Northern Sonoma AVA

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Northern Sonoma AVA
Wine region
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established1985, amended in 1986 and 1990 [1]
CountryUnited States
Part of California, North Coast AVA, Sonoma County
Sub-regions Alexander Valley AVA, Chalk Hill AVA, Dry Creek Valley AVA, Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA, Knights Valley AVA, Rockpile AVA, Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA,
Total area329,000 acres (1,331 km2) [2]
Grapes produced Chardonnay [2]

The Northern Sonoma AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California, United States. The appellation covers most of the county with the notable exceptions of the Los Carneros AVA and Sonoma Valley AVA wine regions, which are located in the southern portion of the county. The creation of this AVA was largely based on the petitioning of the E & J Gallo Winery as part of their expansion of their Gallo of Sonoma brand. [2] The viticultural area incorporates the Alexander Valley AVA, Chalk Hill AVA, Dry Creek Valley AVA, Knights Valley AVA, Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA, and parts of the Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA and Rockpile AVA valleys. [3]

The majority of the grape varieties grown in Sonoma County are grown in Northern Sonoma AVA, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel. [4] Zinfandel is more commonly grown in the Rockpile and Dry Creek Valleys. [3] Gallo Family Vineyards are known for their Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay while Rodney Strong Vineyards is known for its Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc. Bacigalupi Vineyards, situated in the Russian River Valley, are known for their Chardonnay. [4]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogue Valley AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in southern Oregon

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Knights Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Sonoma County, California. One of Sonoma County's original five AVAs, Knights Valley AVA was formally designated an American Viticultural Area on October 21, 1983. Knights Valley AVA includes approximately 37,000 acres (150 km2). Over 30 growers maintain the 2,000 acres (8 km2) planted to wine grape vineyards. The easternmost designated Sonoma County wine region, Knights Valley AVA has the warmest climate in the county. The valley lies between the Alexander Valley AVA and Chalk Hill AVA wine regions to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east. Geographically, the appellation separates the rest of Sonoma County from the Napa Valley AVA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendocino County wine</span>

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The Mendocino Ridge AVA is a coastal, cool climate and high altitude American Viticultural Area located entirely within the coastal zone of Mendocino County, California. The boundaries of the AVA encompass the coastal ridges adjacent to the Pacific Ocean that reach inland toward the Anderson Valley. Roughly 36 miles of the southernmost portion of the Mendocino Coast make up the western boundary of the AVA, with the Sonoma County line as the southern boundary, the Navarro River as the northern boundary and Anderson Valley as the inland boundary running northwest–southeast. The Mendocino Ridge AVA "is essentially a northern extension of the true Sonoma Coast viticultural area." However, the Mendocino Ridge AVA designation is unique in that it is limited by elevation, reserved only for vineyards at or above 1200 feet. This means Mendocino Ridge is the only non-contiguous AVA in the United States. The Mendocino Ridge AVA has been nicknamed "Islands in the Sky," because the thick fog moving inland from the Pacific Ocean blankets the coast and the valleys between the ridge tops, making the tops of the mountains, where the vinyards lay, look like islands protruding from a sea of fog. The Mendocino Ridge AVA lands are above the Anderson Valley and Mendocino appellations. The Mendocino Ridge viticultural area boundary encompasses 262,400 acres, but the actual viticultural area contains only 87,466 acres. Of these, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 acres are suitable for vineyards. The loczl hillsides are very steep and covered with timber, making them unfit for planting. Estimates of planted acres range from 233 to 410, which accounts for about 0.3% of the total area.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dry Creek Valley AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California

The Dry Creek Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California, located northwest of the town of Healdsburg. The valley is formed by Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River, and is approximately 16 miles (25.7 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. The appellation benefits from the proximity of the Lake Sonoma reservoir for irrigation in this relatively dry area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian River Valley AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California

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California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted Vitis vinifera vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. In the 1770s, Spanish missionaries continued the practice under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra who planted California's first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenwood Vineyards</span> Winery in Kenwood, California

Kenwood Vineyards is a winery in Kenwood, California, located on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley wine country. It is currently owned by Pernod Ricard Winemakers.

Kelsey Bench-Lake County is an American Viticultural Area located in Lake County, California. The area is home to some 900 acres of vines in 27 vineyards, and was officially established as an AVA by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in October 2013. Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Riesling are the principal white grape varieties within Kelsey Bench and its neighbor the Big Valley District AVA. Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Franc varieties make up the majority of red grape plantings in the area.

References

  1. "§ 9.70 Northern Sonoma" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 "Northern Sonoma (AVA): Appellation Description". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Selinger, Hannah (6 November 2020). "Diverse Soils and Coastal Winds: The Ultimate Guide to Sonoma". Wine Enthusiast. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Northern Sonoma Wine Region and Appellation". Sonomacounty.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021.

38°30′N122°48′W / 38.5°N 122.8°W / 38.5; -122.8