When it comes to world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the famed vineyards of the Russian River Valley Appellation are hallowed ground. Located in the heart of Sonoma County, the AVA begins near Healdsburg where the Russian River leaves the Alexander Valley region through a gorge in the Mayacamas Mountains and extends south to Sebastopol and west to the towns of Guerneville and Occidental. Nestled within the greater Russian River Valley AVA are two distinct sub-AVAs, the very cool Green Valley of the Russian River Valley AVA and the Chalk Hill AVA. The most widely planted grapes in the AVA are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel—and for good reason. With a marine-influenced climate, foggy mornings and early afternoons, and a large diurnal temperature swing between day and night, it is a cool region, but not too cold.

While the climate of the AVA plays a pivotal role in producing energetic and beautifully balanced wines, so does the region’s unique geology. Millions of years ago, when the Pacific and North American tectonic plates collided, eruptions from volcanic vents deposited ash over layers of bedrock, which created a loamy sandstone known as “Goldridge soil.” While the region also includes Sebastopol and alluvial soils, many of the appellation’s most famous vineyards are planted in well-drained Goldridge soils, which are ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Unlike Zinfandel, Pinot and Chardonnay tend to thrive in the cool central and western reaches of the AVA.

While the AVA earned official recognition in 1983 and was enlarged in 2005, it has a winegrowing history that dates back to the late 1800s when Italian immigrants first planted grapes in the region. While it has long been considered prime land for Pinot and Chardonnay, the AVA’s reputation and popularity exploded in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the Pinot Noir boom that has reshaped the landscape of California winemaking. As new vineyards have been planted using the highest quality clonal material and viticultural techniques, and older vineyards have been revitalized, Pinot Noir plantings in the region have grown in both scope and acclaim. As a result, the Russian River Valley played a pivotal role in Sonoma County being named the “Wine Region of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast in 2019, and wines from the Russian River Valley are consistently featured on Wine Spectator’s annual list of the “World’s Top 100 Wines.”

At MacRostie, we craft several wines from the Russian River Valley AVA, including our Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir appellation wines, single-vineyard Chardonnays from Kent Ritchie and Mirabelle vineyards, Pinot Noirs from Klopp Ranch and River Road Ranch, and an estate-grown Pinot Noir from our Thale’s Estate Vineyard, which is located in the heart of the AVA.

Our winemaker, Heidi Bridenhagen has a deep affinity for the Russian River Valley and its storied vineyards. “The first time I stepped into a Russian River Valley vineyard I thought someone had brought me to a beach. The soil is a Goldridge Series that was once covered by the ocean. The incredibly sandy soil creates a lush and fertile place for vines to grow and it is reflected in the wines that you can make from the area. They are expressive and lush. In addition to the soil, the Russian River Valley is one of the first areas where the fog rolls in and one of the last that the fog to rolls out of. It is beautiful in the mornings and almost feels like you are digging through the fog to find the grapes to sample. The fog brings moist, cool air to keep the grapes hanging on the vine and intensifying in flavor and expression.” 

While each vineyard that MacRostie works in within the Russian River Valley is unique, Heidi sees some overarching commonalities in the way the wines from the region express themselves. “In Pinot Noir, I typically see dark fruit aromas and a spiced black tea note with a fairly hefty mid-palate and big, but soft tannins. For Chardonnay, the fruit profile is more tropical in nature with notes of white flowers depending on what vineyard you are in. Typically, the malic acid is much higher in wines from the Russian River, which is something we love. It gives the wines a crisp, beautiful lift that we prize.”

Russian River Valley Wine Weekend

August 2-4, 2024

As the home to our acclaimed MacRostie Estate House and Thale’s Vineyard, our roots run deep in the Russian River Valley and we take great pride in being a part of the local winemaking community. To celebrate our connection to the region, we will be hosting tasting booths at the main events of this year’s Russian River Valley Wine Weekend. Held over three days and featuring food trucks, culinary delights, and a who’s who of the best Russian River Valley wineries, this year’s Wine Weekend includes a not-to-be-missed Friday night Sunset Soirée at Paradise Ridge Winery presented by San Francisco Magazine. As the sun dips below the horizon at beautiful Paradise Ridge, guests will soak in the breathtaking views while savoring wines from 30 acclaimed Russian River Valley producers, including single-vineyard gems from our MacRostie portfolio. Guests will also enjoy tasty bites from local purveyors along with the sweet sounds of Bay Area favorite, Hella Fitzgerald. For more information about this year’s Wine Weekend, or to purchase tickets, visit https://russianrivervalleywineweekend.com.