AVA Wines of Sonoma County: Carneros Wine Region

Carneros AVA

Bounded by climate and topography, the Carneros wine-growing region in Northern California is uniquely unbounded by political affiliation – Sonoma County shares Carneros with Napa Valley, and many vineyards of the Sonoma Valley American Viticulture Area (AVA) are also located within this sub-appellation.

Carneros is distinctive among Sonoma County’s wine regions for its relatively uniform landscape of gently rolling, sparsely wooded hills above a wide, flat plain.

Los Carneros, ‘the rams’ in Spanish, dates from the 1830s, when Mexico administered this region. Sheep ranches, dairies, and hay fields continued to dominate until the 1970s. Today Carneros has 8,000 vineyard acres and more than 20 wineries. AVA status was given in 1983.

Top Grapes & Wine Varietals

Top billing goes to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for sparkling and still AVA wines in Carneros. Because Carneros garnered acclaim early in California’s wine renaissance, many vineyards were planted with so-called ‘California clones’ like Martini, Swan, and old Wente. Syrah is an exciting newcomer, along with Rhône regional white varietals like Roussanne and Marsanne. Merlot remains strong, and there’s some Cabernet Sauvignon to be found. 

The Lay of the Land

The Cline Family Cellars estate vineyard at sunset in Carneros, Sonoma County
Cline Family Cellars in Sonoma, California

From certain vantage points, much of the entire Sonoma portion of the AVA can be seen at once. The AVA’s western border is shared with the Sonoma Valley AVA, roughly along the spine of hills that divides the Cotati Valley (and Petaluma Gap area) from the Sonoma Creek watershed.

The northern extent is marked by Napa Road on the outskirts of the city of Sonoma; the southern border is delineated partly by the North West Pacific railroad tracks, but mainly by the wetlands and reclaimed hay fields bordering San Pablo Bay.

Compared with Sonoma County’s other cool-climate AVAs, like the Sonoma Coast and Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, Carneros receives much less rainfall, and it’s farther from the Pacific Ocean.

The moderating influence of San Pablo Bay, the northern portion of the greater San Francisco Bay, keeps Carneros cool and windy, but not too cold. Despite the broad agricultural vista it presents, the area’s dense, clay soils are not particularly deep or fertile.

Notable Wineries

Food pairing featuring three sparkling wines, a Pinot Noir, a creme fraiche and caviar bite, a bacon bite, and a baklavah bite at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards in Sonoma County, California
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards in Sonoma, California

Gloria Ferrer

Gloria Ferrer’s Sonoma Brut is a Sonoman’s standby sparkling wine. Founded as the first sparkling winery in Carneros, Gloria Ferrer’s wines are a direct reflection of their two unique estates. Nestled at the base of the Sonoma Mountains and Wildcat Peak, the estate is protected from the strongest Carneros breezes and supplies alluvial soils that nourish their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines. 

Cline Family Cellars

Cline Family Cellars is a 350-acre horse farm in Carneros with several vineyards dedicated to Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. The family continues to plant vineyards throughout Sonoma County, to include more classic varieties like Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards boasts extensive grounds showcasing their 18,000-square-foot Tuscan-style property modeled on the Jacuzzi family’s ancestral home in Italy and features a traditional piazza in its center where guests can taste wine and picnic. The winery offers delicious Italian-style wines that include Teroldego, Barbera, Moscato, Arneis, and Pinot Grigio, to name just a few. 

Ram’s Gate

Ram’s Gate is perched above the vineyards and the Bay; the winery’s portfolio showcases wines that are compelling, and uncompromising from vineyards that encompass the spirit of Sonoma County. Their wines are organically and sustainably farmed, offering an array of multi-dimensional blends that capture the essence of a diverse growing region.

Viansa Sonoma

Viansa Sonoma also sports a good view and a deli for picnics. Know for its award-winning wines, views of the Sonoma Valley, and hospitality, Viansa is the perfect place to visit for wine, food, and unique one-of-a-kind gifts and accessories. You can experience all that Viansa has to offer by tasting at their wine bar or enjoying a glass of wine with lunch on the terrace overlooking the wetlands.

