US Wine Regions: Sonoma

The Valley of the Moon, as Sonoma is known, has long been considered the cradle of California winemaking. Born more than 150 years ago, Sonoma has managed to keep its farmer mentality and laid-back roots while growing faster and larger than any wine region in California. The annual Sonoma County grape harvest is worth an estimated $200 million. And, it’s all only 35 miles from San Francisco.           

The crescent-shaped region stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the rugged Mayacamas Mountains and covers 16,000 acres of premium wine grapes over four appellations and 13 sub appellations. As such, this sprawling Valley is home to a broad range of soil types and microclimates that yield an extensive range of wines including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are the most planted, followed by Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and 17 other grape varieties.

From the northernmost Bennett Valley, where the cool climate yields small lots of ultra-premium Chardonnay, to the toasty Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile, world-renown for their rich, unctuous Zinfandels, the Sonoma Valley is home to more than 400 wineries.

 It was Kistler Vineyards in Sebastopol that first captured the world’s attention for elegant, cool climate Chardonnay from California. Gloria Ferrer Winery, on the winding Carneros Highway, is renowned for its world class sparkling wines. And it was the Sebastiani family of Italian immigrants who planted vineyards in 1825 – some of the oldest on record in California – that eventually put Sonoma on the map for Zinfandels. These legacies combined with a hot culinary scene in downtown Healdsburg, home to Cyrus and Dry Creek Kitchen, draw wine and food enthusiasts from around the world.