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Sonoma Valley Wineries And Wines


Although many AVAs in Sonoma County are well-known for one or two specific varietals, the Sonoma Valley enjoys diverse terroir, and successfully grows many different grape types. The Sonoma Valley AVA was established in 1982, and is approximately 160 square miles. About 28,000 acres are planted with vineyards.

History

The history of viticulture in the Sonoma Valley began when a Franciscan Padre named Jose Altimira established the Sonoma Mission in 1823. This was the last, and northernmost Spanish Mission built in California. Altimira established the first of the Sonoma Valley Wineries, and simple wines were produced for ecclesiastical purposes.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1835, General Vallejo was sent by the new government to secularize the Sonoma Mission and its surrounding properties. The Bear Flag Revolt occured 11 years later, and authority shifted to the United States Government shortly thereafter.

Agaston Harazsthy founded the first commercial Sonoma Valley Winery in 1857. Harazsthy experimented with different vitis vinifera varietals and greatly increased the perception of the Sonoma Valley as a quality wine region. Although Harazsthy's winery ultimately went bankrupt, it laid the foundation for future wine producers. Because of his contributions to Sonoma viticulture, Harazsthy is known as the "Father of the California Wine Industry".

The combined devastation of Phylloxera and Prohibition eliminated all but the most hearty and innovative Sonoma Valley Wineries. Sebastiani was able to persevere due to a contract with the Church to make wine. However, most vineyards were converted to other crops or used to raise livestock.

Despite the fact that the Sonoma Valley AVA has a long history of winemaking, it was not until the 1970s that quality wine production became widespread. The legacy of Phylloxera and Prohibition caused the region to stagnate for over a generation. Between the repeal of Prohibition and the renaissance of the 1970s, Sonoma Valley Wineries primarily produced jug wine.

During the 1970s, renowned wineries such as Gundlach-Bundschu, and Chateau St. Jean experimented successfully with several different varietals. As a result, one varietal does not dominate production as Cabernet Sauvignon does in the Rutherford and Oakville AVAs.

Terroir

The terroir of the Sonoma Valley AVA is dominated by unpredictable fog patterns. A substantial amount of fog from the Southern San Pablo Bay regularly covers the region. Additionally, a lesser amount of fog creeps through a gap in the mountains near Santa Rosa in the north.

The Southern Sonoma Valley is very cool and includes the eastern part of the Carneros AVA. Temperature steadily rise as one travels north. The town of Sonoma is located about one-third of the way north within the AVA and has a moderate, pleasant climate. The northern towns of Glen Ellen and Kenwood are substantially warmer.

Wines, Wineries, and Varietals

As alluded to earlier, unpredictable fog patterns make it difficult to typecast specific areas in the Sonoma Valley AVA as being suited to particular varietals. Although exceptions abound, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay generally thrive in the southern part of the Appellation. At the same time, there are areas around Kenwood in the northern part of the AVA that produce great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir from Sonoma Valley varies dramatically from the south to the north. Northern Pinots have almost Rhone-like characteristics, while southern Pinots are lighter and more reminiscent of production from the Russian River Valley.

The eastern hills of the valley below Sonoma Mountain are increasingly best known for Zinfandel. McCrea Vineyards is an exceptional example of this production. While great Cabernet Sauvignon can also be found on the Eastern Sonoma Mountain, Louis M Martini's Monte Rosso in the Western Mayacamas Mountains has arguably been the most consistently excellent Cab grown by any Sonoma Valley Winery. Exceptional Gewurztraminers and Sauvignon Blancs are also produced in the Sonoma Valley AVA.

History

The history of viticulture in the Sonoma Valley began when a Franciscan Padre named Jose Altimira established the Sonoma Mission in 1823. This was the last, and northernmost Spanish Mission built in California. Altimira established the first of the Sonoma Valley Wineries, and simple wines were produced for ecclesiastical purposes.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1835, General Vallejo was sent by the new government to secularize the Sonoma Mission and its surrounding properties. The Bear Flag Revolt occured 11 years later, and authority shifted to the United States Government shortly thereafter.

Agaston Harazsthy founded the first commercial Sonoma Valley Winery in 1857. Harazsthy experimented with different vitis vinifera varietals and greatly increased the perception of the Sonoma Valley as a quality wine region. Although Harazsthy's winery ultimately went bankrupt, it laid the foundation for future wine producers. Because of his contributions to Sonoma viticulture, Harazsthy is known as the "Father of the California Wine Industry".

