Getting to Know Sonoma County Rich Heritage • Sonoma County is the birthplace of California wine. • Vineyards were first planted in the early 1800s by Spanish missionaries and Russian fur traders. • California’s first premium and commercial winery, Buena Vista, was founded in Sonoma Valley in 1857. • The Judgment of Paris in 1976 firmly established the recognition of California wine quality and the winning Chardonnay was made primarily from fruit grown in Sonoma County. Expansive Land + Multi-Generational Winemakers • Sonoma County is diverse and expansive—1,050,000 acres o 49% is dedicated to forest land o 39% is dedicated to pasture land o 9% is urban o 6% is planted to grapes ranking Sonoma County second in the world for most planted acreage, and first in California • The County is made up of mostly small, family farms with multi-generational winemakers. Unparalleled Diversity Sonoma County features 17 distinctive American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). • Alexander Valley • Bennett Valley • Carneros-Sonoma • Chalk Hill • Dry Creek Valley • Fort Ross – Seaview • Fountain Grove • Green Valley of Russian River Valley • Knights Valley • Moon Mountain • Northern Sonoma • Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak • Rockpile • Russian River Valley • Sonoma Coast • Sonoma Mountain • Sonoma Valley • The terroir of climate, topographic diversity and geology creates an ideal winemaking region. o Climate: California has a Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers and wet winters. The rainfall totals 24-60+ inches (60-152cm) from November through April. o Topographic Diversity: Marine fog has a profound impact on Sonoma County’s grapes. Located on the Pacific coast, Sonoma County is just an hour north of San Francisco. The coastline is a major influence for all of California, however, Sonoma County’s 60miles/100 kilometers of Pacific Ocean frontage is THE defining element that leads to the exceptional quality and range of wines produced. Mountains separate the coast from the great Central Valley. This valley acts like an oven, where hot air rises and pulls cool air from the coast across the state. This effect creates California’s unique climate of warm sunny days, and cooler nights along the coast, ideal for winegrowing. o Geology: more soil types exist in Sonoma County than in all of France. Each contains different components, bringing different characteristics to the wines. World-Class Wines, Winemakers and Winegrowers • Over 60 unique varietals of wine are found in Sonoma County. o The most prominent grape is Chardonnay accounting for 28% of the vineyards. o Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon have equal acreage, each with 20% of planted vineyards. o The remaining acreage is divided among Merlot, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and many more. • Sonoma County features over 420 wineries. Sustainability Commitment • Sonoma County has made a bold commitment to become the nation’s first 100% sustainable wine region by 2019 and we have a 100 year plan to preserve agriculture in Sonoma County. • We the leading region in California for adopting and implementing the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program. • Many of the region's multigenerational wine growers and winemakers have been practicing sustainable farming techniques and winemaking practices for decades, and this initiative demonstrates their seriousness and commitment to ensuring all vineyards and wineries across Sonoma County will soon be sustainable. Mission Statement Sonoma County Vintners is the leading voice of Sonoma County wine, dedicated to increasing the awareness and improving the quality image of our wines to consumers, media, and trade locally and globally. For More Information: www.SonomaWine.com For Media Requests Contact: Barbara Cox, Director of Marketing & Communications [email protected] Phone: 707.522.5849 .