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Sonoma Coast AVA

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Coordinates: 38°24′N 123°00′W / 38.4°N 123°W / 38.4; -123
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Sonoma Coast AVA
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1987[1]
Years of wine industry208[2]
CountryUnited States
Part ofCalifornia, North Coast AVA, Sonoma County
Sub-regionsChalk Hill AVA, Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA, Los Carneros AVA, Northern Sonoma AVA, Petaluma Gap AVA, Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma Valley AVA, West Sonoma Coast AVA
Total area480,000 acres (750 sq mi)[1]
Size of planted vineyards11,452 acres (4,634 ha)[1]
Grapes producedCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Marsanne, Merlot, Pinot gris, Pinot Meunier, Pinot noir, Pinotage, Roussanne, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel[3]
No. of wineries269[3]

Sonoma Coast is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Sonoma County, California encompassing approximately 480,000 acres (750 sq mi), mostly along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, but also includes inland areas extending from San Pablo Bay to the Mendocino County border. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on June 10, 1987 after reviewing the petition submitted by Ms. Sara Schorske, a wine industry consultant residing in Santa Rosa, California, for a viticultural area in Sonoma County, to be known as "Sonoma Coast."[4]
The appellation is known for its cool climate and high rainfall relative to other parts of Sonoma County. The area has such a broad range of microclimates that petitions were submitted to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury to establish the unique coastal viticultural areas of Fort Ross-Seaview , recognized in December 2011, and the West Sonoma Coast, more recently established in 2023.[5]

History

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Viticulture in the Sonoma coastal area is thought to be the first in what is today the North Coast AVA. Vitis vinefera vines may have been planted as early as 1817 according to historian Charles L Sullivan.[6] These vines were planted by Russian settlers looking to establish agricultural outposts in the Fort Ross vicinity. Vines were reported to be bearing fruit in 1823. By the 1880's, vines were established and wine was commercially produced in several places throughout western Sonoma County, including, but not limited to, the areas around Freestone and Occidental, Bodega, Forestville, Guerneville, and Cazadero.[6] Steve Heimoff, a wine writer, further notes ten acres (4 ha) of vineyard "at Plantation above Fort Ross Road, northwest of Cazadero."[7] Most of the western Sonoma County wine industry did not survive phylloxera outbreaks and Prohibition. Lemoral Winery near Occidental, built in 1903, was in operation until the 1960's.[2][8]

Geography

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The boundaries of the appellation are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Section 9.116.[1] The following seven cities are located in, or partly in, the Sonoma Coast AVA:

The Petaluma Gap is also part of the Sonoma Coast AVA.

Wineries

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E & J Gallo Winery operates Two Rock Vineyard, a 400 acres (160 ha) hillside vineyard near Cotati.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Establishment of Sonoma Coast Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [T.D. ATF-253; Re: Notice No. 6071 Final Rule). Federal Register. 52 (112). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 48083–48085. 1987-06-11.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b "Establishment of the West Sonoma Coast Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [Docket No. TTB–2018–0008; T.D. TTB–179; Ref: Notice No. 177] RIN: 1513–AC40 Final Rule). Federal Register. 87 (99). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury: 31164–31182. 2022-05-23.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b "Sonoma Coast (AVA): Appellation Description". Appellation America. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  4. ^ "Amended Petition to Establish Sonoma Coast Viticultural Area (formerly "Coastal Sonoma"". TTB.gov. South Coast Vintners Association. 1983-03-22.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ Mobley, Esther (2022-05-20). "Inside the 11-year battle to turn the remote coastline of Sonoma into an official wine region". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b Sullivan, Charles L. (2001). A Miraculous Intersection, A Short History of Viticulture and Winegrowing in Western Sonoma County. unpublished work.
  7. ^ Heimoff, Steve (2005). A Wine Journey along the Russian River. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. p. 224. ISBN 0-520-23985-7.
  8. ^ Gaffney, William "Rusty" (2013-08-14). "Part II: History of Fort Ross-Seaview Area". PinotFile, Newsletter. 9 (28). The Prince of Pinot.
  9. ^ Sawyer, Christopher (March 2005). "The Falcon and the Farmer". Wine Business. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
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38°24′N 123°00′W / 38.4°N 123°W / 38.4; -123

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