Green Valley Linked to Russian River
New name of AVA to be celebrated on Earth Day
Sebastopol, Calif. -- It might seem like a fine point to some, but to eight wineries and more than 100 growers in the small Green Valley AVA in Sonoma County, a name change that becomes effective next month is a cause for celebration. The TTB has approved a change from "Sonoma County Green Valley" to "Green Valley of Russian River Valley."
"Sonoma County, to me, is so general, so broad," said Tracy Dutton, owner with her husband Joe Dutton, of Dutton Estate Winery and Sebastopol Vineyards in Green Valley. "To be recognized as part of the Russian River Valley is more specific."
The name change becomes official just in time for a consumer wine event on Earth Day, Apr. 22, at Iron Horse Vineyards, one of eight Green Valley wineries that pushed for the new AVA. The area's annual Green Valley Symposium, which is an invitation-only wine-trade event that brings retail and restaurant buyers to the region, also occurs in April.
General admission tickets for the Earth Day benefit are $50 for admission to a walk-around tasting of Green Valley wines and "world street food." An all-access pass is available for $250 that also admits attendees to a private reception at the home of Iron Horse founders Audrey and Barry Sterling. Find more information at greenvalley-russianriver.com.
Green Valley is one of the smallest appellations in Sonoma County, and one of the foggiest and coolest, making it ideal for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines. It occupies the southwestern part of the Russian River Valley, bounded by the towns of Sebastopol, Forestville and Occidental. It is very tightly delineated, both geographically and climatically, and its resident wineries and growers say it's the most consistent of any North Coast appellation in terms of soil, climate and flavor.
The fog is Green Valley's trademark. The predominant soil type (60%) of this American Viticultural Area (AVA) is Goldridge soil, the most sought-after type in Sonoma County--especially for Pinot Noir. There is a wonderful cohesiveness among the Green Valley wineries; their wines share a distinctive flair.
Wineries that pushed for the name change include DeLoach Vineyards, Dutton Estate, Dutton-Goldfield, goldridgepinot, Hartford Family Winery, Iron Horse Vineyards, Marimar Estate and Orogeny.
"Sonoma County, to me, is so general, so broad," said Tracy Dutton, owner with her husband Joe Dutton, of Dutton Estate Winery and Sebastopol Vineyards in Green Valley. "To be recognized as part of the Russian River Valley is more specific."
The name change becomes official just in time for a consumer wine event on Earth Day, Apr. 22, at Iron Horse Vineyards, one of eight Green Valley wineries that pushed for the new AVA. The area's annual Green Valley Symposium, which is an invitation-only wine-trade event that brings retail and restaurant buyers to the region, also occurs in April.
General admission tickets for the Earth Day benefit are $50 for admission to a walk-around tasting of Green Valley wines and "world street food." An all-access pass is available for $250 that also admits attendees to a private reception at the home of Iron Horse founders Audrey and Barry Sterling. Find more information at greenvalley-russianriver.com.
Green Valley is one of the smallest appellations in Sonoma County, and one of the foggiest and coolest, making it ideal for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines. It occupies the southwestern part of the Russian River Valley, bounded by the towns of Sebastopol, Forestville and Occidental. It is very tightly delineated, both geographically and climatically, and its resident wineries and growers say it's the most consistent of any North Coast appellation in terms of soil, climate and flavor.
The fog is Green Valley's trademark. The predominant soil type (60%) of this American Viticultural Area (AVA) is Goldridge soil, the most sought-after type in Sonoma County--especially for Pinot Noir. There is a wonderful cohesiveness among the Green Valley wineries; their wines share a distinctive flair.
Wineries that pushed for the name change include DeLoach Vineyards, Dutton Estate, Dutton-Goldfield, goldridgepinot, Hartford Family Winery, Iron Horse Vineyards, Marimar Estate and Orogeny.
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