The Russian River area of Sonoma County is spectacular wine country. It remains largely undiscovered by the masses. Yes, the town of Healdsburg and the center of this wine region is very busy with its high-end restaurants, inns, and shops. But elsewhere, there are secret places and great discoveries to be made in the backroads of towns like Forestville, Geyserville, Graton, Sebastopol, Occidental, and Guerneville.
The Russian River begins in the mountains of Mendocino County and winds its way from Healdsburg west to the town of Jenner, where it empties into the Pacific Ocean. There is beauty everywhere along the banks and roads of the Russian River. It is here among the tall redwood trees and oak woodland forests that are found the vineyards and the wineries of this wine region.
There are over 100 wineries making wine in the Russian River wine country. They come in all shapes and forms, from the lavish to the rustic; around every bend there seems to another interesting winery to explore.
The Russian River wine region is divided up into several wine appellations, officially called AVA’s. They are the Russian River Valley, Green Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, and Rockpile AVA’s.
I will be spending the next couple of weeks exploring this wine country in search of good wine, food, and other delights.