History
Winegrowing is our Legacy
Deep roots and a pioneering spirit have driven the valley for over 200 years
1812
Russian fur traders establish Fort Ross 11 miles North of Jenner and in 1836 plant the first vineyards in what is present-day Graton.
1849
By the early 1840’s, Russians had abandoned Fort Ross, selling it to John Sutter in 1841, just seven years before he would find gold at Sutter’s Mill and set off the California gold rush of 1849.
1882
The Korbel brothers finish their winery, focused on making eurpean-style wines, including using méthode champanoise for “California Champagne.” By this time, the region was producing over 500,000 gallons of wine from 7,000 acres of grapevines. Martini and Prati winery had already been established in 1880 and Foppiano Winery was soon to come in 1896.
1887
Giuseppe and Luisa Martinelli arrive from Italy. Within two years, the Martinellis purchased land and planted Zinfandel and Muscat Alexandria vines on a 60-degree slope, a vineyard still in production today, known as Jackass Hill.
1933
The early 1900’s saw over 22K acres of wine grapes and 256 wineries in Sonoma County. Prohibition would all but decimate the industry with only 50 wineries surviving, mostly by making sacrament wines. In 1933 the 21st amendment finally repeals prohibition and wineries slowly return. By the late 1930’s Pinot Noir is being grown at Fountaingrove Winery, near the current site of Paradise Ridge Winery.
1959
Joe Rochioli Jr. plants Sauvignon Blanc vines on Westside Road, some of the oldest still in production. Almost 30 years later, Rochioli’s first vineyard of Pinot Noir will be named “Best Pinot Noir in America” by Wine Spectator, helping to put Russian River Valley on the map as a top Pinot Noir producing region.
1973
A big year for Pinot Noir: Joseph Swan released his first Pinot Noir, Davis Bynum released the first vineyard-designate wine from Russian River and Olivet Lane Vineyard was planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir by the Pellegrini family.
1976
A blind tasting in Paris shocks the wine world when a Chardonnay from California takes the top score. The wine, a 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay is made from Russian River Valley fruit grown by the Bacigalupi family. The tasting is later known as “The Judgement of Paris” and is credited for legitimizing the standards and high-quality of California wines.
1980
Audrey and Barry Sterling release the first vintage of Iron Horse sparkling wine from their Green Valley estate, regarded as the first sparkling wine from Russian River Valley.
1983
The Russian River American Viticultural Area (AVA) is established to cover 96,400 acres, it would later be expanded to cover 126,600 acres. The same year, Green Valley earns AVA designation.
1995
Passionate local winegrowers, including Saralee Kunde, Kirk Lokka, and Rod Berglund, establish Russian River Valley Winegrowers to promote the AVA as the premier region for growing cool-climate wine grapes.
Today
Today the Russian River Valley AVA spans over 150 miles and 16,000 acres of premium wine grape vineyards. Segmented into sub-regions known as neighborhoods, wines from each neighborhood exhibit specific characteristics that celebrate the diversity of the premier region. Our cool climate appellation produces an extensive array of delicious wines. From subtle textures to silky finishes, and thousands visit annually to enjoy wines as diverse as the land they come from.
