The Russian River Valley has long been recognized as one of the world’s great wine regions, and this year it raises a glass to four decades as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA) with 40 Wineries to Celebrate 40 Years. There’s no better time to visit than this fall, when the buzz of harvest activity combines with energy around the 40th anniversary.
Through October 31st, visitors are invited to take part in “Decades of the Russian River Valley,” a self-guided tour through the area’s past, present and future. Featuring wineries founded in each decade of the appellation’s history, forty of the region’s esteemed producers have developed special offers for visitors, ranging from limited-availability library pours to educational experiences. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure opportunity to sip through the area, sampling diverse wine styles, touring esteemed vineyards and tasting the history of winemaking in the area.
Set 55 miles north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, the Russian River Valley is an easy destination for Bay Area-day day trips. Nestled in heart of Sonoma County, embedded between the towns of Healdsburg and Sebastopol due east of the Pacific Ocean, the region is characterized by cool coastal breezes and a warm inland climate, which provides ideal conditions for a variety of grape varietals.
Officially designated as an AVA in 1983, the Russian River Valley is one of the coolest-climate regions for wine grapes in all of California. Famous with wine connoisseurs for its spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it successfully grows more than 35 different grape varieties over its 165,000 acres of premium vineyard land, including Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache and old-vine Zinfandel.
The land encompassing Russian River Valley has boasted a wide array of agriculture for centuries, from Gravenstein apples to prunes to dairy and now wine. Winegrowing dates back more than a century, with some of the Russian River Valley’s most historic sites dating back as far as the 1870s.
“Along with a spirit of innovation and commitment to exemplary quality, there’s an enduring legacy of responsible land stewardship here, ensuring this beautiful corner of California remains a source of pride and inspiration for generations to come,” said Jesslyn Jackson, executive director, Russian River Valley Winegrowers. “Every vineyard and winery in the Russian River Valley tells a story – and we’re only getting started.”
Some of the pioneering wineries in the area include Rodney Strong Vineyards, founded in 1959, Sonoma-Cutrer, founded in 1973, Iron Horse Vineyards, founded in 1976 and Williams Selyem, founded in 1981.
Newer on the scene are Balletto Vineyards, founded in 2000, Cartograph Wines, founded in 2008 and Bricoleur Vineyards, founded in 2017, which are also all participating in this year’s anniversary celebration.
These are just some of the wineries taking part in the 40th anniversary celebration, where guests will enjoy special access to limited-release wines, complimentary or upgraded tastings, featured pairings and more. Prior reservations are required either through each winery’s website or by contacting them via phone; be sure to mention the winery’s 40th anniversary offer when booking. Details can be found at https://russianrivervalley.org/40th-anniversary-celebration.
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