Sonoma
Sonoma is a diverse county of some eighteen AVAs, from the fog-cooled Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of the Russian River Valley to old-vine Zinfandel and hillside Cabernet.
Fast facts
At a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Climate | Diverse — cool coast to warm inland valleys |
| Geography | Large, varied county north of San Francisco Bay |
| Key appellations | Russian River Valley · Sonoma Coast · Dry Creek Valley · Alexander Valley · Carneros |
| Main grapes | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Famous for | Russian River Valley, Old-vine Zinfandel, Diversity |
Grapes
Signature grapes of Sonoma
The varieties that define this region's wines.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is Burgundy's great gift to the wine world — light in colour yet profound in flavour, haunting in i…
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the world's most planted white grape and a remarkable blank canvas for terroir and winemaking. F…
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is America's heritage grape, genetically related to Croatia's Crljenak Kaštelanski and to Italy's Pr…
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most famous red grape, the backbone of Bordeaux's great blended wines and th…
Nearby
Related regions
Explore neighbouring wine areas.
Wine travel
Visiting Sonoma
A more easygoing, food-obsessed alternative to Napa, with charming towns like Healdsburg and Sonoma.
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