Sonoma Valley

Also called the Valley of the Moon, Sonoma Valley is framed by the Sonoma Mountains to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east. By either name, it is the seat of the soul of the Northern California’s wine industry.

It was here, in 1823, at Mission San Francisco de Solano the Franciscan monks planted their last and most northerly vineyard. The Mission was founded by Fr. José Altimira, in what would become the town of Sonoma. While he acted without the knowledge of his superiors, he was encouraged by the Mexican governor, who wanted a buffer between the prosperous Bay Area settlements and the Russians at Fort Ross on the Pacific Coast.

The Russian fur traders turned out to be quite friendly to Fr. Altimira, donating things to the mission including a set of Russian bells. The mission failed, however, and was finally was abandoned. Today, the old mission is on the town square at Sonoma and has been restored as a California State Historic Park.

Sonoma Valley AVA is also the home of the oldest California winery, Buena Vista Winery, launched in 1857 by the famed Count Agoston Haraszthy, the acknowledged "father of the California wine industry". Buena Vista is still an active winery, renown both for its wine and for launching the commercial wine industry in Northern California.

The rich history of Sonoma County AVA follows its unique terroirs. The Sonoma Mountains reduce the Pacific's cool, wet influence on the Valley of the Moon and it receives less rainfall than in less sheltered areas. Still, cool air does penetrate from San Pablo Bay to the south, and from the Pacific, through a gap into the Santa Rosa Plain. Though the valley itself is compact, the range of growing conditions and soil types are diverse. The AVA supports a wide variety of grapes including standard California varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot, and less well known grapes such as Alicante Bouschet, Malbec, Lenoir, Semillon, Palomino, and Grand Noir.