http://eecoswitch.com/index.htm Sonoma County Wine Guide

Sonoma County Locals Choice Wine Guide

Sonoma County is a well known grape growing and wine producing region located 30 miles north of San Francisco. The moderate weather is ideal for a wide variety of agricultural products, but vineyards, grape growing and wineries dominate Sonoma County’s economy landscape.

The county seat rests in Santa Rosa which is about 65 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

There are over 200 award-winning wineries located in Sonoma County with twelve distinct grape growing regions, also known as appellations or designated AVAs (American Viticultural Area). These consist of Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Carneros-Sonoma, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Mountain and Sonoma Valley.

For the purposes of this article we will focus on the three most northern appellations of Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River Valley.

The Alexander Valley is the most northern appellation in Sonoma County, is the warmest region, and borders Mendocino County. Alexander Valley is known for growing a wide range of grape varietals that grow well in warm climates such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Sangiovese. These are red grape varietals that do well in warmer weather, whereas white varietals like cooler weather.

Some well known wineries and tasting rooms in Alexander Valley include Silver Oak, Murphy Goode, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and Geyser Peak. The small enclave of Geyserville sits in the middle of Alexander Valley, and has a collective wine tasting room called Locals, as well as a few very good restaurants.

Dry Creek Valley is southwest of Alexander Valley and west of the town of Healdsburg, the hub where these three appellations meet. Dry Creek Valley is known for growing Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as several Rhone varietals such as Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Mourvedre.

The Dry Creek Store is a great place to stop for lunch. It’s located in the heart of the valley on Dry Creek Rd. Notable wineries in Dry Creek Valley include Dry Creek Vineyards, Ferrari-Corano, Rafanelli, Bella Vineyards, Mauritson, and dozens more.

The Russian River Valley is just south of Dry Creek Valley and also includes the sub-appellation of Green Valley. It is recognized as a premium growing region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Warm days and the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean provides ideal conditions for growing these varietals. Other varietals grown in the Russian River Valley include Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinto Gris.

The Russian River is repleat with restaurants and eateries throughout. Some of the most noteworthy wineries include Martinelli, Rochioli, Gary Farrel, Hartford Court, and many more.

Sonoma County is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and has miles of roads along its majestic coastline. Other features of Sonoma County include the Russian River, magectic redwoods, over 20 gof courses, over 40 spas, diverse festivals, numerous local Farmers’ Markets and an incredible amount of top notch restaurants and eateries.

For these and many more reasons, Sonoma County is a very popular vacation destination point for people from all over the world. If you are planning a visit to Sonoma County be sure to check with the Chamber of Commerce in the particular area you will be visiting to see if there are any special events going on.

You may also want to contact any specific wineries you plan to visit and get a copy of their events calendar. Wineries are notorious for events throughout the year, many featuring food and wine pairing, music and holiday themes.

For recommendations of wineries and restaurants in the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley, visit http://sonomacountywineguide.com.

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