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Beverage / Sonoma County
USA — wine

Sonoma County

Sonoma County is Napa's larger, more diverse neighbour — often compared to Burgundy (multiple distinct terroirs and varieties) versus Napa's Bordeaux (one dominant variety, one dominant style). The Russian River Valley produces California's benchmark Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — the Goldridge sandy loam and the persistent morning fog from the Pacific create an extended growing season that produces wines of elegance rarely achieved elsewhere in California. Dry Creek Valley's old-vine Zinfandel (some vines 120+ years old) is a unique American wine identity. The Sonoma Coast's extended boundaries were contested but now produce the state's most exciting cool-climate expressions.

Benchmark products
wine still
Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon
Ridge Vineyards
reserve
wine sparkling
2021 Brut Old Vine Sparkling (Betty Ann Vineyard Colombard)
Marchelle Wines
wine still
2021 Fourth Act Pinot Noir
Marchelle Wines
wine still
2021 van der Kamp Pinot Noir
Marchelle Wines
wine still
Adastra Vineyard Pinot Noir, Los Carneros
Talisman Wine
wine still
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Bella's Cabernet Sauvignon
Ehret Family Winery
wine still
Cabernet Sauvignon Impassable Mountain
Immortal Estate
wine still
Cabernet Sauvignon, Pedregal Vineyard, Oakville
Ramey Wine Cellars
wine still
Cabernet Sauvignon Slope
Immortal Estate
wine still
Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
wine still
Chardonnay Cahill Lane Vineyard
Walter Hansel Winery
wine still
Chardonnay Cuvée Alyce
Walter Hansel Winery
wine still
Chardonnay, Hyde Vineyard, Carneros-Napa
Ramey Wine Cellars
wine still
Chardonnay Nightwing Petaluma Gap
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
wine still
Chardonnay, Russian River Valley (appellation blend)
Ramey Wine Cellars
wine still
Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
wine still
Chardonnay The North Slope
Walter Hansel Winery
wine still
Counoise
LOTIS Wines
wine still
Cuvée bottlings (multi-vineyard blends)
Talisman Wine
wine still
Dutton Ranch Chardonnay
Kistler Vineyards
wine still
Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir
Inman Family Wines
wine sparkling
Extra Brut Luxe Cuvée
Inman Family Wines
wine still
George Menini Estate Chardonnay
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Goldrock Estate Pinot Noir
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Grenache Provisor Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley
LOTIS Wines
wine still
Grenache Rosé Eagle Point Ranch, Mendocino
LOTIS Wines
wine still
Hillside Reserve (Cabernet-based blend)
Ehret Family Winery
wine still
Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay
Kistler Vineyards
wine still
Hyde Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Impassable Mountain Reserve
Immortal Estate
wine still
Kanzler Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
Kanzler Family Vineyards
wine still
Kanzler Mes Filles Pinot Noir
Kanzler Family Vineyards
wine still
Kanzler One Fifteen Pinot Noir (clone designate)
Kanzler Family Vineyards
wine still
Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Kanzler Family Vineyards
wine still
Kanzler Walker Station Chardonnay
Kanzler Family Vineyards
wine still
Katherine Lindsay Estate Pinot Noir
Paul Hobbs Winery
spirits gin
Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay (original planting, bottled since 1986)
Kistler Vineyards
wine still
Kistler Vineyard Cuvée Cathleen (reserve blend)
Kistler Vineyards
wine still
Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
Talisman Wine
wine still
Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Ehret Family Winery
wine still
Knights Valley Merlot
Ehret Family Winery
wine still
Knights Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Ehret Family Winery
wine still
Littorai Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Littorai
wine still
Madonna Vineyard Pinot Noir (Carneros)
Talisman Wine
wine still
McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay
Kistler Vineyards
wine still
OGV Estate Pinot Noir
Inman Family Wines
wine still
Old Vine Cinsault (Bechthold Vineyard)
Marchelle Wines
wine still
Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Russian River Valley
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Paul Hobbs Goldrock Estate Pinot Noir
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Paul Hobbs Katherine Lindsay Estate Pinot Noir
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Paul Hobbs Nathan Coombs Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Paul Hobbs Winery
wine still
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
wine still
Pinot Noir Estate
Walter Hansel Winery
wine still
Pinot Noir The South Slope
Walter Hansel Winery
wine still
Pinot Noir, Westside Farms, Russian River Valley
Ramey Wine Cellars
wine still
Pinot Noir Wildcat Mountain Vineyard
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
wine still
Red Dog Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Mountain
Talisman Wine
wine still
Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Inman Family Wines
wine still
Russian River Valley Pinot Gris
Inman Family Wines
wine still
Syrah, Sonoma Coast
Ramey Wine Cellars
wine still
Tritone Cuvée Chardonnay
Marchelle Wines
wine still
Vermentino Las Brisas Vineyard, Carneros
LOTIS Wines
wine still
Weir Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yorkville Highlands
Talisman Wine
wine still
Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir, Los Carneros
Talisman Wine
wine still
Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)
Talisman Wine
wine still
Williams Selyem Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir
Williams Selyem Winery
wine still
Williams Selyem Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Williams Selyem
Vintage assessments
Year Rating Notes
2023 86 Rain events in spring created mildew pressure. Summer warmth salvaged quality. Chardonnay particularly impressive. Late harvest conditions variable.
2022 91 Fine balance across appellations. Good yields after drought. Pinot Noir with distinctive red cherry and sanguine character. Classic Sonoma.
2021 89 Small crop, intense flavours. Drought-concentrated wines with bright acidity. Cooler zones (Sonoma Coast, Fort Ross-Seaview) outperformed.
2020 78 Smoke taint widespread from Glass Fire and others. Many growers dropped fruit. Smaller production but some clean parcels harvested early.
2019 92 Early harvest, compact growing season. Precise flavours. Standout year for Pinot Noir across Sonoma Coast, Russian River, and Green Valley.
2018 93 Excellent recovery year. No fire events. Cool finish extended hang time. Elegant, high-acid Chardonnay and beautifully structured Pinot.
2017 81 Tubbs and other wildfires impacted October harvest. Smoke taint concerns widespread. Earlier harvested wines notably cleaner. Challenging year.
2016 94 Long, cool growing season. Russian River Pinot at zenith. Chardonnay with stunning balance. Best in a decade for cool-climate varieties.
2015 87 Drought stress concentrated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Russian River Valley impressive. Rich, layered wines. Some over-ripeness in warmer sites.
Provenance