American Viticultural Area · CA
Sonoma Valley
Sonoma Valley is a federally-designated American Viticultural Area in CA, established in 1981. The map below shows its official TTB boundary alongside nearby AVAs.
The Sonoma Valley boundary is highlighted. Nearby AVAs are rendered in gray — click any of them to view that AVA's page.
At a glance
Established
1981
State
CA
Climate
Mediterranean
Signature varietals
Boundary recorded in 27 CFR Part 9 · Source: TTB
About the Sonoma Valley AVA
Sonoma Valley sits west of Napa across the Mayacamas Mountains and was designated in the same 1981 wave as its more famous neighbor. The valley is longer and narrower than Napa, opens directly onto San Pablo Bay at its southern end, and is cooled by marine air drawn through the Petaluma Gap and across Los Carneros. The climate ranges from cool Mediterranean at the southern (Carneros) end to warm Mediterranean north of the town of Sonoma.
Sonoma Valley is the original heart of California winemaking — General Vallejo planted vines here in the 1830s, and Buena Vista Winery, founded 1857, is among the oldest commercial wineries in California. The AVA is best known today for Zinfandel — particularly old-vine plantings on benchlands and hillsides — Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. Sonoma Valley overlaps with Los Carneros at its south end and with Moon Mountain District on the eastern hillside.
Nearby AVAs
Other American Viticultural Areas closest to Sonoma Valley — useful when a vineyard sits inside more than one AVA at once.