Sonoma Coast

As its name suggests, the Sonoma Coast appellation encompasses most of Sonoma County's dramatic, rugged coastline and also ventures inland to envelope most of the south western Sonoma County up into the Santa Rosa area.

Its ability to grow first-rate wine grapes lies in the perfect blend of temperature and elevation. Though Sonoma Coast is cooler and gets more rain than the interior of Sonoma County, by planting high up on the ridgelines, California wine grape growers can escape the morning fog that blankets the rest of the Sonoma wine country from June to August. Sonoma Coast grapes have longer hangtime and develop complex cool climate characteristics (higher acid, lower alcohol, herbal and gamey qualities). There is just enough warmth to ripen the grapes, in unseasonable cool or rainy years the Sonoma Coast crop is drastically reduced because grapes can not reach adequate sugar levels to produce quality wine. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah are varietals that show off Sonoma Coast's unique climate.

No regularly scheduled California Wine Country tours visit the Sonoma Coast wine appellations but private San Francisco wine tasting tours can be scheduled.