Wine in Sonoma County
Sonoma County is one of the most important wine growing regions in the country. Vines have been planted here since the 1850s and, apart from the inevitable hiatus brought about by prohibition, the county's relationship with wine has been prolific and unbroken.
Viticulturally speaking, Sonoma County is divided into three distinct sections: Sonoma Valley, Northern Sonoma and Sonoma Coast. With nearly 60,000 acres of vineyards, it is home to 18 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) or appellations, each with its own distinctive characteristics. From warm, sunny days to cooler, fog covered valley floors, the variations in the geography and climate influence each individual region in many ways.
| Sonoma County AVAs | ||
| Alexander Valley | Bennett Valley | Carneros-Sonoma |
| Chalk Hill | Dry Creek Valley | Fort Ross - Seaview |
| Fountaingrove District | Green Valley of Russian River Valley | Knights Valley |
| Moon Mountain | Northern Sonoma | Petaluma Gap |
| Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Park | Rockpile | Russian River Valley |
| Sonoma Coast | Sonoma Mountain | Sonoma Valley |
About 73% of Sonoma County's agricultural production is growing wine grapes — over 1100 growers. The most common varieties are chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir, though the area is also known for its merlot and zinfandel.
