Russian River Valley & Green Valley Appellation Wine Trail

The Russian River Valley and its sub AVA, the Green Valley are widely recognized as a premiere growing area for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Foggy mornings, warm afternoons, and a cooling evening breeze from the Pacific Ocean make the ideal climate for these grapes in this area. Although you will find Pinot Noir and Chardonnay the focus, these wineries produce other fine wines such as Syrah, Zinfandel, and Gewürztraminer. Martinelli Winery (photo-right) owns many acres of vineyards in Green Valley AVA

Winery Descriptions, Driving directions, Tasting Room Hours

If you are traveling from San Francisco take the Cotati Sebastopol Exit from Highway 101 and head west on Highway 116 towards Sebastopol. Two good places to stop and pick up a picnic lunch are the Whole Foods in downtown Sebastopol and the Fiesta Market further north on Highway 116, 550 Gravestein HWY.

Watch for Occidental Road and turn right onto Occidental Road and travel one mile to the tasting room for both Dutton Goldfield and Balletto Vineyards.

Dutton Goldfield Winery
The focus at Dutton Goldfield is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They produce small case allotments of single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from various prime vineyards in Sonoma Country as well as a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their Dutton Ranch property. The Dutton Ranch encompasses several small vineyards throughout the Green Valley AVA. The Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noirs are consistently ranked among the best Pinots in California. They also produce a small amount of Zinfandel and Syrah. Dutton Goldfield has a partnership with Balletto Vineyards to use their winemaking facilities and present their wines in the Balletto tasting room.

Tasting room open Thursday thru Monday 10 to 4 pm.
Phone: (707) 823-3887; E-mail: info@duttongoldfield.com, Dutton Goldfield

Balletto Vineyards
The tasting room is very appealing and was completed in January of 2006. The winery is owned and operated by John Balletto and his wife Terri. John has been farming this land since 1977 when he was a mere 17 years old.  Originally, an assortment of vegetables were grown on the farm, but as the area became recognized as a prime growing region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, John and Terri gradually shifted from vegetable growers to grape growers.  Today the majority of their grapes are sold off to several wineries, but the best of the crop is used to make the Balletto wines. Case production is currently at 5000 cases per year with plans to expand to as many as 30,000 cases per year. The Zinfandel and Pinot Noir topped our list of favorite wines at Belletto Vineyards. At the price range of $12 to $24 a bottle, the Balletto wines are excellent value wines.

Tasting room open Thursday thru Monday 10 to 4 pm.
Phone: (707) 568-2455; E-mail: info@ballettovineyards.com, Balletto Vineyards

Lynmar Winery
To get to Lynmar Winery head back to the Gravenstein Highway (116) and turn left. Drive about one mile and turn left at Frei Road. Drive another 3/4 of a mile to the entrance to Lynmar.  In the fall of 2005, Lynmar opened this impressive and beautifully designed hospitality center.  Everything about this winery is elegant and first class. The tasting room is spacious and tasteful. Visitors to the tasting room can stand at the tasting bar facing a lovely view of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, or sit at tables to enjoy their flights of the delicious Lynmar wines. There are two types of tasting. For a $10 tasting fee, a visitor can taste and compare flights of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. For a $20 fee, the “Lynmar Experience” provides delicious appetizers paired with the tasting flight.  Visitors must call ahead to reserve a spot for the Lynmar Experience Put Lynmar at the top of your list of exquisite wineries to visit.

Tasting room open Friday thru Monday, 11 to 4 pm. Tuesday thru Thursday by appointment.

Phone: (707) 829-3374; E-mail: info@lynmarwinery.com, Lynmar Vineyards

Iron Horse Vineyards
The road to Iron Horse is well off the beaten track but the journey is well worth it. You will find the road to Iron Horse just before you come to the town of Forestville on Highway 116. Watch for Ross Station Road, turning left off 116. Ross Station Road will cross a bridge and then become a narrow road as it winds up the hill to the winery. Along the way, you will be treated to beautiful views of vineyards and, on top of the hill, a spectacular view of the Green Valley. Iron Horse produces several different lines of sparkling wine, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir from their estate vineyards in the Green Valley AVA. They also produce other varietals from their estate vineyards in the Alexander Valley, located approximately 15 miles northeast in a much hotter climate. There is a tasting fee of $5.00 per person and the fee can be applied to the purchase of wine.

Tasting room open daily 10 to 3:30
Phone: (707) 887-1507
E-mail: joy@ironhorsevineyards.com. Iron Horse Vineyards

Hartford Family Winery
It is quite a surprise to find this beautiful winery tucked away in the Redwoods on this quiet country road. The grounds and tasting room are absolutely beautiful and so are the wines. This winery also produces two labels of wine. Under the Hartford label are the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the old vine Zinfandels. You can usually find these wines at high-end wine stores at very reasonable prices. The wines under the Hartford Court label are vineyard-designated wines. Pinot Noir is the specialty here and they make seven vineyard designated Pinots. These premium wines are made in small quantities and often sell out quickly. These wines are available from the winery or through the wine club. To get to the Hartford Family Winery on Highway 116 go through the town of Forestville. Just past Forestville on Highway 116, turn right on Martinelli Road and look for the Hartford Winery signs.

Tasting room open daily, 10 to 4:30
Phone: (707) 887-1756
E-mail: hartford.winery@hartfordwines.com, Hartford Family Wines

Martinelli Winery
Although this winery is not actually situated in the Green Valley, many of its outstanding wines are made from their estate vineyards in the Green Valley. The Martinelli Winery is one of the oldest wineries in California having been founded in 1896. It is now in its fifth generation of family operation. Over the years the family has acquired many acres of vineyards in the Russian River Valley. The winery sells 80% of its grapes to local wineries, saving the best vineyards for its own wines. The winery also has the services of world famous consultant and winemaker Helen Turley guiding the production of the wines. The Pinot Noirs are excellent as well as the Zinfandel from the Jackass Hill vineyard. These wines sell out quickly and are usually available only at the winery. The winery also has a very nice picnic area located on hillside vineyards. Unfortunately, the winery does not have the appropriate license for alcohol to be consumed outside of the tasting room. If you are arriving at Martinelii from Hartford, turn right out of Hartford onto Martinelli Road. Turn right at River Road. The Martinelli Winery is on River Road about a mile from Highway 101. The entrance to Martinelli will be on the right.

Tasting room open daily, 10 to 5
Phone: (707) 525-0570
E-mail: vinoinfo@martinelliwinery.com, Martinelli Winery