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Sonoma County wine region is close to the Napa Valley and San Francisco. It is one of the largest wine producing regions in California wine country and also in the world, making it feature prominently on any map of California wine country. The production of wine in Sonoma County faltered after the prohibition but experienced a rebound in the 1980s and had a hundred and twenty five wineries by then.
Today there are more than two hundred and fifty vineyards and plenty of top quality Sonoma County wine is abundant. Nearly two hundred thousand tons of wine grapes were harvested in 2004, worth more than three hundred million dollars.
History of Sonoma County Wine
Grapes were first planted at Fort Ross in 1812. Several thousand grape vines were planted at the Mission San Francisco Solano, which is now the city of Sonoma in the south of Sonoma County. Mission vineyard cuttings were transported to northern California to start new vineyards. Wine grapes were an established part of regional agriculture by the time of the Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma. The grape varietals planted then would not be considered premium grape varietals today.
Many immigrants to the area were from the north of Italy and other wine producing regions of Europe. In the 1920s there were two hundred and fifty six wineries in the Sonoma County area with over twenty two thousand acres in production. Commercial winemaking declined during prohibition and there weren't even fifty wineries left by 1933. As wine consumption began to grow in the United States, more vineyards were planted throughout Sonoma County and the region is still world renowned and successful today.
Sonoma County Wines
There are five distinct wine growing districts in Sonoma County, which are Sonoma Valley, Los Carneros, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley. Each district has small towns. Sonoma wine categories include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot, Shiraz and Zinfandel.
Sonoma County is twice as large as Napa in size but only produces about half the amount of wine. The region does however offer more diversity including climatically varied sub-AVAs. The sub-AVA of Dry Creek makes a wonderful Zinfandel and the Russian River produces excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons in the county come from the Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley creates other top quality wines.
Sonoma County Wineries
Pellegrini Family Vineyards have been in making wine since the early 1900s. They produce varietals including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Carignan and Dry Rosé. They have won a number of awards for their great quality wines.
Silver Oak Cellars is known for its fine Cabernets. Located in the Alexander Valley, their 2003 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly good. It can be kept in the cellar to improve up to 2026.
The D'Agostini Winery is the third oldest winery in Sonoma County. It was established in 1856 and is the oldest winery in the state to make Zinfandel. The original wine cellar with its rock walls quarried from nearby hills is still standing and is part of the Shenandoah Valley Museum wine making exhibition.
Author: California Wine Guide Staff Writer
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