140 acre viticultural area with 650 acres currently planted to varietals such as Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. It is surrounded by the Sonoma Mountain Range on three sides and the city of Santa Rosa to the north. Crane Canyon to the southwest is a gap between Sonoma Mountain and Taylor Mountain which allows the cooling coastal fog and breezes from the northern Pacific Coast. There are currently only two bonded wineries, Matanzas Creek Winery and Sable Ridge Vineyards. Matanzas was the driving force in the creation of the AVA.
Established 2003
Region II (?) Cold b/c the Crane Canyon Gap to the west
Describe Chalk Hill AVA
Occupying the northeast corner of the larger Russian River AVA, Chalk Hill is named for its unique, volcanically-derived, chalky white ash soils. These mildly fertile soils lend themselves to the production of excellent whites, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The appellation has over 1,000 acres under vine, enjoying a warmer climate, relative to the rest of the Russian River Valley. Due to the higher elevation of this viticultural area, vineyards escape much of the cooling fog that regularly shrouds the lower-lying growing areas near the river.
Sub-AVA of Russian River
Est: 1983
Region III
Describe Dry Creek AVA
Zinfandel was the valley’s top red grape a century ago, and its return to prominence during the last 20 years has put Dry Creek Valley back in the limelight. Only Amador County in the Sierra Foothills is as closely identified with red Zin as Dry Creek Valley is today. (Sauvignon Blanc is the valley’s signature white grape.) Water increasingly rules California’s environmental and agricultural politics, and Dry Creek’s western end is anchored by “Lake Sonoma” – a reservoir created to ensure a steady supply of fresh water for the vineyards downstream.
Est: 1983
Region III
Describe Fort Ross-Seaview AVA
Fort Ross-Seaview AVA starts the redefinition of the true Sonoma Coast, yet took some time to finally arrive. With its distance from the Pacific, about 4 to 5 miles wide, taking in the first two coastal ridges and west-facing slope of the third ridge line set back from the ocean itself. Elevation has a critical role with boundary lines above 920 feet bringing the summer fog line into play with areas above and below. The upper elevations, above 1,600 feet, can experience significantly greater summer heat. Nighttime temperatures fall off rapidly and provide significant diurnal effects.
Describe Fountaingrove District AVA
The 38,000 acre “Fountaingrove Distict” lies within Sonoma County, CA. Located on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, that separate Napa Valley from Sonoma. Topography varies from low rolling hills in the far west to steeper mountain slopes moving east. While there is a diversity of soils in the AVA the predominant nature of the soils are derived from Sonoma Volcanic and Franciscan Formation bedrock and consist of volcanic materials, such as pumiceous ashflow tuff and basalt lava.
Describe Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA
Sonoma County Green Valley’s nippy terroir ripens fruit slowly, causing many observers to regard this appellation as a frontier for cool-climate varieties. The viticultural area is a small swath of land that takes a southwestern slice from the larger Russian River Valley AVA. Because of its location, Green Valley has more exposure to the Pacific’s cooling effect. While most of the Russian River Valley is rated as cool, the Green Valley sub-appellation is even cooler.
Describe Knights Valley AVA
The warmest of Sonoma County’s viticultural areas, Knights Valley derives its heat from its lofty perch, high on hills and beyond the reach of the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the appellation separates the rest of Sonoma County from Napa Valley. Since the 1970s Beringer has used Knights Valley as a source of excellent Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, which thrives in the warmth and the fertile volcanic soils. Cabernet Sauvignon remains the star attraction in the 2,000 acres of vineyards of Knights Valley. Also present are the rest of the Meritage cast: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot, as well as some Sauvignon Blanc, generally resulting in a full-blown, rich and fruity style.
Describe Moon Mountain District Sonoma County AVA
Moon Mountain District Sonoma Valley lies entirely within the Sonoma Valley AVA and Sonoma County appellation. It is a mountain oriented AVA comprised of 17,633 acres set above the Sonoma Valley in southern Sonoma County.
