Sonoma and Mendocino: fog-cooled Pinot, sun-ripened Zinfandel
49 bottles, from fog-cooled Pinot to old-vine ZinfandelA Pinot Noir kept taut by the Pacific fog, a Chardonnay aged the Burgundian way, a peppery, generous old-vine Zinfandel: the North Coast offers all three within a radius of a few dozen kilometres. Every morning, the fog climbs the valleys from the ocean and keeps the grapes cool, then the afternoon sun ripens them.
Here you will find Sonoma's great signatures, Kistler, Occidental, Patz & Hall, Twomey, Seghesio, and the wilder valleys of Mendocino and Anderson Valley, with Cabernets at gentle prices.
En route - Pinot Noir Les Pommiers 2019
A magnificent Pinot Noir with a rich and silky texture
From coastal fog to warm valleys
On the North Coast, distance from the ocean decides the style. Valleys open to the Pacific receive the morning fog and produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; those sheltered behind the hills get warmer and suit Zinfandel and Cabernet.
| Sub-zone | Climate | Key grape variety | In our range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russian River Valley along the river, south of Healdsburg | Fog from evening until late morning, cool nights | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | Twomey Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2020, €95also Kistler Russian River Pinot Noir 2022 |
| Sonoma Coast ridges facing the ocean, around Freestone | Ridges above the sea of clouds, cold wind: the coolest sector | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | Occidental Freestone Pinot Noir 2023, €110also Kistler and Patz & Hall |
| Alexander Valley north of Healdsburg, towards Geyserville | Broad, warm valley, brief fog; gravels and alluvial soils | Cabernet Sauvignon | Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, €155magnum at €339; also Coppola Director's Cut, €43.80 by the case of 6 |
| Dry Creek Valley narrow valley west of Healdsburg | Cool mornings, hot afternoons, gravels: a ripe, peppery Zinfandel | Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc | Coppola Director's Cut Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2021, €41.80per bottle, by the case of 6; also Seghesio, a Healdsburg house |
| Chalk Hill an enclave east of the Russian River | A warmer pocket, above the fog, on white volcanic ash that gave the hill its name | Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon | Truth home of Bordeaux-style blends, including La Joie |
| Anderson Valley Navarro valley, between Boonville and Philo | A corridor open to the Pacific, among the coolest in California | Pinot Noir, sparkling wines | Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2019, €73also Twomey Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2020, €95 |
| Mendocino inland in the county, around Ukiah | Hot and dry behind the coastal hills, a pioneer of Californian organic winegrowing | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay | Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino 2022, €37.90per bottle, in packs of 3 |
Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast partly overlap: the same plot can carry both names. For a livelier Pinot, aim for the Sonoma Coast ridges; for more flesh, the Russian River.
The same grape, two neighbouring valleys
Sonoma and Napa border each other, separated by the Mayacamas Mountains. Sonoma, closer to the ocean, plays on freshness; Napa, warmer and more sheltered, plays on power. Here is what that changes in the glass, grape by grape.
| Grape variety | Style here, and compared with Napa | Example wine | Price per bottle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinot Noirthe king grape of the coast | Cherry, raspberry, spice, clean acidity; Napa reserves it for the coolness of Carneros, at its southern tip | Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2017a blend of 16 small family vineyards, native yeasts | €71 |
| Chardonnaybarrel-fermented | Tension, white fruit, hazelnut, Burgundian-style ageing on the lees; in Napa, riper and broader | Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay 2022lively nose, vanilla palate, in the spirit of a Meursault | €116 |
| Zinfandelthe legacy of the Italian families | Blackberry, black pepper, generous alcohol, old vines; Napa has largely replaced it with Cabernet | Coppola Director's Cut Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2021also Decoy Zinfandel 2019, €43 | €41.80, by the case of 6 |
| Cabernet Sauvignonled by Alexander Valley | Softer tannins, rounder black fruit, gentler prices; Napa gives more density and ageing potential | Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valleythe same house also makes a Napa Cabernet, ideal for comparison | €155 |
| Sauvignon Blancvinified for freshness | Citrus, cut grass, vinified mostly in tank; Napa more readily puts it in barrel, in the spirit of Fumé Blanc | Elizabeth Spencer Sauvignon Blanc 2024grapes from the North Coast, cool areas swept by sea breezes | €29, by the case of 6 |
To explore Napa further, our Napa Valley page details its Cabernets, district by district.
A bottle for every mood
Start from the occasion or the dish, and the right valley follows.
Discover north coast Pinot
A fine, silky Mendocino Pinot Noir marked by the freshness of the fog: the ideal gateway to Sonoma's great Pinots.
Elizabeth Spencer Pinot Noir 2022 · €53 per bottle, in packs of 2For duck breast or grilled salmon
A precise Pinot from the Anderson Valley, from several vineyards each planted with a clone chosen for its plot.
Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2019 · €73 per bottleFor a barbecue with friends
Blackberry, plum and black pepper: a generous Sonoma County Zinfandel, made for grilled meats and smoky sauces.
