Sonoma County Wine Appellations
There are 19 distinct Sonoma County wine appellations, wine growing regions known as American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Each has a unique climate and geography and directly correlates to the wine in your glass. From warm, sunny days to cooler, fog covered valley floors, the variations in the geography and climate influence each individual region in many ways.
Our Sonoma County AVA map is available for download as high resolution and low resolution JPEGs and PDFs. Also please take a moment to read the usage guidelines included in the download folder.
Sonoma County is an incredible spot to make many different styles of wines—it’s almost like a whole country in one county.
Keith Goldston, Master Sommelier
Alexander Valley
In the heart of Geyserville, Alexander Valley is home to multi-generational grape growers, premium wineries, and acres of breathtaking vistas. An undiscovered and idyllic place to visit, Alexander Valley is proud of its small-town roots, and big-time Cabernet. We invite you to taste our wines, spend time in the beauty of our valley, and celebrate our way of life. This is Cab Country.
14,449
Vineyard Acres
43
Wineries
1984
Established
Cabernet Sauvignon
Key Varieties
Bennett Valley
Merlot shines in Bennett Valley like nowhere else, with volcanic-laced, clayey soils and a moderately cool climate that results in extended hang time. The long growing season helps maximize flavors and increase concentration, while the cooler temperatures preserve the grapes’ natural acidity.
900+
Vineyard Acres
17
Wineries
2003
Established
Chardonnay, Merlot
Key Varieties
Carneros
One of the world’s premier winegrowing regions, Carneros is a cool climate appellation known for its unassailable Chardonnays, elegant Pinot Noirs and spectacular sparkling wines. Fun fact: Carneros was the first wine region based on climate rather than political boundaries.
6,481
Vineyard Acres
22
Wineries
1983
Established
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Key Varieties
Chalk Hill
Soil, climate and elevation all separate Chalk Hill from other parts of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. Occupying the northeast corner of the Russian River AVA, Chalk Hill is named for its chalky white ash soils. These mildly fertile soils lend themselves to the production of excellent whites, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
1,491
Vineyard Acres
5
Wineries
1983
Established
Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon
Key Varieties
Dry Creek Valley
Approximately 16 miles long and two miles wide, Dry Creek Valley is one of the smallest enclosed American Viticultural Areas. Roughly 9,300 acres of vineyards extend along the valley floor, the surrounding benchlands and hillsides, and 58 wineries produce a diverse selection of wines ranging from the renowned Zinfandels to Bordeaux and Mediterranean varietals.
8,055
Vineyard Acres
63
Wineries
1983
Established
Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon
Key Varieties
Fort Ross – Seaview
Fort Ross-Seaview American viticultural area is located in the western part of Sonoma County, close to the Pacific Ocean, Vineyards within this area are generally located on rounded ridges with summits extending above 1,200 feet consisting of steep, mountainous terrain made up of canyons, narrow valleys, ridges and 800- to 1,800-foot peaks.
715
Vineyard Acres
5
Wineries
2012
Established
Pinot Noir
Key Varieties
Fountaingrove District
Located in a section of eastern Sonoma County that is comprised of 500 hillside acres. Home to five wineries and more than 35 vineyards, the AVA is noted for its Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc as well as Syrah and Zinfandel. The area is surrounded by Sonoma Valley and Bennett Valley to the south, Knights Valley and Chalk Hill to the north, and the Russian River Valley to the west. The most remarkable feature of the district is its elevation, up to more than 2,000 feet in some places, as well as a marine influence caused by a gap in the mountains in Santa Rosa.
600
Vineyard Acres
4
Wineries
2015
Established
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Key Varieties
Green Valley
Foggy and filled with Goldridge soil for growing perfect Pinot Noir, Green Valley is one of the smallest appellations in Sonoma County. It’s very tightly delineated, both geographically and climatically, and is the most consistent of any North Coast appellation in terms of soil, climate and flavor.
2,860
Vineyard Acres
10
Wineries
1983
Established
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Key Varieties
Knights Valley
Knights Valley, the most remote of Sonoma County’s appellations, snuggles up against Mt. St. Helena, the area’s most influential geographical feature. The unique character of this appellation can be discovered in its mountain vineyards, where ideal growing conditions have resulted in Cabernet Sauvignon of regal quality.
