Fine Wine from Sonoma County

Sonoma County is three times the size of Napa County and is divided into three main areas which are Sonoma Valley, Northern Sonoma, and Sonoma Coast. 13 AVAs are to be found in the County, spread across the three main areas, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel generally thrive in the warmer inland areas, whereas the cooler coastal parts are all about Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Sonoma Valley is the south-eastern corner of the county, and lying just across the Mayacamas mountains from where Napa Valley is. This area encompasses the sub AVAs of Bennett valley, Sonoma Mountains, and half of Carneros, and is sandwiched between the Sonoma Mountains and Mayacamas, and covered in cooling fog and ocean breezes, making it a relatively cool climate. Northern Sonoma – which covers the northern two-thirds of Sonoma County – is much larger than Sonoma Valley and encompasses 10 sub AVAs including Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley.