Kenwood Real Estate Girl

Sonoma Appellations

I have lived in Sonoma County for 25 years. I have worked in hospitality as a fine dining waiter at the Kenwood Restaurant for 20 of those years. I live in the heart of wine country, in the Valley of the Moon…so, you’d think I know a lot about our Sonoma County wine appellations, but I don’t. That’s why I signed up for a very entertaining and informational short course,called Sonoma Appellations, at the Santa Rosa Junior College instructed by wine enthusiast and wine judge, Bob Fraser.

One interesting fact was to learn that Sonoma County’s wine industry is relatively new and really only bloomed in 1970’s when forward thinking farmers turned older agricultural crops into vineyards and "gentlemen farmers" gambled on a few acres of grapes to see if they could produce a fine wine. These were the beginnings that helped cultivate a new industry.

The first thing I learned is that Sonoma's wine regions are now called AVAs or American Viticulture Areas and federally designated. A unique climate zone or soil composition are some of the criteria that gets voted on to create an AVA .

Sonoma County is divided into 13 AVAs. I live in the Sonoma Valley AVA and I am pretty familiar with the climate and geography of my valley, but I didn’t know the reasons for some of the grape growing techniques or the soils needed for certain varietals. I’ve learned that Cabernet Sauvignon grows better on elevated terraces on the Sonoma Valley due to the longer sunlight on the mountaintops. This varietal needs a longer growing season. Or that head grown old vines are not necessarily “better” than trellised grapes. The last 30 years of grape growing knowledge has turned into a science and new wineries are popping up all over the county financed by mega corporations guiding the course. This opportunity had turned many family grape growers into millionaires. Marketing is the key to sales and touting a unique region or AVA of a wine is what educated consumers want. A Chardonnay from the Caneros AVA or a Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley AVA on a wine label and the sales increase. This is amazing to me that a type of soil can influence the grape, that produces a coveted wine from a named prestigious wine AVA and commands a certain price… and this makes the market.

My favorite AVA thus far, is the Russian River Valley RRV. I love, love, love Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noirs. This region has always had my favorite wineries to visit, but I didn’t really know why until I took this class…it’s all about the climates, soils and wine maker’s techniques

The Pinot Noirs of this region are mostly bright cherry fruit forward. There are many variations of winemaker styles, but those of Graton Ridge, Kenwood Russian River, Davis Bynum, Hop Kiln to name a few that I like, offer this style.

Another fact that was news to me is that Chardonnay is the most widely grown varietal in Sonoma County! The Russian River Valley is a large producer because grapes are grown on valley floors in gravely sediment soils, and cooling weather. Resulting in crisp, clean and citrus fresh flavors for Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays. One of my favorite wines is the Kenwood Sonoma Valley Sav Blanc made from a blend of Sonoma Valley and RRV grapes.

I have enjoyed the stories of how this industry has taken shape over the years . The history of how these farmers built communities and an industry along the way is interesting.

I am an avid hobby gardener, so this study of why grape varietals grow better in certain areas and take on the flavors of the terroir has always fascinated me. I only wish I had started this interest earlier in life…I may have been a wine grower or wine maker, by now… well at least, I’ve become an avid wine drinker.