USA — wine

Russian River Valley AVA

Russian River Valley in Sonoma County is California's most celebrated cool-climate wine region, defined by persistent morning fog from the Pacific that cools the valley while afternoons warm enough to ripen Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The region's Goldridge sandy loam soils — a unique sandy, well-draining terroir — and its foggy maritime climate produce California's most elegant, Burgundy-comparable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Williams Selyem, Rochioli, and Kosta Browne have defined the RRV style: rich, complex, and precise.

Year Rating Notes
2024 Russian River fog patterns ideal; Pinot Noir of rare delicacy and mineral depth.
2023 Exceptional vintage for Russian River Valley — considered by many the finest in a decade.
2022 Fine conditions; more accessible Pinot Noir style with generous fruit and soft tannins.
2021 Outstanding vintage; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of benchmark quality across the AVA.
2020 Smoke impact on some parcels; careful producers made excellent wine from clean sites.
2019 Landmark RRV vintage — wines of exceptional mineral precision and aromatic complexity.
2018 Good vintage; fog-driven elegance preserved in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
2017 Strong conditions; Chardonnay particularly impressive from Goldridge soils.