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Sonoma County embodies a wonderful climate that changes from valley to hillside, from moist ocean to dry inland, and from the cool southern regions to the warmer northern parts of the county. Elevation, fog, temperature, exposure to the sun, soil, the skills of the grape grower, and much, much more combine to make each vineyard a distinct place which produces unique qualities in its grapes. Those unique qualities are tasted directly in wines that come from a single vineyard. Many wineries have vineyard designations on the label, allowing wine drinkers to experience how place is captured in wines of the same grape variety but from different vineyards. Winemakers may choose to blend wines from several individual vineyards to achieve a desired balance and complexity. Regardless, place differentiates wines for wine drinkers and place distinguishes Sonoma County as one of the top wine producing regions of the world.
Sonoma is more than twice the size of its Napa neighbor andhomes an abbundance of vineyards and wineries. The Sonoma appellation has nearly one million total acres, nearly 100 wineries, and grows practically every grape variety that is to be found somewhere in California. It would rival Napa as the mecca of wine making, grape growing, and wine appreciation in California. Winemaking here goes back to the 1820s, when Franciscan monks first planted vineyards with the Mission variety. In the 1850's Hungarian immigrant, Agoston Haraszthy, who today is considered the ‘Father of California Wine’, founded the original Buena Vista Winery in 1857. In 1861, Haraszthy brought back more than 100,000 grape cuttings of over 300 different varieties from France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Of the cuttings he brought back, most found there way into Sonoma soil.
As mentioned above, Sonoma is an area of diverse climate, soils, geography and grapes. This diversity is represented in the number of AVAs within the area. If you look to the shelf of your local wine shop, you will see many, many famously delicious wines hailing from the Sonoma area. Try them and then try making wine from renoun Sonoma grapes. Isn't it time for a little Sonoma in your wine cellar?
For more information on visiting Sonoma check out www.sonoma.com
For lots more great information on the Sonoma wine area check out www.sonomawine.com
For more information on grape growing in Sonoma check out www.sonomagrapevine.com |