Alexander Valley
Located in the northern portion of Sonoma County, Alexander Valley covers 75,000 acres of terrain, 13,000 of which are currently planted with vines. The AVA is flanked by Dry Creek Valley to the west and Knights Valley to the east. The hillsides just northeast of Healdsburg block the coastal fogs that cover most of Sonoma County, which allows Alexander Valley to keep a little warmer than some of its neighbors. Meanwhile, gentle coastal breezes manage to find their way through crevasses between the hillsides to cool the region during the evening. Well-drained gravelly soils are the dominant soil type in the region.
Cabernet Sauvignon may very well have claimed Alexander Valley as its favorite American appellation outside of Napa County, as it produces ripe, extracted, chocolate-laced wines that many a wine geek has professed his or her love for. Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are also grown widely here, while Viognier, Pinot Blanc, Shiraz and Sangiovese are planted less exclusively.
Location
United States → California → Sonoma County
Appellation Type
American AVA
Wineries (12)
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Chateau Souverain
Clos du Bois
Geyser
Geyser Peak
Iron Horse Winery
Murphy-Goode
Ridgeline
Silver Oak Cellars
Skipstone
Sommer
Trentadue