Thursday Virtual Happy Hour: The Alexander Valley AVA in Sonoma County
Details
We are finishing a four-week exploration of various AVAs within Sonoma County. The idea is to find a bottle of wine made from grapes grown within the AVA. You can choose any varietal or blend that you want. If you can't find something within your budget, try something within Sonoma County in general.
Alexander Valley is one of the warmer wine-producing areas in California's Sonoma County. Alexander Valley's key grape variety is Cabernet Sauvignon, making vibrant, fruit-driven wines that are less earthy than their Napa counterparts. The AVA covers the land along a 20 mile (33 kilometre) stretch of the Russian river between the Mendocino County border and the city of Healdsburg. South of Healdsburg, where the fog-influenced climate is much cooler, the Russian River Valley AVA takes over, while Dry Creek Valley lies across the hills to the west. The separate but overlapping Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA lies at the northern end of Alexander Valley.
The valley is warmer than other parts of Sonoma due to its inland location, although cool winds and fog still make their way up the Russian river from the Pacific ocean via the Petaluma Gap. During the growing season, the days are warm and dry, with vineyards angled perfectly toward the afternoon sun. The nights are cooled by the wind and fog, which slows ripening and ensures the grapes retain acidity as they develop sugars and varietal character.
Alexander Valley's alluvial gravel soils have been deposited over time by the course of the river. These are deep and well-drained, and provide the perfect amount of stress to the vine over the growing season.
We have a choice of videos to watch including:
- https://youtu.be/lj3sAUIy_Mg?si=cDmHi8rq0ylGGqrr - Wine Road, southern Alexander Valley - WineRoadSonomaCounty (1:12)
- https://youtu.be/KPpR4B3NIlc?si=j7VpHpngR0TLUJly - Alexander Valley Trailer - Blue Rock Vineyard (2:09)
- https://youtu.be/FRkiqql3j6s?si=hPP7lPDl4OKX7TBG - Alexander Valley AVA & Red Hills Lake County AVA: Northern California - Arnold Gubins (4:33)
So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!
Cheers!!