Nicholson Ranch

Last chance before Napa, Nicholson Ranch anchors the southeastern corner of Carneros Sonoma. This winery is nestled in the southern foothills of Sonoma, where four of California’s best appellations meet. Nicholson Ranch enjoys a combination of soils, sloping hills, and a climate that is ideal for producing premium grapes for their handcrafted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah.

Backroad Bodegas

A couple tastes wine on the deck overlooking Carneros AVA at Anaba Wines, Sonoma County
Anaba Wines in Sonoma

Named for a local anabatic wind, Anaba makes Pinot Noir from Las Brisas Vineyard, named for the Carneros wind. Schug Carneros Estate and Larson Family Winery are off the beaten path. The Robledo Family welcomes visitors to their courtyard winery. Roche Winery & Vineyards opened a new 17,000-square-foot winery, complementing its Sonoma Plaza tasting room, with ample outdoor seating with sweeping vineyard views. Discoveries inside the Cornerstone Sonoma Garden Center include Meadowcroft Wines and Obsidian Wine Co.

Restaurants and Lodging in the Carneros

An arch with plants growing on it at the gardens in Cornerstone Sonoma, Sonoma County
Cornerstone Sonoma in the town of Sonoma, California

Where to Stay

The Carneros region is easily explored from the historic town of Sonoma, where many of the best restaurant and lodging options can be found. Lodging can range from high-end luxury at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, nearby in Sonoma Valley, to vintage motor-court chic at the Vineyard Inn Hotel, and cottage charming at Sonoma’s Best Guest Cottages.

Where to Eat

Along the Carneros Highway, Angelo’s Wine Country Deli (look for the red and white cow on the roof) features homemade cold cuts, sausages, and condiments like garlic salsa and garlic mustard; or relax in the half-acre outdoor space, under the shaded patio or in the tree-covered wine garden at Kivelstadt Cellars Wine Garden & Eatery. Or, Lou’s Luncheonette focuses on locally sourced seasonal ingredients, with items like buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast and a variety of chicken platters and sandwiches for lunch.

Written by Sonoma Insider James Knight.

Sonoma County Appellations (AVA):

Alexander Valley
Bennett Valley
Carneros – Sonoma
Chalk Hill
Dry Creek Valley
Fort Ross – Seaview
Fountaingrove District
Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Knights Valley
Moon Mountain
Northern Sonoma
Petaluma Gap
Pine Mountain – Cloverdale Peak
Rockpile
Russian River Valley
Sonoma Coast
Sonoma Valley
West Sonoma Coast

You Might Also Like

Fresh Fruits at the Santa Rosa Farmers Market
Food & Wine

When summer arrives in Sonoma County, it’s not just that the hillsides are kissed by golden sunlight, the air is…

a person enjoying a cup of coffee on a bench at a park in downtown petaluma
Restaurants

Set along the banks of the Petaluma River, the exciting town of Petaluma blends small-town warmth with a vibrant atmosphere…

pouring beer at out a tap at russian river brewery
Food & Wine

Nestled in the heart of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa is a hub that offers the perfect blend of urban and…

Group of women and one man on a trolley riding through the vineyards at St. Francis.
Food & Wine

In a world of go, go, go, more and more travelers are seeking a “slowcation” – time to slow down,…

Paradise Ridge Winery Santa Rosa Fire Foundation
Wineries

A toast to Sonoma County’s veterans and first responders!   In Sonoma County, support of our service members takes many forms….

Fall colors of Wilson Winery in Dry Creek Valley AVA
Food & Wine

Autumn is a magical time in Sonoma Wine Country – the culmination of the year-long growing process. The vineyards turn from…

Comstock Wines, Healdsburg
Wineries

As you plan your upcoming Sonoma County excursion, you imagine that your Wine Country ramble will unfold in a certain…

Hamel Family Wines, wine tasting and non-alcoholic tasting
Wineries

With a massive flood of zero-proof beverages recently hitting the market, it’s become fairly easy to find nonalcoholic alternatives on…

Girls Getaway in Sonoma County
Food & Wine

Winter might be considered the off-season for many of the world’s hottest travel destinations, but a Wine Country visit between…

Farmhouse Inn, Forestville exterior
Food & Wine

From Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow to Justin and Hailey Bieber, you may bump into a few celebrities at Sonoma…

THIS IS WINE COUNTRY.

Share your experience using #SonomaCounty or #LifeOpensUp