Shopping Wine by Appellation

  Often when shopping for a bottle, you don't recognize the name of the winery on the label. That's because there are about 4,700 wineries in California alone. Assuming you've figured out what varietal you are looking for, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, heck, maybe even Petit Verdot, one way to help you select is by appellation. Sonoma County has 18 at last count. 

  Following is a list of major wine types and where you might find them appellation-wise. They will grow other places in the county and outside of Sonoma, of course, but this is a way to help point you towards a bottle.

Chardonnay

  Chard is best in cooler areas. These are Carneros, Russian River, and Sonoma Coast. Russian River tends to be riper, fruitier, softer than other areas. Sonoma Coast tends to be the leanest and brightest (meaning higher acidity) and often more expensive.

  A caveat: Much of the Sonoma Coast appellation isn't actually on the coast. Vineyards within sight of the ocean will produce different wines than those several miles inland from the cool Pacific waters.

A "true" Sonoma Coast vineyard

Pinot Noir

  Likewise, Pinot does best in cooler regions like Carneros, Russian River, and Sonoma Coast. Russian River will be bright red fruit. About one-fifth of California's Pinot comes from the Russian River Valley. Carneros is more subdued fruit, more elegant, silky, plus maybe dirt and spices. Sonoma Coast tend to be lighter in color and leaner, showing a number of aromas and flavors besides fruit. 

  Pinot has genetically mutated into many clones that taste different from one another (other grapes have also, but the differences are less pronounced). This clonal difference can mean as much as where they are grown.

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

 

Cabernet Sauvignon

  Cab likes it warm, so appellations like Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley, Rockpile, and Moon Mountain excel. Alexander Vly and Sonoma Vly are the largest so it's easier to find Cab from here ranging from $20 to over $100. Finding wines from Rockpile or Moon Mtn can be difficult. They are  higher elevation fruit so the soil and climate are different plus the vineyards tend to be more expensive to grow and maintain, so the wines are often more expensive.

Rockpile Vineyards

Zinfandel

  Dry Creek Valley is the home of classic Zinfandel. It's described as cherry, briary, brambly (wild fruit notes). It's not too soft or too fruity. It's just right. It's classic. Rockpile (raspberry, minerality), Moon Mountain (meaty, bright), Russian River Valley (plummy), Sonoma Valley (spicy), and Alexander Valley (plush, ripe) also have a good amount of Zinfandel planted.

Old zinfandel vines, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Moon Mountain District