Not All Wine is in the Doldrums

The common opinion is that wine sales are in trouble. While overall sales are definitely down, not all market segments are the same. Here's where you'll find growth.

Visiting Sonoma County, Part 2

The previous post was title Visiting Sonoma County -- Basic Info. This one is the intermediate course.  🍷

Visiting Sonoma County -- Basic Info

If you're planning a visit here are some things to consider. 

Alternates to Your Favorite Wine Varietal

Why try something besides your favorite kind of wine? One reason is that Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon are often on the expensive side due to their popularity. Another, you might just want to change it up.

This is focused on alternatives made in California. 

Free Stuff in Sonoma County This Summer

There are numerous free events and other ideas for the warm months of 2026.

Where To Go In California, By Wine Varietal & Style

The idea for this post came about after reading for the hundredth time in a Napa social media group, "We're going to Napa for our first time! I love Riesling, where do we go?" I didn't reply, but I'm thinking, you go to New York or Washington State. You don't go to Napa.

Following along with that idea is this, "I like ____. Where can I find it?" Not all-inclusive, but I hit some of the major ones.

Napa Being All Friendly

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I say this halfway joking.

The Growth of White Wine

White wines are in the midst of a boom cycle as U.S.sales surpassed red wines in 2024. That same year global white wine sales were up 3% while red wines were down 3%. Why is this and what might red wine producers learn?

The Emergence of Pinot Noir in Sonoma County

Sonoma County growing areas such as Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Petaluma Gap are known for Pinot Noir. Following is a timeline for the growth of Pinot in the county.

The Rise and Fall of Kenwood Vineyards

Kenwood Vineyards, located in the village of Kenwood in Sonoma Valley, has been a fixture of Sonoma County winemaking for over 50 years. The site has been home to winemaking for 120 years.

Complimentary Wine Tastings!

Spring in Alexander Valley
image from sonoma.com

Fourteen wineries in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley will offer free wine tastings and ten percent off of wine purchases during the month of April 2026. There are also some special rates on nearby lodging.

Some big name wineries are among the fourteen, including Jordan, Robert Young, and Silver Oak. 

Don't miss out! 

Info at Alexander Valley Winegrowers 

For other wine tasting deals in Sonoma County, see this previous blog post. 

A Visual Look at the Wine Market

A look at the wine market in a few graphs.
Every Picture Tells a Story, Don't It? Rod Stewart, 1971.

The Hot Spots for Zinfandel

Where are the best spots to grow Zinfandel? Here's a look at the top growing areas, or American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).

Cool Spots for Pinot Noir

Pinot loves a cool growing season. The grapes are thin-skinned, ripen early, and want slow maturing to retain their acids. A warmer climate means the thin skins get damaged by the hot sun, the acids are degraded, and the grape sugars shoot up before the flavors can develop. You wind up with a flabby, soft, simple wine. 

Changing Winemaking Customs

It seems like now might be a great time to change up the traditions in the wine biz. 

2025 California Grape Crush Report

 The state agriculture department has released the 2025 Preliminary Grape Crush Report. Following are a few highlights.

Could This Be a Big Reason Why Wine Sales are Down?

You've heard that wine sales are looking gloomy, and you've probably heard different reasons why.

Younger consumers don't think it's cool because their parents drink it. There's too much competition from newer beverages like RTDs (ready-to-drink alcoholic drinks in cans), seltzers, ciders, and craft beer.  There are health concerns. Another contributing factor is a post-pandemic let-down after huge sales just after businesses reopened in 2021. These all contribute, but price may be key.

Large and Small, the Two Wine Industries

Looking at the differences in large vs. small wineries we'll focus on what's typical for each. Large ones are usually owned by corporations or at least have corporate-like structures. Small are family owned and operated. They are different in many ways.

Northern California's Wine Regions

  When people think of California wine, they usually think of Napa Valley Cabernet first. Then maybe Sonoma County, specifically Russian River Valley, for Pinot Noir. There's actually a lot more. This is a look at the main wine regions of Northern California, listed alphabetically.

Wine Regions Experiencing Growth

It's not entirely doom and gloom for the American wine biz. There are areas that are adding vineyards and have new wineries planned. Here's a few of them.