Winemaker Notes
Valley of the Moon wines are steeped in the history of Sonoma Valley. The name Valley of the Moon borrows its origin from the translation of the Native American word Sonoma. With a winemaking tradition as rich and deep as the soil where the grapes are grown, Valley of the Moon’s wine program today features all that this region has to offer.
Valley of the Moon has a wine for each palate and pairing. All of the wines highlight the Sonoma region. Find a new favorite Chardonnay – oaked or unoaked – or try the popular Pinot Gris - Viognier Blend. Red wine lovers will enjoy the single varietal Zinfandels, Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Sauvignons. Looking for a crowd-pleaser? Try one of the popular blends: Blend 1887 is jammy, juicy and fun while Blend 1941 is bold, complex and rich. For a special occasion or a connoisseur experience open a bottle of Valley of the Moon Reserve: the winemaking team reserves the best grapes for these fine wines, crafting and aging them with extra care.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”