The land

Sonoma County is far more geographically diverse than Napa. The southern coastal areas (Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Carneros) are heavily influenced by Pacific fog and produce cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The interior valleys (Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley) are warmer and produce structured Cabernet, Zinfandel, and Merlot. Northeast Sonoma (Knights Valley, Chalk Hill) continues that warmer pattern.

The AVAs

Sonoma County AVA covers everything. Within it: Russian River Valley (Pinot, Chardonnay), Sonoma Coast (Pinot, Chardonnay, particularly the West Sonoma Coast — the cool fog-zone where producers like Hirsch, Marcassin, and Littorai work), Sonoma Valley (Cabernet, Chardonnay), Carneros (the cooler southern zone shared with Napa, Pinot and Chardonnay), Dry Creek Valley (Zinfandel especially), Alexander Valley (Cabernet), Knights Valley, Chalk Hill, Bennett Valley, and others. The newer ‘Petaluma Gap’ and ‘West Sonoma Coast’ AVAs cover the most extreme cool-climate sites.

Style of the wines

Russian River and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is some of the most serious Pinot in the New World — cool-climate, perfumed, often Burgundy-style. Russian River Chardonnay can be either elegantly oaked (the Burgundian style) or richer and more buttery (the older California style). Dry Creek Zinfandel is the regional flagship for old-vine Zin (see /encyclopedia/grapes-encyclopedia/zinfandel-encyclopedia/). Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley Cabernet rival many Napa wines at lower prices.

Vintages to know

2019 — outstanding. 2016 — exceptional. 2013 — superb. 2010 — classic balance.

Producers we know

Pinot Noir / Chardonnay: Williams Selyem, Kosta Browne, Hirsch Vineyards, Littorai, Marcassin (Helen Turley’s cult bottlings), Kistler, Failla, Aubert, Peter Michael, Rochioli. Zinfandel: Ridge (Geyserville and Lytton Springs), Turley, Bedrock Wine Co., Carlisle, Seghesio. Cabernet: Silver Oak (Alexander Valley), Jordan, Verité, Lancaster Estate.