Closed! Russian River & Green Valley Appellation Vineyard Land

Russian River Valley Appellation

15,000 vineyard acres / 70 wineries / Earned AVA status in 1983

Russian River ValleyThe Russian River Valley climate is sculpted by the regular intrusion of cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean a few miles to the west. Much like the tide, it ebbs and flows through the Petaluma Wind Gap and the channel cut by the Russian River through the coastal hills. The fog usually arrives in the evening, often dropping the temperature 35 to 40 degrees from its daytime high, and retreats to the ocean the following morning. This natural air-conditioning allows the grapes to develop full flavor maturity over an extended growing season - often 15 to 20 percent longer than neighboring areas, while retaining their all-important natural acidity.

Green Valley Appellation

3,600 vineyard acres / 10 wineries / Earned AVA status in 1983

Green Valley is one of the smallest appellations in Sonoma County. It lies in the southwestern part of the Russian River Valley, bounded by the towns of Sebastopol, Forestville and Occidental. It is very tightly delineated, both geographically and climatically, and is the most consistent of any North Coast appellation in terms of soil, climate and flavor. The fog is Green Valley's trademark. The predominant soil type (60%) of this American Viticultural Area (AVA) is Goldridge soil, the most sought-after type in Sonoma County—especially for Pinot Noir.