CorkSavvy

Rarely does a name say it all, but in the case of the Russian River Valley it is true. The area was settled by Russians from around 1812 to 1840 to hunt sea otters for their fur, and expand agriculture and viticulture to supply the Russian colonies in Alaska. Settlers from other wine producing countries migrated to this vibrant area and by 1876 over 500,000 gallons of wine was produced from about 7,000 vines. (Today there are over 15,000 acres planted with grapevines.) Prohibition put an abrupt halt to the wine industry throughout the US. The unprecedented resurgence in winegrowing in Sonoma County beginning in the 1960’s is credited to Bob Sisson, the University of California Farm Advisor for Sonoma County who urged vineyards to focus on cool climate grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  

The geological makeup of the Russian River Valley traces back millions of years when the North American and Pacific tectonic plates collided lifting ancient bedrock. Following the eruptions of volcanic vents, volcanic ash was deposited on the shallow ocean water which is the source of the Goldridge loam soil for which the Russian River Valley is known. Water running off the Sonoma Mountain range carried volcanic material with it, creating large amounts of clay.  Mysteriously, the Russian River changed course from flowing south towards what is now the San Francisco Bay to head west towards the coastal foothills depositing alluvial materials along the way. Due to these geological changes, the Russian River Valley has benefited from exceptional enhancements to its soil.
The enriched soil alone makes the Russian River Valley unique, but added to that is the benefit that the daily fog that flows through the Petaluma Wind Gap provides in reducing the evening temperature by 35 to 40 degrees and thus expanding the growing season by 15 to 20 percent.

In 1983, the Russian River Valley became an approved American Viticultural Area (AVA). In 2005, the AVA was expanded by over 30,000 acres to approximately 126,000 acres. Today, the Russian River Valley is over 150 square miles with 15,000 acres planted with premium grape vineyards. The breakdown of the grapes grown in the Russian River Valley are as follows:

Chardonnay 41%
Pinot Noir 29%
Zinfandel 9%
Merlot 5%
Cabernet Sauvignon 4%
Sauvignon Blanc 4%

The Chardonnay grapes grown in the Russian River Valley are different than Chardonnays grown in the warmer regions of California. These wines are rich with the flavor and aroma of ripe fruit ranging from peach and nectarine to apple and pear with overtones of Meyer lemon with nice, bright acidity. Try La Crema Winery 2007 Chardonnay selling for about $30.

Although a difficult grape to grow, the Russian River Valley has the perfect climate for Pinot Noir, a native of the Burgundy region of France. These wines are rich and velvety with aromas and hints of ripe fruit ranging from raspberries to red and black cherries with possible hints of clove or cinnamon on occasion. At $35, MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir 2006 is an excellent choice.

The Zinfandel grape thrives in the long cool growing season of the Russian River Valley. These grapes have grown in the area since the late 1800s. They are known for aromas of ripe blackberries, boysenberries mixed with blueberries and plums with frequent overtones of black pepper and wonderful balance. Try the 2005 Zinfandel from Von Weidlich Vineyard, Ottimino Winery at $33.

No surprise that Sauvignon Blanc grapes thrive in the cool climate of the Russian River Valley keeping the wine crisp with aromas of lemongrass and gooseberry and tropical fruit overtones. It is a grape that pairs well with a large variety of foods and is always refreshing. Sauvignon Blanc, Merry Edwards Winery 2007 at $45 was rated 96 Points by Wine Spectator.

We can’t forget the Wedding Cuvee, Iron Horse Vineyard 2005 selling for $38 which is 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay and has been lauded by many as America’s Best Sparkling Wine.

Reserve August 14-16, 2009 for the 14th Annual Grape to Glass Weekend where you can experience one of California’s premiere winegrowing regions firsthand.