2,496
Vineyard Acres
2
Wineries
1983
Established
Cabernet Sauvignon
Key Varieties
Moon Mountain
Moon Mountain District lies east of Highway 12 and spans 17,663 acres, which includes 1,500 acres of commercial vineyards planted at elevations from 400 to 2,200 feet. It’s located within the Sonoma Valley AVA, but the Moon Mountain vintners and growers have long wanted to distinguish their high elevation wines on the labels.
1,500
Vineyard Acres
4
Wineries
2013
Established
Cabernet Sauvignon
Key Varieties
Northern Sonoma
This AVA is as vast and amorphous as its name, encompassing Chalk Hill, Knights Valley, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, most of Green Valley as well as portions of Rockpile and Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak.
32,9000
Vineyard Acres
1990
Established
Cabernet Sauvignon
Key Varieties
Petaluma Gap
The Petaluma Gap is the gateway to Sonoma County wine country. Only 25 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Petaluma Gap vineyards are tucked into valleys and scattered on hillsides in perfect harmony with the area’s rural open space and rich agricultural history. With more than 80 vineyards covering over 4,000 acres, Petaluma Gap is truly a distinctive region within the Sonoma Coast AVA.
4,000
Vineyard Acres
9
Wineries
2017
Established
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Syrah
Key Varieties
Pine Mountain – Cloverdale Peak
This viticultural area is within the multi-county North Coast viticultural area and overlaps the northernmost portion of the Alexander Valley AVA and Northern Sonoma AVA. The distinguishing features include mountainous soils, steep topography with high elevations and a growing season climate that contrasts with the climate of the Alexander Valley floor.
310
Vineyard Acres
1
Wineries
2011
Established
Cabernet Sauvignon
Key Varieties
Rockpile
Spreading west of Lake Sonoma to the Mendocino County border, Rockpile is known for intensely-flavored red grape varietals with great concentration and balance. The elevations of up to 1,900 feet expose the vines to more California warmth and sunshine, boosting their ripeness and richness.
192
Vineyard Acres
0
Wineries
2002
Established
Zinfandel
Key Varieties
Russian River Valley
The Russian River Valley climate is sculpted by the regular intrusion of cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean a few miles to the west. The fog arrives in the evening, often dropping the temperature 35 to 40 degrees from its daytime high, and retreats to the ocean the following morning. This natural air-conditioning allows the grapes to develop full flavor maturity over an extended growing season.
14,167
Vineyard Acres
94
Wineries
1983
Established
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Key Varieties
Sonoma Coast
The Sonoma Coast AVA extends from San Pablo Bay to the border with Mendocino County. The appellation is known for its cool climate and high rainfall relative to other parts of Sonoma County. Close to the Pacific, with more than twice the annual rainfall of its inland neighbors, it’s warm enough to ripen wine grapes because most vineyards are above the fog line.
5,055
Vineyard Acres
7
Wineries
1987
Established
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Key Varieties
Sonoma Mountain
The 2,400-foot Sonoma Mountain range rises above the town of Glen Ellen at the western edge of the Valley of the Moon. These vineyards fall within the larger Sonoma Valley AVA. However, due to the unique hillside terroir, they are entitled to use the more specific designation of the Sonoma Mountain AVA. Powerful, yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignons – the appellation’s specialty – grow here on well-drained soils.
310
Vineyard Acres
3
Wineries
1985
Established
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay
Key Varieties
Sonoma Valley
The appellation is bordered by two mountain ranges: the Mayacamas Mountains to the east and the Sonoma Mountains to the west. Along with being the center of Sonoma County’s winemaking history, the area is also known for its unique terroir, protected from the wet and cool influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean by Sonoma Mountain.
192
Vineyard Acres
100+
Wineries
1981
Established
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay
Key Varieties
West Sonoma Coast
West Sonoma Coast is located on the furthest western sliver of Sonoma County encompassing the steep, rugged mountainous terrain along the Pacific Ocean coastline with elevations of the AVA ranging from 400 to 1,800 feet. Bright acidity, moderate alcohol, and pure flavors are the qualities that are often associated with the wines from the West Sonoma Coast.
1,028
Vineyard Acres
28
Wineries
2022
Established
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Key Varieties
