AVA Wines of Sonoma County: Chalk Hill Wine Region

The founder of Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery only discovered his property by flying over it in a small plane, but that’s not surprising: From the ground, the Chalk Hill area can be easy to miss. Indeed, you may only catch the briefest of vineyard views through the trees, even though the unique Chalk Hill is one of the most esteemed winegrowing areas in California. 

Carved out of a curious corner of Sonoma Wine Country, the Chalk Hill AVA, awarded in 1983, is defined by its warmer climate and white, quartzite-rich volcanic soils. There are more than 1,400 vineyard acres here, but just five wineries. Here’s everything to know about this unique and wonderful region.

Top Grapes & Wine Varietals

Chalk Hill is known best for Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Semillon, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel are also grown, even Pinot Noir, in the right exposures.

The Lay of the Land

From the town of Windsor, Chalk Hill extends into a jumble of hills, opens to a pretty little valley planted in vineyards, and continues to 1,600-foot elevations.  

“Chalk Hill” is named for the chalky white ash — specifically, quartzite-rich volcanic tuff—that characterizes its soils. Though Chalk Hill AVA is a sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley AVA, it’s somewhat warmer, with less fog and more moderating breezes.

Notable Wineries

Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg

Chalk Hill Estate, founded in the 1970s, defines the region’s wines and wine tourism with its hospitality center, equestrian center, and culinary program. With a passionate dedication to Chardonnay, Chalk Hill offers warm hospitality, elegant estate wines, and stunning views of its 1,300-acre estate, where you can explore, taste, and learn through sophisticated food and wine pairing experiences.

Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards, Windsor

Notre Vue Estate features 350 acres of “Forever Wild” protected open space and 250 acres of beautiful rolling vineyards, with over 17 miles of hiking and biking trails and picnic tables scattered throughout. Notre Vu’s wines are made in the European style, with a focus on purity and low intervention. Additionally, here you can purchase Balverne Wine (a sister label to Notre Vue), which was served in the White House.

Windsor Oaks Vineyards

Both Notre Vue and Balverne source their grapes from Windsor Oaks. The result is a long-standing tradition of growing grapes to winemakers’ standards for top-tier wineries, which, in turn, produce highly rated and awarded wines. The 710 acres at Windsor Oaks include 210 acres of vineyards planted with 16 different grape varieties and an acreage of ancient oak trees, creating an inspirational and beautiful environment. 

Backroad Bodegas

Gonzague & Claire Lurton, fourth-generation winemakers from Bordeaux, planted roots in Sonoma County. Their property in Headlsburg, Trinité Estate, and its signature red blend Acaibo, showcase the breathtaking beauty and high-quality wines.

Albini Family Vineyards farms Merlot and Zinfandel just east of Windsor, while Calluna Vineyards, set adjacent to Trinité,  strives to produce the finest Bordeaux-style varieties.

You can find Chalk Hill-designated wines throughout Sonoma Wine Country, from venerable producers like Rodney Strong to small-production projects like Arnot-Roberts. This is partly due to the extensive plantings and to the quality grapes that Windsor Oaks Vineyards supplies to many top wineries.

Nearby Restaurants

In and around the Chalk Hill area, the charming town of Healdsburg offers an extensive selection of restaurants. SingleThread Farm features an 11-course tasting menu customized to your dietary preferences and restrictions. If you want small bites, head to Bravas, where the chef serves up traditional Spanish and modern tapas-style dining. And if you want to experience a canvas for local farmers, winemakers, and artisans to showcase their craft, you can check out Valette.

Where to Stay

In Windsor, the Hampton Inn & Suites is a good base for touring the hundreds of world-class, award-winning wineries in the area. 

The Holiday Inn Windsor Wine Country is situated near more than 100 wineries and within seven miles of Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. This hotel’s ideal location makes it the perfect home in Sonoma Wine Country.

Holiday Inn Express Windsor provides lodging in an idyllic California Wine Country escape. This hotel delivers stylish accommodations, impeccable service, and upscale amenities for business or vacation.

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Written by Sonoma Insider James Knight

Sonoma County Wine Appellations (AVAs):

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