Russian River Valley
Russian River Valley
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley serves not only as our home base, but also stands at the core of our winemaking philosophy. Officially established in 1983, the Russian River Valley AVA extends from Sebastopol north to Healdsburg, bordering the Sonoma Coast AVA to the west and Knights Valley to the east.
FOG Vineyards are cloaked in daily coastal fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean, protecting the fruit from the piercing California summer sun and retaining natural acidity as the fruit ripens slowly on the vine. The appellation is unique in that its boundaries were created based on fog intrusion. Daily temperature fluctuation in these vineyards can be as much as 40°F mid-summer.
SOILS There are more soil types found in Sonoma County than in all of France put together! And the Russian River Valley contains at least 30 of them. Alluvially deposited over the millennia, the soils found along the riverbanks consist primarily of sand and pebbles, which not surprisingly provides the ideal canvas for the cultivation of fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
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Pinot Noir:
concentrated, small berries – bursting with flavor. Black cherry, ripe plum, rich spice, plush texture, structured tannins. -
Chardonnay:
lively acidity and crisp flavors. Fresh pear, exotic honeysuckle, bright stone fruit … hints of creamy hazelnut and butterscotch.
