Sonoma County

Sonoma County wine Is every bit as delicious as you’ve heard 

Napa Valley may get most of the attention, but Sonoma wine is just as accomplished as its more famous neighbor. And because of its incredibly diverse terroir—it even has a significant Pacific coastline and exposure to the Mayacamas Mountains—Sonoma County is the source of one of the most stylistically broad collections of wine in the state. Let’s take a deeper look.

What’s so special about Sonoma County wine?

Sonoma County benefits from a massive range of terroirs, which means that the grapes that are grown on Sonoma vineyards have the ability to express themselves in a seemingly infinite range of styles. Take Pinot Noir for example: Whether it’s grown in the Petaluma Gap, Russian River Valley, Carneros, or elsewhere, the diversity of micro-climates and spoil types mean that winemakers have an amazing opportunity to explore all aspects of the grapes that they work with. Combine that with the dozens of grape varieties that thrive in Sonoma, and you have the recipe for a region of infinite possibilities.

What kind of wine does Sonoma County produce?

Sonoma County is home to a wide range of wine, from dry to sweet and still to sparkling. However, some of the most well-known wines are Sonoma Zinfandel, Sonoma Pinot Noir, Sonoma Chardonnay, Sonoma Cabernet, and Sonoma Merlot. The best of them are balanced, delicious in their youth and possessed of the potential to age gracefully for years…sometimes decades!

How many wineries are there in Sonoma County?

According to sonomacounty.com, the official web site of Sonoma County, there are over 425 wineries in Sonoma County.

Are Sonoma wineries worth visiting?

Yes! Sonoma hospitality is justifiably renowned around the world. From boutique producers where you can taste with the winemaker him or herself, to larger operations that produce a wide range of wines and even include excellent dining options on-site, Sonoma wineries are absolutely worth visiting. The best way to start is the pick up a selection of Sonoma County wines at Total Wine & More to start the exploration from the comfort of your home. That way, you can not just decide for yourself if Sonoma wineries are worth visiting, but you can start to plan an itinerary, too!

What is an AVA and is Sonoma County one of them?

An AVA is an American Viticultural Area, the official term for a governmentally recognized wine region. Sonoma County is not an AVA, but Sonoma Valley is. Within Sonoma County, there are many AVAs—18 in total—including Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and more.

What are the sub-appellations of Sonoma County?

There are 18 sub-appellations of Sonoma County. They are, alphabetically: Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Carneros, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Fort Ross - Seaview, Fountaingrove District, Green Valley, Knights Valley, Moon Mountain, Northern Sonoma, Petaluma Gap, Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Mountain, and Sonoma Valley.

What are popular brands of Sonoma County wine that Total Wine & More carries?

Total Wine & More has a world-class selection of Sonoma County wines. Some of the most popular are La Crema, Scribe, St. Francis, Rodney Strong, Gloria Ferrer, Buena Vista, Ferrari-Carano, Truett Hurst, Ram’s Gate, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sobon Estate, Tuli, Olema, Sonoma Loeb, Martin Ray Winery, and River Road Winery, among many others.

Browse our full selection of Sonoma County wine online or check out our selection of highly rated Sonoma County wine for a great new Sonoma County wine to try this week!

Want to learn more about Sonoma County wine?

Visit our Guide to Sonoma County wine to learn more about Sonoma County wine.