Sonoma County Wine

Home to over 400 wineries, Sonoma County is one of the most prestigious viticultural regions in the USA, with a history dating back to the 1850s. The region is almost three times the size of Napa Valley and contains the most diverse terroirs in the country, allowing Sonoma producers to create elegant and refined bottles that captivate wine critics and enthusiasts alike. From the famed Russian River Valley to the upstart West Sonoma Coast, wine from Sonoma takes a 'less is more' approach and always offers a broad range of high-quality bottlings to consumers.

Sonoma County Wine History

In the late 1850s Hungarian immigrant Agoston Haraszthy founded Buena Vista Winery, largely considered to be Sonoma Valley's first winery. This kickstarted a boom in the region, sparking Sonoma County wineries to become some of the most successful in the country. However, the start of the 20th century marked issues for the region as many wineries suffered from the infamous phylloxera outbreak, then went under due to the passing of the 18th Amendment, also known as Prohibition. Even after the repeal, many Sonoma wineries struggled to produce quality wine and, it was not until the late 1970s that wineries recovered. 

Sonoma's Top Grape Varieties

Sonoma estates produce a diverse range of varieties, from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. The latter is the dominant variety in the region, amassing the majority of wines in the region. Other popular reds include Merlot and Pinot Noir, often added in Cabernet-dominated blends to bring out distinct aromas and flavors in the final bottle. Unlike most other estates in California, Zinfandel is still a relatively popular grape for Sonoma wineries. Though most vines were discarded during the Prohibition years, existing vines are used to make premium red wines and rose. 

California's Most Unique Terroirs

Sonoma County possesses 19 unique AVAs, giving host to a range of unique terroirs. Overall, the region is divided into 3 distinct viticultural areas - Sonoma Valley, Northern Sonoma, and Sonoma Coast. 

1. Sonoma Valley is known for being California's coolest winemaking region, producing bright, intensely flavored wines.
2. Northern Sonoma is the largest of the 3 areas and contains 10 AVAs and is the county's center of commercial and winemaking activity.
3. Sonoma Coast lies near the Pacific Ocean and was primarily created to workaround American winemaking laws.

Of the 19 AVAs within the three main areas, Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, and Alexander Valley hold Sonoma's most pristine wineries. From fog-covered valley floors to sunny, high-elevation vineyards, the diversity of Sonoma County's terroirs provides the perfect conditions to produce wines of all kinds. 

What is the Best Wine from Sonoma?

With a history and winery portfolio that only Napa can rival (in regards to US winemaking), Sonoma wineries have gained a cult following for their productions. Some of the region's best estates include Verite Wines, Aubert Wines, and Paul Hobbs Winery. Each estate has crafted a distinct taste with innovative winemaking techniques inspired by and rivaling Burgundian and Bordeaux estates. Paul Hobbs, in particular, has become renowned for cultivating unique terroirs across the California coast, with some of their most notable vineyards located in the Russian River Valley and West Sonoma Coast. Furthermore, Verite Wines is the brainchild of legendary Kendall Jackson, who identified terroirs in Sonoma that could rival that of Petrus'.

How many Wineries are in Sonoma County?

There are currently more than 425 wineries in Sonoma County, ranging from premium wineries to young estates finding their footing in the industry. As one of the most popular winemaking regions in the world, the number of wineries continues to grow year over year. Get ahead of the curve and experience Sonoma excellence with our range of exciting wines from the region's top producers.