Russian River Valley Wines

The Russian River Valley is located in the middle of Sonoma County. It is mostly located in the overarching Northern Sonoma AVA with part of it in the Sonoma Coast AVA too.

The south and western regions receive cooling fog and wind through the Petaluma Gap. Here, early-ripening Pinot Noir and Chardonnay perform best. Due to the quality of the fruit, the boundaries of the AVA have been extended twice and plantings have increased massively in recent years. Inland, vineyards are sheltered by hills from the fog and breezes, giving warmer conditions, which are best for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and riper styles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

There are two sub-AVAs here as well. Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA is located next to the Petaluma Gap and is notable for having some of the coolest conditions in northern California. The Chalk Hill AVA is located in the northeast corner, just south of Alexander Valley. It is a hilly area, offering protection from Pacific breezes, and is further inland, creating a warmer climate.