About the Russian River Valley AVA
Cooled by fog that rolls in from Bodega Bay, the Russian River Valley is one of California's premier appellations for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with pockets of Zinfandel on its warmer benchlands. It stretches from Santa Rosa and Sebastopol north toward Healdsburg and Guerneville, and it's compact enough to visit five or six wineries in a long weekend.
Rodney Strong Vineyards
Founded in 1959 as Sonoma County's 13th bonded winery, farming estate vineyards across Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, and Chalk Hill.
Read more →Iron Horse Vineyards
A hilltop estate above the Green Valley sub-AVA, established 1976 and best known for California sparkling wine served at the White House.
Read more →Hartford Family Winery
Forestville estate specializing in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and old-vine Zinfandel from sites up and down the Sonoma and Mendocino coast.
Read more →Dutton-Goldfield Winery
A partnership between grower Steve Dutton and winemaker Dan Goldfield, sourcing from Dutton Ranch vineyards and the true Sonoma Coast.
Read more →J Vineyards & Winery
Healdsburg producer known for sparkling wine and a food-paired tasting lounge alongside its Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Read more →Balletto Vineyards
A family-farmed estate covering 16 vineyard blocks from the Santa Rosa Plains to the Sebastopol Hills, focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Read more →Gary Farrell Winery
A Westside Road hillside winery crafting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay since 1982, with sweeping views over the valley floor.
Read more →Williams Selyem
One of the original cult Pinot Noir producers, founded in the early 1980s in the Middle Reach neighborhood along the Russian River.
Read more →Joseph Swan Vineyards
A pioneering small family winery near Forestville — among the first to plant Pinot Noir south of the river in the 1960s.
Read more →De La Montanya Winery
A boutique, family-owned tasting room in Healdsburg pouring Russian River Valley Pinot Noir alongside Alexander Valley and Dry Creek bottlings.
Read more →Martinelli Winery
A multi-generation Forestville farming family turned winery, known for old-vine Zinfandel and steep-slope Jackass Hill Vineyard.
Read more →Korbel Champagne Cellars
A historic sparkling wine house in Guerneville dating to the 1880s, with riverside gardens and one of the region's most-visited tasting rooms.
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