Wine grapes have been planted in Sonoma County since the first European settlers arrived. In 1812, Russian immigrants began planting vines along the coast. In the 1820s, Spanish monks planted vines as they built their missions. In 1855, Hungarian Agoston Haraszthy founded Buena Vista, which bills itself as California’s first premium winery, still in operation today.
With its western border hugging the Pacific coastline, the southern portion of Sonoma is cooled by the ocean, fog and the winding Russian River. North of Healdsburg, hills block the ocean influence and create a slightly warmer growing zone.
Sonoma’s moderate climate has proven amenable for international grape varieties, including Chardonnay, with some 16,000 acres planted, and Cabernet, with 12,000 acres. Wineries have been successful in Sonoma by defining appellations that best reflect specific grape types and the wines they produce. Check out our links below for more on of some of Sonoma’s most prominent appellations.
