Food & Wine

Green Valley of Russian River Valley Wine Region and Appellation

Hartford Family Winery

The Green Valley of the Russian River Valley suffers an identity crises in name only. Originally called Green Valley, the appellation shared that name with Solano County’s much warmer Green Valley until 2008, when it was tied to the Russian River Valley, which encompasses it.

The characteristics that make it a unique region for growing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, however, are as plain as day – when they aren’t shrouded in thick fog. In a total area of 19,000 acres, Green Valley of the Russian River Valley has 3,600 acres planted to grapes. American Viticulture Area (AVA) status was awarded in 1983.

Top Grapes

Red flowers bllom in front of a hillside with vineyards — Iron Horse Vineyards

In this cool-climate region made famous for sparkling wine, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay might be expected to predominate, and indeed, those varietals do. Syrah is a distant third, made in a distinctly northern Rhône style. Several of Sonoma County’s top Zinfandel vineyards exist in favorable, sunny spots within the appellation’s boundaries, but they are seldom labeled as such.

The Lay of the Land

Green Valley of the Russian River Valley roughly outlines the watershed of Green Valley Creek, Atascadero Creek, and Purrington Creek, south of the Russian River. It’s bounded by Gravenstein Highway (State Route 116) to the east, Highway 12 to the south (except for a stretch along Watertrough Road), the Russian River on the north, and shadows the boundary of the Russian River Valley AVA to the west.

An apple tree in full blossom — Gravenstein Apple

Vineyards still share this area with apple orchards, another cool-climate crop. The Gravenstein apple is said to have been brought here via the Russian settlement at Fort Ross, which established inland farms in the early 18th century. A relic of an inland sea several million years old, the dominant soil series here is Goldridge, an unmistakably fine-grained, sandy soil that naturally limits vine vigor.

The cool climate is the hallmark of this AVA. Unlike some coastal locations, it’s largely sheltered from wind, and it isn’t the first to receive the fog bank – but once it’s there, the fog sticks around. Largely facing east, much of the appellation never manages to heat up as much as other areas before the afternoon cool-down begins all over again.

Notable Wineries

A table made out of a wood plank on top of barrels — Iron Horse Vineyards

Audrey and Barry Sterling were counseled not to plant grapes at Iron Horse Vineyards when they bought the property in 1976; they’ve since become one of America’s top premium sparkling wine houses. Their “tasting room,” a sort of open-air shack with a beautiful view, is delightfully rustic.

East on Graton Road, a picturesque branch of the valley typifies everything about the appellation. The Dutton family, apple farmers, was among the first to plant vineyards here in the post-Prohibition era. Dutton Estate pours Syrah as well as Chardonnay; Dutton-Goldfield Winery is a partnership showcasing some of the family’s best vineyards.

Founded by a Spanish wine dynasty, Marimar Estate is firmly rooted in Green Valley. Tucked into a lovely little corner of the AVA, Hartford Family Winery also pours Green Valley wines; DeLoach Vineyards is located east of the boundary, but is big on Green Valley wines.

Backroad Bodegas

A teak table with a red umbrella on a deck overlooking vineyards — Char Vale Winery

On the outskirts of Sebastopol, Freeman Vineyard & Winery offers a quiet cave for contemplation of Pinot and Chardonnay amidst the redwood forest, and family-owned Char Vale Winery, set on ten contiguous acres of world-class grape varietals, offers tastings of its estate Pinot Noir, estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, and single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Gris in an intimate and welcoming setting

Santa Rosa’s Donelan Family Wines makes intriguing Green Valley Syrah.

In the town of Graton, check out the under-the-radar wines of Paul Matthew Vineyards.

Restaurants and Lodging in Green Valley

No question about it, start your day with breakfast at Willow Wood Café, and wrap it up across the street with dinner and cocktails at Underwood Bar & Bistro, a favorite haunt of local winemakers.

When it’s time to check in for the night, Fairfield Inn & Suites provides hotel lodging convenient to town.

Written by Sonoma Insider James Knight