Russian River Valley

The Russian River Valley, was formally established as an American Viticultural Area on November 21, 1983. As the largest appellations in Sonoma County, Its boundaries roughly follow the low-lying flat plain extending south and west of Healdsburg as it tracks the Russian River as it turns toward the Pacific Ocean. The coastal hills at Guerneville mark the western boundary of the appellation.

What makes this appellation so special is its climate. What was once thought to an area unsuited for premium wines has become one the premier appellations with 12,000 acres planted to wine grapes, the majority being pinot Noir and chardonnay. The appellation includes over 200 winegrowers and 50 wineries. For many years, the only wine industry in the area was a mass-market sparkling wine. Premium wines were not attempted as the area was thought too cool. After all, Napa Valley was believed to be the best wine growing area in California, and it was far hotter than the Russian River Valley. The area that has become world renowned as perfect for cool climate grapes proved this notion to be dead wrong. We now know that The Russian River Valley is ideally situated to take advantage of the daily interplay between marine air, coastal hills, and warmer protected valleys. The valley is now recognized as an official American Viticultural Appellation (AVA). The boundaries to the area include the region defined by the Russian River and its tributaries, and also the area dominated by the cool coastal climate.

History

Winegrowing in the Russian River Valley was an after thought. The area’s agriculture was established on a long tradition of small sized farms that has recognized the potential of this valley's fog-cooled climate and well-drained soils for producing apples and vegetables. It was not until the 1970’s that the area began to produce wines of significant quality. At the time pioneering growers and winemakers of the valley began to acknowledge that early-ripening varieties of chardonnay and pinot Noir thrive in this distinctive climate, as do syrah, zinfandel and grapes for sparkling wines. The Russian River Valley continues its long tradition of small, family-owned farms with 25 or fewer acres unlike the large scale operations of the Napa Valley. Vineyards continue to share the land with farms devoted to sheep, cattle, apples, berries, market gardens, nursery products, Christmas trees and other animals and crops.

Soil and Climate

The general climate of the Russian River Valley is ideal for the areas leading wine, Pinot Noir. The area also produces a lean and restrained style of Chardonnay that has become a signature of the region. The weather is characterized by warm days and cool nights. In this part of the world, the Pacific Ocean is the most dominant partner with the winemaker. The ocean off the Sonoma Coast is very cold. The cold water and cool air collide with the warm air over the land making the chilling fogs of the northern California coast.

Between the Valley and the ocean lie the coastal mountains that rise to over 1400 feet. This range plays a significant role in protecting the valley from much of the effects of the coasts chilling fog. The course of the Russian River cuts through the mountains, affording the coastal air a door to come in and chill the valley.

The mornings frequently find the valley covered by a layer of fog. As the day progresses, the sun warms the land and burns off the fog. The warm days promote good sugars and allow the grapes to ripen. While the cool evenings created as the air off the ocean flows in to cover the land the perfect conditions for world class Pinot Noir. The presence of fog during the growing season provides the added benefit of slowing the maturation of local grapes in a characteristic way unique to the valley. Harvest in the Russian River Valley is typically 10 days to 2 weeks later than in the surrounding areas. The extended hang time allows the fruit to develop and concentrate complex and intense flavors while maintaining desirable levels of acidity. The resulting balance in the grapes is the dream of every winemaker.

The soil of the area is extremely diverse-differing in composition and depth from the fertile vineyards along the Rivers flood plain to rocky hillside vineyards that impart a multitude of subtly different qualities to the wines of the appellation. In general the soils of the Russian River Valley are well-drained, as a result of the high percentage of degraded sandstone and shale in the soil, or due to gravel underneath the soil. Drainage encourages extensive root development and less vigorous vine growth, which gently stresses the vines to concentrate flavor in the grapes.

Learn about the Los Carneros and Sonoma Coast appellations.