Russian River Valley Neighborhoods

Sonoma County's Russian River Valley appellation (grape growing area) is well-known, especially for Pinot Noir. It's a huge region with a total land area of 160,000 acres, or 250 square miles, with 15,000 acres of wine grapes planted.

With this big of an appellation, you often find sub-appellations to define smaller areas based mostly on microclimates and soil types. While there are a couple sub-appellations, Green Valley and Chalk Hill, some local winemakers and grape growers decided to divide it up into unofficial neighborhoods.

  

Sonoma County appellations
click on image to enlarge

Background

The Russian River Valley has many microclimates due to the proximity to the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean and its diverse topography.

The RRV also has a variety of soil types, the most famous is Goldridge, a fine sandy loam made up of sand, silt, and clay. There are alluvial soils near the river, clay-based soils, volcanic, and sedimentary.

Each climate variation and soil type combination produces distinct wines, especially noticeable in Pinot Noir. Pinot is a delicate grape and a delicate wine, and shows more terroir than other grapes.

Neighborhoods Initiative
 

The local winemakers and grape growers were aware of differences in wine from vineyards scattered throughout the RRV. Rather than go through the process of setting up new sub-appellations, they came up with the idea of neighborhoods, something less formal. About 25 years ago, they partnered with a UC Davis professor to taste through wines from the area and analyze the differences.

So think of neighborhoods as unofficial, not government approved, appellations. The appellation of Russian River Valley and any sub-appellation will be on a wine's label; the neighborhood may not.

The six neighborhoods
click on image to enlarge

The Neighborhoods

Eastern Hills
In the NE corner of the Russian River Valley, butting up against a mountain range, this area sees less summer fog, and warmer daytime temps, than the other neighborhoods. Soils are volcanic and sedimentary. Besides Pinot Noir, you see plenty of Bordeaux grapes.

Eastern Hills vineyards

Green Valley
Between the towns of Forestville and Sebastopol the summer marine layer of cold fog tends to sit in this valley longer than anywhere else.

Green Valley in winter fog

Laguna Ridge
This narrow ridgeline sits between Green Valley and the Laguna de Santa Rosa wetlands. Soils are Goldridge. The wines are full-bodied with good tannin structure and acidity, and red fruit.

Morning fog at the Pelletti Vineyard
in the Laguna Ridge neighborhood

Middle Reach
South of Healdsburg and near the river, the climate is warm-to-hot with cool nights during the growing season. Soils vary between gravel, sand, silt, and clay. The wines are lush and rich. 

Rochioli Vineyard in the Middle Reach neighborhood

Santa Rosa Plain
Sitting to the west of Santa Rosa and east of the Laguna de Santa Rosa wetlands, the summer morning fog burns off quicker here, so afternoon temps are warmer, but nights quite cool. Soils are loam. It's warm enough here to also grow some great old vine Zinfandels.

Papera Vineyard old vine Zinfandel
in the Santa Rosa Plain neighborhood

Sebastopol Hills
Surrounded by Green Valley, West Sonoma Coast, and Petaluma Gap appellations with mostly Goldridge soils and generally has more winter rains, is cooler and windier than other areas. These conditions produce leaner, higher acid wines. I'm a member of a wine club with a winery making lots of different RRV Pinots. I've found that I have an affinity for the ones from the Sebastopol Hills. The government entity covering wine rules has been petitioned to make Sebastopol Hills an official appellation.

Sebastopol Hills neighborhood

Some info for this post from Wineanorak Wine Journal