Located in California’s Sonoma Valley, the Russian River Valley Wine Region was granted American Viticultural Area status in 1983. The AVA’s boundaries were then expanded in 2005 by the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, increasing the region by 30,200 acres to 126,600 acres. Moderate in climate, the region experiences a cooling fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean typically at night. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay excel in the region, with the cooler temperatures helping to shape the precise acidity and the region’s sandy loam soils creating palate richness. Aromatically, the Pinot Noirs typically yield notes of wild strawberry, black cherry, smoke and earth, while the Chardonnays are fragrant with green apple, nectarine and Meyer lemon. For a full list of ratings and reviews be sure to check out Russian River Valley Buying Guide.