Sonoma County has long been dominated by many high-quality, organic and family-owned vineyards and wineries. The dedicated vineyard and winery owners in the Fountaingrove District AVA are committed to producing quality grapes and award-winning wines. The region is comprised of 38,000 acres, about 600 of which are planted to grapes. Vineyards are typically small, ranging from less than 1 acre to 57
acres, with a median size of 12 acres. Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary varietal planted, but other Bordeaux varietals (predominantly Cabernet Franc and Merlot) and Rhone varietals (especially Syrah, Viognier and Petite Sirah) are also prevalent. In certain microclimates, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc also flourish here. There are three key aspects of our unique terroir: soil composition, climate and elevation. Soils are predominantly Sonoma Volcanics, which were the result of an eruption of the now-dormant Mount Saint Helena on the northern Sonoma-Napa County border more than 3 million years ago. This same eruption resulted in the Petrified Forest and Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga. The volcanic ash produced excellent, not overly rich, well-drained soils perfectly suited for growing high-quality grapes. Our climate is well-suited for grapevines. While it is considerably farther inland than most other Sonoma County AVAs, the gap in the Sonoma Mountains at the City of Santa Rosa allow the maritime influence to penetrate the AVA to produce smoother, more subtle flavors than in hotter growing regions. The elevation created by our hillsides also provides an opportunity for microclimates based on the geographic orientation of the planted slopes. For example, while our growing region is generally considered too hot for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, certain north-facing slopes have produced award-winning complex Pinots Noirs and ripe, tropical fruit-flavored Chardonnays. While each of these characteristics of soil, climate and elevation can be found in other growing areas, the combination of volcanic soil, hillside vineyards and warm climate tempered with maritime influences is unique to Fountaingrove District.
