9 Great Pinot Noirs to Buy Now From Sonoma’s Russian River Valley

Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
·2 min read

With a history of grape growing reaching back to the 1870s, Sonoma’s Russian River Valley AVA has one of the longest standing traditions of winemaking in the county. Today it is home to more than 70 wineries and 15,000 acres of vines producing world class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel. Named for Russian fur trappers who abandoned the area in 1841, the Russian River flows through the valley in a southwesterly direction, pulling Pacific fog inward each morning, which offers the vines cooling cover and humidity during the early part of the day. In the 1850s Gold Rush era settlers from Europe planted a variety of crops here including fruit trees, grain, and grapes.

The modern era of winemaking began here in the 1960s, when an agricultural advisor from the University of California suggested local growers plant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which today are among some of the finest in the country and the world. It was granted American Viticultural Area status in 1983 and it sits wholly inside the larger Sonoma Coast AVA and contains two sub-AVAs, Chalk Hill and Green Valley of Russian River Valley. Locals like to discuss terroir in terms of “neighborhoods;” the most well-known is West Side Road, which runs along the river and is home to string of high-profile wineries that have some folks calling it Russian River’s Gold Coast.

When pouring what locals also call RRV Pinot Noir, expect polished tannins and flavors of cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, brown baking spices, vanilla, forest floor, and other earthy notes. Russian River Pinot Noir goes well with tender cuts of steak like filet mignon or flat iron as well as burgers with Swiss cheese, grilled tuna steaks, roast or fried chicken, brined pork chops, or Portobello risotto. Here are nine of our favorites to drink now.

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