The combined devastation of Phylloxera and Prohibition eliminated all but the most hearty and innovative Sonoma Valley Wineries. Sebastiani was able to persevere due to a contract with the Church to make wine. However, most vineyards were converted to other crops or used to raise livestock.

Despite the fact that the Sonoma Valley AVA has a long history of winemaking, it was not until the 1970s that quality wine production became widespread. The legacy of Phylloxera and Prohibition caused the region to stagnate for over a generation. Between the repeal of Prohibition and the renaissance of the 1970s, Sonoma Valley Wineries primarily produced jug wine.

During the 1970s, renowned wineries such as Gundlach-Bundschu, and Chateau St. Jean experimented successfully with several different varietals. As a result, one varietal does not dominate production as Cabernet Sauvignon does in the Rutherford and Oakville AVAs.

Terroir

The terroir of the Sonoma Valley AVA is dominated by unpredictable fog patterns. A substantial amount of fog from the Southern San Pablo Bay regularly covers the region. Additionally, a lesser amount of fog creeps through a gap in the mountains near Santa Rosa in the north.

The Southern Sonoma Valley is very cool and includes the eastern part of the Carneros AVA. Temperature steadily rise as one travels north. The town of Sonoma is located about one-third of the way north within the AVA and has a moderate, pleasant climate. The northern towns of Glen Ellen and Kenwood are substantially warmer.

Wines, Wineries, and Varietals

As alluded to earlier, unpredictable fog patterns make it difficult to typecast specific areas in the Sonoma Valley AVA as being suited to particular varietals. Although exceptions abound, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay generally thrive in the southern part of the Appellation. At the same time, there are areas around Kenwood in the northern part of the AVA that produce great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir from Sonoma Valley varies dramatically from the south to the north. Northern Pinots have almost Rhone-like characteristics, while southern Pinots are lighter and more reminiscent of production from the Russian River Valley.

The eastern hills of the valley below Sonoma Mountain are increasingly best known for Zinfandel. McCrea Vineyards is an exceptional example of this production. While great Cabernet Sauvignon can also be found on the Eastern Sonoma Mountain, Louis M Martini's Monte Rosso in the Western Mayacamas Mountains has arguably been the most consistently excellent Cab grown by any Sonoma Valley Winery. Exceptional Gewurztraminers and Sauvignon Blancs are also produced in the Sonoma Valley AVA.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Ben Bicais lives in the Napa Valley and is the webmaster of http://www.california-wine-tours-and-accessories.com



Oak Barrels and More

Sonoma Valley Wineries And Wines


Although many AVAs in Sonoma County are well-known for one or two specific varietals, the Sonoma Valley enjoys diverse terroir, and successfully grows...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

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The FTD Peaceful Memories Arrangement - Standard


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Price: 149.99 USD



Headlines on Oak Barrels

Oak Valley White Blend launched to instant acclaim (South African Wine News)

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:14:14 -0800
The White Blend envisioned when a small block of semillon was planted, in mid-2004, on the higher foothills on the Oak Valley Estate in the Elgin Valley, nearly didn't come to light after the 2007 harvest.

Chardonnay: A Study in What Went Wrong

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:58:36 -0800
The East Village Wine Geek Keith Beavers is the owner of In Vino 215 East 4th Street, Manhattan] as well as The Alphabet City Wine Company 100 Avenue C, Manhattan]. He’s one of the colorful and passionate columnists featured in The Brooklyn Bugle… coming soon. Here’s a sneak preview… I am going to start this one with a recent quote from the San Francisco Chronicle: It all started] when Hanzell Vineyards imported new French oak barrels, wineries mimicked the way wine was made in Chardonnay

The grownup gapper: winetasting on Waiheke (Daily Telegraph)

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:21:14 -0800
Our grownup gapper goes upmarket in New Zealand with a day's winetasting on an island of vineyards.

Bring on the bourbon balls. December 2, 2008

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:49:28 -0800
Posted by ourfriendben in recipes. Tags: Bardstown Kentucky, bourbon ball recipe, bourbon balls, Bourbon Heritage Center, Heaven Hill Distillery, My Old Kentucky Home, Rebecca Ruth Candies, Stephen Foster, Talbott Taverntrackback Silence Dogood here. There are two holiday specialties that you need to age to greatness before giving or serving them, bourbon balls and fruitcake, so I plan to give you recipes for both this week. I’ll start with our favorite, bourbon balls. If you’re only familiar

Revenues dry up as water demand drops (Detroit Free Press)

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:50:03 -0800
Water utilities across the region say a cool summer and a cooling economy have cut demand and hurt their bottom lines, making it harder to fund system maintenance and expansion -- and making it necessary to raise rates on users.


