Just north of San Pablo Bay, about 45 minutes from San Francisco, is the Sonoma side of the Los Carneros AVA. Part of this region crosses over to the lower east side of the Napa Valley AVA. They may technically be one AVA but they have quite different terroirs resulting in different grape varieties and styles of wine produced across the county line. In this noticeably cooler Sonoma side of Los Carneros, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are by the far the most widely grown varieties.
Here the Sonoma Mountains to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the northeast, flank mostly flat plains. It is cooler, windier, and foggier than the Napa side of Carneros. The shallow, infertile soils produce small amounts of concentrated fruit and this, combined with low rainfall, produces a full-bodied style of Pinot Noir. Chardonnay produces a regional style too, showing crisp apple and spicy honey flavors. The cool winds promote high acidy and low sugars, which is just what is required for making quality sparkling wines, for which Los Carneros is quite well known. Riesling and Gewürztraminer enjoy the cool climate resulting in some exceptional examples. There are warmer vineyard sites in the north at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains where pockets of Syrah and Merlot are planted.
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