Sonoma County is a big place. Spanning 1,768 square miles from coastal headlands to rolling western hills to fertile valleys, all the way to the Napa Valley border, there are numerous places to grow grapes. Being such a vast region dotted with microclimates, Sonoma County can grow just about any grape with success, as this week’s Tasting Highlights demonstrates with delicious bottlings of Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and more.
At the top of the list is a vivacious Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel from Ravenswood, which was revived this year after a five-year hiatus, with founding winemaker Joel Peterson playing a consulting role. This Zinfandel is sourced from select blocks on the eastern benchlands of Dry Creek Valley and aged in a mix of one-year and neutral oak for 12 months, which keeps the fruit energetic while adding subtle spice character.
This lineup also includes the elegant and aromatic Quivira Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley Alder Grove Vineyard 2023 and Balletto Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Rosé 2024, which features crisp yet supple flavors of cherry and orange peel. Read on to get our scores and full expert tasting notes for all eight of these Sonoma County wines!
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