Decoy Zinfandel 2019 · €43 per bottleA Chardonnay for roast poultry
Green apple, pear and lemon, then vanilla and toasted oak: a round Chardonnay to open with roast chicken or a blanquette.
Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Chardonnay 2021 · €34.80 per bottle, by the case of 6A great white for a festive table
The signature of Kistler, an estate founded in 1978: a broad, lively Chardonnay to serve with lobster, turbot or Bresse chicken.
Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay 2022 · €116 a bottleAn exceptional bottle to give
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cabernet, given long ageing and designed for the cellar, also comes in magnum for special occasions.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley · €155 per bottle, €339 per magnumCompare two Pinot valleys
Twomey makes one Pinot from Anderson Valley and another from Russian River Valley: open both side by side to taste the effect of terroir.
Twomey Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2020 · €95 per bottleExplore all Zinfandel
California's emblematic grape, from Sonoma to the other counties, with its old vines and its styles, from the most generous to the spiciest.
The Zinfandel section
Fog, the key to reading the north coast
Sonoma long lived in Napa's shadow. Italian families were planting Zinfandel there from the late 19th century, and the Seghesio family has worked there since 1895. The turning point came in the 1970s, when winegrowers such as Steve Kistler realised that the coastal cool suited Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Today, the rule is simple: the more fog a valley receives, the livelier and more fragrant the wine; the more sheltered it is, the riper and sunnier. Mendocino and Anderson Valley extend this contrast further north, on wilder land and often at gentler prices.
How do you choose
The team selects and tastes every bottle before offering it. On the North Coast, we look for freshness first: a Pinot that keeps its acidity, a Chardonnay where the oak stays behind the fruit, a Zinfandel whose alcohol is carried by pepper and blackberry. We also keep bottles from Mendocino so you can discover the region at a modest price.
The Wine Wanderer Team
What we are asked about Sonoma and Mendocino
What is the difference between a Sonoma wine and a Napa wine?
The two counties border each other, separated by the Mayacamas Mountains. Sonoma, larger and closer to the Pacific, gets more fog: its Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays keep a lively acidity. Napa, warmer and sheltered, has specialised in powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. To compare, also browse our Napa Valley page.
Why does Pinot Noir do so well in Sonoma?
Pinot Noir loves long, cool seasons. In the Russian River Valley and on the Sonoma Coast, fog from the ocean covers the vines until late morning, then the afternoon sun ripens them. The grapes thus keep their acidity and their cherry aromas. Our Pinot Noir section lets you compare it with Burgundy.
Where are Mendocino and Anderson Valley?
Mendocino County extends Sonoma to the north. Its interior, around Ukiah, is hot and dry: Cabernet, Zinfandel and Chardonnay are grown there, often organically. Anderson Valley, further west, follows the Navarro River to the ocean: it is one of the coolest valleys in California, Pinot Noir country, like the Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2019.
What food should you serve with a Sonoma Zinfandel?
Zinfandel is generous, fruity and peppery: it calls for grilled meats, glazed pork ribs, chilli con carne or a burger. Old vines, more concentrated, also go with spiced lamb. Serve it at around 16 °C. The Decoy Zinfandel 2019, at €43 a bottle, is a good place to start.
Why are some wines sold in packs or by the case?
Some producers ship their wines by the case, so we offer them in packs of 2 or 3, or in cases of 6. The price shown is always for one bottle: Elizabeth Spencer's Sauvignon Blanc 2024 costs €29 a bottle, in a case of 6. For any question about a format, contact an adviser.
Which Sonoma or Mendocino wine should you choose for under €50?
Under that threshold: the Decoy Zinfandel 2019 at €43, Coppola's Director's Cut Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2021 at €41.80 a bottle in a case of 6, Elizabeth Spencer's Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino 2022 at €37.90 a bottle in a pack of 3, or Seghesio's Sonoma Chardonnay 2022 at €34.80 in a case of 6. Find them with the €50 filter.
How long can you keep a great Sonoma Pinot or Cabernet?
A Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast or Russian River drinks well from three or four years and improves for up to ten. A Chardonnay such as Kistler's keeps for eight to ten years in a cool cellar. Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cabernet, more structured, can handle fifteen years and more, especially in magnum.
What is the link between Kistler and Occidental?
Steve Kistler founded Kistler in 1978 with Mark Bixler, and made his name with his Sonoma Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. He then created Occidental, devoted solely to Pinot Noir from the ridges of the Sonoma Coast, near Sebastopol. The Occidental Freestone Pinot Noir 2023 costs €110 a bottle.
At what temperature should you serve a north coast Pinot Noir?
Serve it lightly chilled, at 14–16 °C: the coolness highlights its fruit and acidity. There is no need to decant a young Pinot; simply open the bottle half an hour before the meal. Choose a large, Burgundy-style glass, which concentrates the aromas of cherry, spice and forest floor.