Climate: Where the cold Pacific encounters the coastal mountains.

What makes this appellation perfect for cool climate grapes is the daily interplay between marine air, coastal hills, and warmer protected valleys. The Russian River is an official AVA (American Viticultural Appellation) with very specific boundaries. The area includes the region defined by the Russian River and its tributaries, and also the area dominated by the cool coastal climate.

The other pages in this section include a short historical sketch, a discussion of vineyards, a focus on one of our favorite areas within the valley, and a description and illustration of how the climate and topography of this area work to create the unique growing conditions.