Sonoma County

Sonoma County is California's most diverse wine region — a sprawling patchwork of valleys, ridgelines, and coastline that stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the inland hills. Where Napa is defined by one valley and one grape, Sonoma is defined by contrast.

The Pacific Ocean is the defining force here. Cold Alaskan currents push fog through the Petaluma Gap and the Sebastopol lowlands each morning, cooling vineyards that would otherwise bake in California's summer heat. This diurnal temperature swing — warm days, cold nights — is the engine of Sonoma's elegance.

The region spans over 1,500 square kilometres, encompassing everything from the fog-drenched Sonoma Coast to the warmer, more sheltered Alexander Valley in the north. No single grape dominates. Pinot Noir thrives where the fog lingers longest. Cabernet Sauvignon finds its footing in the warmer inland valleys. Chardonnay bridges both worlds.

This is a region that rewards exploration — and punishes generalisation.

Sonoma's 19 AVAs each tell a different story shaped by fog, elevation, and distance from the ocean.

Russian River Valley
The benchmark for California Pinot Noir. The Goldridge sandy loam soils drain perfectly, stressing vines into producing small, intensely flavoured berries. Morning fog from the Pacific keeps temperatures cool through the growing season, preserving the natural acidity that gives Russian River Pinots their signature freshness and longevity.

Sonoma Coast
The wildest, most marginal AVA in Sonoma — and increasingly its most exciting. Vineyards planted on steep coastal ridges above the fog line produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of extraordinary tension and minerality. These are wines of place above all else.

Alexander Valley
Sonoma's warmest AVA, sheltered from coastal influence by the Mayacamas range. The valley floor's deep alluvial soils produce Cabernet Sauvignon of unusual approachability — ripe, generous, and smooth-textured, without the austerity of mountain fruit.

Dry Creek Valley
A narrow valley running parallel to Alexander, known for old-vine Zinfandel and increasingly for structured Cabernet. The benchland soils are well-drained and mineral-rich — producing wines of concentration and character.

Sonoma's coastal influence creates more vintage variation than Napa — and more opportunity for wines of genuine freshness and complexity.

2019 — The Benchmark Year
A long, cool growing season with no heat spikes. The 2019 Russian River Pinots are textbook — bright acidity, silky tannins, and a freshness that will carry them for a decade. The finest recent vintage for Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.

2020 — The Resilience Year
Smoke from wildfires affected some producers, but those who harvested early produced exceptional wines. EnRoute and Migration both navigated the vintage with precision — the resulting Pinots have a subtle complexity that sets them apart.

2021 — The Elegant Year
A cool, dry season that produced Sonoma's most elegant wines in recent memory. Lower alcohol, higher acidity, and a delicacy that rewards patience. The 2021 Russian River Pinots are already drinking beautifully and will continue to develop for years.

2022 — The Generous Year
Warmer conditions produced riper, more immediately expressive wines. The Alexander Valley Cabernets from 2022 are particularly impressive — generous, smooth, and approachable from release.

2023 — The Fresh Year
A return to cooler conditions after 2022's warmth. The 2023 Chardonnays — including Decoy — show exceptional freshness and citrus precision, with the acidity to age gracefully.

Bob Cabral — EnRoute (Duckhorn Portfolio)
EnRoute was created by the Duckhorn Portfolio to explore the Russian River Valley's potential for world-class Pinot Noir. Les Pommiers — named for the apple orchards that once covered the valley floor — is sourced from the appellation's finest sites, producing a Pinot of extraordinary silkiness and depth. This is cool-climate California Pinot at its most compelling.

Liz Tangney — Migration (Duckhorn Portfolio)
Migration follows the Pacific Flyway — the coastal migration route that gives the wine its name. Winemaker Liz Tangney sources from the Sonoma Coast's most wind-swept, fog-influenced vineyards to produce a Pinot Noir of genuine coastal character: saline, mineral, and alive with tension.

The Duckhorn Team — Decoy
Decoy was built on a simple premise: the quality of Duckhorn's winemaking, accessible from the first night. The Chardonnay draws from cool Sonoma appellations to deliver the freshness and balance that defines the range. The Limited Cabernet Sauvignon reaches into Alexander Valley for the warmth and generosity that makes it immediately approachable.

The ACTA Team — ACTA Wines
ACTA is a small-production label focused exclusively on Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Working with old-vine fruit from the valley's most established sites, the team produces wines of uncommon concentration and elegance — a hidden gem in the Sonoma landscape.