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4:56 AM

Wednesday December 03, 2008 - Chardonnay Wine

A Chardonnay Wine Artilce for Your Viewing

Big Aussie Wines


Australias wine industry has boomed in the past ten years. Employers have had to triple their staff numbers to cope with the demand for Aussie wine. Considering the lower average national population of Australia, compared to say the United States or even South Africa, 30,000 (2001) workers is pretty high.

One of the main reasons for the demand on this skillful industry is that it has won an international reputation for quality and value. Australian wines have won many highly sought after international awards and labels and many innovative Australian winemakers are sought internationally for their wine making expertise.

Wine regions throughout Australia have continually had high ratings especially over the past four years. Most of these regions and especially the East and South coasts (New South Wales and Victoria) are averaging 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. Second to the brilliant winemakers, and a close second, is the great climates / weather that certain regions have for cultivating vines.

Wine is very much a part of the Australian way of life, closely associated with both business and leisure. Wine consumption is often linked to the country's outdoor-oriented lifestyle as well as to the cosmopolitan urban way of life of the bulk of the Australian population.

Australia exports more wine than that that is sold domestically. Out of a total of approximately 919 million litres bottled, 516.5 million litres is exported. The largest export market has been the United Kingdom and second has been the United States.

Researchers from the University College London have come up with a few very interesting facts. They found that drinking alcohol (including wine), even in small amounts, might be associated with higher cognitive ability, especially for women. You would be silly not to have a drop every night!

One of the main reasons for the demand on this skillful industry is that it has won an international reputation for quality and value. Australian wines have won many highly sought after international awards and labels and many innovative Australian winemakers are sought internationally for their wine making expertise.

Wine regions throughout Australia have continually had high ratings especially over the past four years. Most of these regions and especially the East and South coasts (New South Wales and Victoria) are averaging 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. Second to the brilliant winemakers, and a close second, is the great climates / weather that certain regions have for cultivating vines.

Wine is very much a part of the Australian way of life, closely associated with both business and leisure. Wine consumption is often linked to the country's outdoor-oriented lifestyle as well as to the cosmopolitan urban way of life of the bulk of the Australian population.

Australia exports more wine than that that is sold domestically. Out of a total of approximately 919 million litres bottled, 516.5 million litres is exported. The largest export market has been the United Kingdom and second has been the United States.

Researchers from the University College London have come up with a few very interesting facts. They found that drinking alcohol (including wine), even in small amounts, might be associated with higher cognitive ability, especially for women. You would be silly not to have a drop every night!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Website: http://www.wineography.com



Chardonnay Wine and More

Big Aussie Wines


Australias wine industry has boomed in the past ten years. Employers have had to triple their staff numbers to cope with the demand for Aussie wine. C...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

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The FTD Our Special Day Bouquet - Standard


This arrangement is filled with white spray roses, gerbera daisies, alstroemeria, and snapdragons. It is artfully finished with berries and branches in a glass vase. C15-3084S


Price: 59.99 USD



Current Chardonnay Wine News

Wildfire threatens homes, wineries in Napa Valley

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:45:50 -0700
Hundreds of firefighters are battling a wildfire that is threatening homes and wineries in California's Napa Valley.Fire officials say the blaze burned 300 acres in the hills by Saturday evening just outside the wine country town of St. Helena. Full containment was expected Sunday.

Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild to Host Annual Fall Fundraising

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:15:14 -0700
The Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild will host its fall fundraising gala, Desert Nocturne, to raise funds for the 10th anniversary season of he Las Vegas philharmonic. The gala will feature an evening of dinner and dancing at Green Valley Ranch resort on Sunday, November 9, with world-class cuisine, fine wines and spectacular entertainment.

Top 10 Hot Jobs in Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa California

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:20:26 -0700
This article presents projected increases in jobs aruodn the Napa Valley through 2014. However, healthcare jobs shouldl continue to increase through 2100, Jobs include a range of industries from Wines to Transportation, Entertainment, Healthcare & Medical, IT, Construction, Employment, Sales, Tourism, and several others.


Summer Wine

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