Sonoma County is a major wine-producing area in Northern California, located west of Napa Valley and extending from the Pacific Coast to the Mayacamas Mountains. Its geography is defined by coastal fog, varied elevation, river valleys, volcanic and marine soils, and pronounced climatic diversity across a relatively compact area.
The county supports a wide range of varieties, with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Merlot among the most important. Key appellations include Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Knights Valley, and Sonoma Valley, each contributing distinct expressions of climate, soil, and site.