The AVA
Sonoma Valley is California’s most historic yet frequently overlooked wine-growing region. Home to some of the country’s oldest vines, it is not only the birthplace of the California wine industry but also the state itself. Its diverse soils and dramatic diurnal shifts facilitate the balanced ripening of a wide range of grape varietals.
Framed by the Sonoma and Mayacamas Mountain ranges, Sonoma Valley follows the Sonoma Creek corridor from the village of Kenwood through Glen Ellen and the city of Sonoma before flowing into the San Francisco Bay. Within its borders lie smaller American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)—Carneros, Bennett Valley, Moon Mountain District, and Sonoma Mountain—each adding to the complexity of the region’s diverse terroir.
I refuse to accept that a region nestled between two of California’s most high-profile appellations is in any way inferior.
In 1987, the boundaries of the Sonoma Coast AVA were redrawn to sprawl across half of Sonoma Valley, making it the largest AVA in Northern California. Chasing trends, many producers dropped the Sonoma Valley designation from their labels in favor of Sonoma Coast, diluting the region’s identity in the process. Despite shifting boundaries and commercial pressures, Sonoma Valley wines are best appreciated through the small producers who make them.
