Russian River Valley

Russian River Valley was named after the Russian explorers who settled along the Sonoma Coast and maintained a fur trading post from 1812 to 1841. Around 1849 the Russian's abandoned their foothold in the Russian River Valley and European settlers began to populate the valley and plant vineyards.

The largest river in Sonoma County, the Russian River, winds peacefully through redwood forests and vineyard land and arguably some of the most beautiful scenery in the California wine country. The Russian River Valley appellation starts just north of Healdsburg and extends south and west along the river, following it part way on its journey through the redwood clad coastal range and stopping just short of the California coast.

At the western edge of the Russian River Valley lies the famous river resort town of Guerneville Ð longtime favorite getaway spot for San Francisco's gay and lesbian crowd. In addition to Sonoma wine tasting and California winery tours, canoe trips on the river or hikes among the redwoods at Armstrong Woods State Park are just a few of the attractions on offer. A drive out to Jenner-by-the-sea will show you where the river meets the Pacific and a short way up the coast is Fort Ross, the old Russian settlement, now preserved as a State Historic Park.

The morning fog that winds up the valley from the sea as well as the cooling effects of the river itself make the Russian River Valley ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Zinfandel is grown in the warmer, flatter portions of the Russian River Valley on the Santa Rosa plain. This natural air-conditioning that the ocean and river provide allow for longer hang time and developing full flavored complexity.

Russian River Valley wineries that offer winery tours and wine tasting are: Korbel, Martin Ray, De Loach, and Roshambo