Describe Northern Sonoma AVA
This large, 329,000-acre catch-all AVA includes just about all of Sonoma County, including the smaller AVAs within it, except for its southernmost appellations (Sonoma Valley and Carneros). BATF regulations require ‘estate-bottled’ wines to be produced and bottled in the same viticultural area as the vineyards where the grapes were grown. Thus, this broad and loose AVA boundary is convenient for producers with vineyards scattered through the county who wish to use an AVA designation, rather than the more generic ‘Sonoma County’ appellation. The most notable example of such a producer is, of course, the largest vineyard owner in the county, Gallo of Sonoma. Not surprisingly, they were the main petitioners for the Northern Sonoma AVA.
Describe Rockpile AVA
The aptly named Rockpile AVA is a remote, high-country growing area, where the unforgiving terrain and soils stress the vines into ripening. The demanding landscape brings out the best in Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, but it seems less hospitable to man, having yet to attract any resident wineries. Perched at elevations up to 1,900 feet, Rockpile is too far upland for the penetrating fogs that influence other Sonoma appellations. This exposes grapes to more California warmth and sunshine, boosting their ripeness and richness. Only recognized as an AVA in 2002, Rockpile is a northern extension of the Dry Creek Valley AVA. However, Rockpile is not a come-lately area, as it has been the source of intense, highly-defined red wines since 1872.
Describe Russian River AVA
Twenty odd years ago, the beautiful redwood-clad Russian River Valley was an unassuming mixed agricultural area, which drew little attention in status wine circles. Since then, the cool-climate consciousness that has swept across wine regions from coast to coast has given this low-lying valley and its 10,000 acres of vineyards considerably greater cachet. Russian River Valley, granted official appellation standing in 1983, is now one of the most recognized AVA names in America. The appellation is internationally renowned for challenging varieties like Pinot Noir, which excels in this cool-climate, yielding highly expressive wines. A lean and restrained style of Chardonnay is also a signature cepage for the region. One sixth of Sonoma County’s total vineyard acreage falls within the Russian River AVA boundaries, with all vineyards sharing to varying degrees the defining characteristic of cooling fog that is drawn inland from the Pacific each day.
Describe Sonoma Coast AVA
All of the vineyards along the Sonoma County coastline have been grouped under one official viticultural area, comprising more than half a million acres with roughly 7,000 acres under vine. This umbrella AVA was created largely to accommodate cold-climate, ‘estate-bottled’ producers, who own vineyards scattered throughout the cooler zones along the Sonoma coast. Cool climate and relatively high rainfall are the general ecological features shared by all vineyards within the Sonoma Coast AVA. These factors contribute to slow grape maturation, with optimum ripeness coinciding with the very end of the growing season – ideal conditions for the challenging Pinot Noir variety. The appellation stretches as far south as San Pablo Bay, right up to the Mendocino County line. Its broad boundaries overlap a number of other Sonoma AVAs and sub-AVAs. They also include some Sonoma shoreline vineyards, previously outside any other viticultural area. Recognition of the diversity of conditions within the Sonoma Coast has led to petitions to further divide this AVA into several sub-AVAs.
Describe Sonoma Mountain AVA
The 2,400-foot Sonoma Mountain range begins to rise above the town of Glen Ellen at the western edge of the Valley of the Moon. Found here are high-altitude, steep-sloped vineyards, with eastern exposures to catch the fog-free morning sun. These vineyards fall within the larger Sonoma Valley AVA. However, due to the unique hillside terroir, they are entitled to use the more specific designation of the Sonoma Mountain AVA. Powerful, yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignons – the appellation’s specialty – grow here on well-drained soils. The irregular folds and crevices of the mountain slopes also create microclimates suitable for limited production of a diverse range of other varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, as well as Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Describe Sonoma Valley AVA
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. 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.
