| Wine region | |
 A vineyard in Alexander Valley | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1984, amended 1986, 1988, 1990, 2001[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California,North Coast AVA,Northern Sonoma AVA,Sonoma County |
| Total area | 32,536 acres (132 km2)[2] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 15,000 acres (61 km2)[3] |
| Grapes produced | Barbera,Cabernet Franc,Cabernet Sauvignon,Carignane,Chardonnay,Chenin blanc,Gewürztraminer,Grenache,Malbec,Merlot,Muscat Canelli,Petit Verdot,Petite Sirah,Pinot blanc,Pinot noir,Riesling,Sangiovese,Sauvignon blanc,Sémillon,Syrah,Tempranillo,Viognier,Zinfandel[3] |
TheAlexander Valley (Wappo:Unutsawaholmanoma, "Toyon Bush Berry Place")[4] is aCalifornianAmerican Viticultural Area (AVA) just north ofHealdsburg inSonoma County. It is home to manywineries andvineyards, as well as the city ofCloverdale. It is the largest and most fully planted wine region in Sonoma.[5]Highway 101 runs through thevalley, and theRussian River flows down the valley, surrounded by vineyards on both sides. From the higherelevations of the valley rim, there is a view as far south asTaylor Mountain andSonoma Mountain. The region was named forCyrus Alexander, owner of a part of theRancho Sotoyome Mexican land grant, in 1847.[6] Granted AVA status in 1984, the boundaries of the appellation are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Section 9.53.
In its early history, the territory commonly referred to as the "Alexander Valley" denoted thebenchlands east of the Russian River leading up to theMayacamas Mountains. The area west of the Russian River was known as "the plaines" or "the ranchos". Prior to Spanish colonization, Alexander Valley was occupied by theWappo andPomo. Viticulture in the area dates back to 1843, when Cyrus Alexander used vinecuttings collected fromFort Ross on the Pacific coast, to establish vineyards in the area.[7] For most of its history the region was predominately associated with mass-produced bulk andjug wines made from indiscriminately plantedfield blends of redgrape varieties. A modern era of quality wine production began in the late 1960s when a new owner ofSimi Winery sought to revive the area's long winemaking history. In the 1970s, a new wave of producers, such asChateau Souverain andJordan Vineyard & Winery, descended upon the area and started making wines that received critical and consumer acclaim. Wine pioneer, Rodney Strong, whose namesake winery is located in Russian River Valley, was also among the first to recognize Alexander Valley's potential, producing and releasing Sonoma County's first single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the 1974 vintage. The vineyard designated was Strong's Alexander's Crown vineyard located near Jimtown. In 1988,E & J Gallo Winery purchased substantial tracts of land in the Alexander Valley to establish the fine wine brand of the company.[5]
In 1963, one of Alexander Valley's most prestigious vineyards, the Robert Young Vineyard, was planted. There were few wineries in the area at the time so the vineyard sourced most of it fruit to wineries outside the valley. One of these wineries,Chateau St. Jean, was so impressed with the quality of fruit that with the 1975vintage of theirChardonnay they put the name of the vineyard on thewine label.[7] This "vineyard designated wine" would be one of the first premium wines inCalifornia wine history to have the name of the vineyard appear on the label.[8]
Located in the northeastern section ofSonoma County, the original boundaries of the AVA extend from the banks of the Russian River eastward to the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains. In 1986 these boundaries were expanded to include overlapping regions of theRussian River AVA. A second expansion occurred in 1990 to cover vineyards owned by SirPeter Michael andEllis Alden in the foothills east ofGeyserville. In 2001, the area consisting of theGill Creekwatershed was changed from being part of theDry Creek AVA to a reclassification as part of the Alexander Valley AVA.[9]
The Alexander Valley covers a broad expanse of land east of the Russian River consisting of the watershed that runs southeast from theMendocino County line down to the boundaries of theChalk Hill AVA.[7] The area is sheltered from the influence of the nearbyPacific Oceans by the low-lying hills northeast of Healdsburg. The dominant vineyard soil of the region isalluvial.[10] During the day, the Alexander Valley is one of the warmest areas in Northern California but at night experiences a widediurnal temperature variation that offers cool climate conditions. The region's proximity to the Russian River serves a source for early morningfog that covers the lower vineyard areas until it is burned off by the morning sun.[11]
A characteristic associated with Alexander Valley wines is a rich, fleshy mouthfeel and a degree of voluptuousness due to the area's generally warm climate and ability to sufficiently ripen the grapes. While the wine exhibit a degree of drinkability and accessibility in their youth, they may not have the sameaging potential as wines fromNapa Valley or even other areas of Sonoma County.[5] The Alexander Valley is capable of growing a wide range ofgrape varieties but in recent years, the area has been noted for the quality of itsCabernet Sauvignon andMerlot. The alluvial soils of the region tend to impart a rich, chocolate note to the Cabernet.[10] Other Alexander Valleyvarietals that have been gaining recognition includeChardonnay,Nebbiolo andSangiovese.[9] The Chardonnay from this region is characterized by its rich, tropical fruits.[12] Some experts, such asJancis Robinson, have speculated thatZinfandel andSauvignon blanc may eventually prove themselves to be best suited to the climate and soils of the Alexander Valley.[5]
In the early 21st century, there was controversy when the Alexander Valley Association of farmers, wineries and property owners objected to a proposal for atribal casino on land owned by thePomo people. In 1998, the association had been able to block a large winery expansion proposed byKendall-Jackson, but in the dispute with the Pomo casino, federal and state laws granted the tribe the right to develop the land in any way they wished. The casino was built and named River Rock Casino. Resulting traffic problems alongHighway 128 after the casino's opening in 2002 led to public safety concerns duringharvest season because of the agricultural traffic on the roads.[13] These concerns intensified after River Rock received aliquor license in 2008.[14]
