Hotel La Rose is a short drive from most of the Sonoma County wine country. With over 300 wineries in 13 different regions, Sonoma County is one of the premiere wine growing regions in the world! Here is a quick tour of the thirteen different appellations, or growing regions of Sonoma County.

Hotel La Rose is proud to partner with Platypus Tours for all any wine touring needs throughout Sonoma and Napa Counties. Learn all about how to taste wine, how wine is made, and why grapes grow so well in the Northern California wine country! With friendly and knowledgeable wine guides leading the day, you will leave wine country enlightened and rewarded with the perfect Sonoma – Napa wine tasting experience!

Visits to the following regions through Platypus Tours are as follows:

Alexander Valley
Alexander Valley is one of the most densely planted of all of Sonoma County’s Wine Regions. Located along the Russian River, the boundary of this appellation extends north of Healdsburg up to Mendocino County north of Cloverdale. This stunning corner of Sonoma County is home to more than 40 wineries, each producing distinctive, unassuming wines.

Bennett Valley
Bennett Valley is one of Sonoma County’s newest wine regions and is a principal grape supplier to Kendall-Jackson. The Bennett Valley appellation is surrounded to the south, east and west by the Sonoma Mountains and to the north by the city of Santa Rosa. The appellation consists of only 650 currently planted acres making Bennett Valley one of the smaller appellations in California. Notable wineries in Bennett Valley include Matanzas Creek, Alta Ridge, and Dry Stack Cellars.

Chalk Hill
Chalk Hill is a sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley located near the town of Windsor along the foothills at the southern end of Alexander Valley and along the Santa Rosa plain. Orchards of olive trees have spawned a small but growing olive oil industry and one nature preserve caters almost solely to wood ducks. Notable wineries in Chalk Hill are Albini Family Winery, Chalk Hill Estate, and Papapietro Perry Winery.

Dry Creek Valley
The Dry Creek Valley wine region in the Russian River Valley centers around the Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River, and is approximately 16 miles long and two miles wide. The appellation is known particularly for its Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel production.

Green Valley of Russian River Valley wine region was formerly known as the Sonoma County Green Valley wine region. Located at the southwestern corner of the Russian River Valley, its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean makes it one of the coolest appellations within Sonoma County. The climate in the Green Valley is even cooler than other parts of the Russian River Valley, and favors the cultivation of cool climate grape varietals. Notable wineries in Green Valley are De Loach, Dutton-Goldfield, and Iron Horse Vineyards.

Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Green Valley of Russian River Valley wine region was formerly known as the Sonoma County Green Valley wine region. Located at the southwestern corner of the Russian River Valley, its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean makes it one of the coolest appellations within Sonoma County. The climate in the Green Valley is even cooler than other parts of the Russian River Valley, and favors the cultivation of cool climate grape varietals. Notable wineries in Green Valley are De Loach, Dutton-Goldfield, and Iron Horse Vineyards.

Knights Valley
The Knights Valley wine region occupies the boundaries between the southern end of the Alexander Valley wine region and the northern end of Napa Valley. Some of the earliest vineyards in the area were owned by Beringer Vineyards. The area is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Notable wineries in Knights Valley are Michael Winery, Hans Fahden, and Anakota Wines.

Carneros
The Carneros wine region spans across the last, low hills of the Mayacamas Mountains dividing both Napa and Sonoma Valleys just north of San Pablo Bay. The larger portion of the appellation stretches into Sonoma County with grapes grown here also being allowed to use the Sonoma Valley wine region designation. Notable wineries in the Carneros Wine Region are Cuvaison Estate Winery, Gloria Ferrer, Domaine Carneros, and Viansa.

Northern Sonoma
The Northern Sonoma wine region is an all encompassing appellation that covers all of Sonoma County with the exception of the Sonoma Valley and some areas of the Petaluma River watershed. The wine region was proposed by E & J Gallo to accommodate wines made from a blend of grapes from scattered vineyards in Sonoma County.

Rockpile
The Rockpile wine region is situated at the northwest point of the Dry Creek Valley wine region, past Healdsburg. The area was first planted by Italian immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. Many of today’s vineyards were formerly occupied by a reservoir created by the Warm Springs Dam on the Russian River. The area is known for its fruity, ripe Zinfandels. Notable wineries in the Rockpile region are Botticelli Vineyard, Ramsey, and Rocky Ridge Vineyards.

Russian River Valley
Russian River Valley wine region is adjacent to the city of Santa Rosa and the Russian River, where it bends and cuts through the Coast Range to the coast. The region is characterized by the regular intrusion of cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean.The area is known for its success with cool climate varietals, notably Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Notable wineries in the Russian River Valley are Christopher Creek, Russian River Vineyards, Hop Kiln, and Paradise Ridge.

Sonoma Coast
Sonoma Coast wine region contains more than 500,000 acres, mostly along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. It extends from San Pablo Bay to the border with Mendocino County. The appellation is known for its cool climate and high rainfall relative to other parts of Sonoma County. Notable wineries in the Sonoma Coast wine Region include Braren Pauli and Keller.

Sonoma Valley
Sonoma Valley wine region is known for its unique terroir with Sonoma Mountain protecting the area from the wet and cool influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean. The Sonoma Mountains to the west help protect the valley from excessive rainfall. The cool air that does affect the region comes northward from San Pablo Bay through the Carneros region and southward from the Santa Rosa plain. Notable wineries in Sonoma Valley are Arrowood, Bartholomew Park, Ledson, and Chateau St. Jean.

Sonoma Mountain
Sonoma Mountain wine region, in the Sonoma Mountains, includes the town of Glen Ellen and is bordered on the west by the Sonoma Valley wine region. The area is known for the diverse micro-climates that occur within the crevices and folds of the hillside terrain and as such is home to production for a wide range of varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Zinfandel. Notable wineries in the Sonoma Mountain region are Benziger Family Estate, Laurel Glen Winery, and Coturri.

Sonoma Mountain wine region, in the Sonoma Mountains, includes the town of Glen Ellen and is bordered on the west by the Sonoma Valley wine region. The area is known for the diverse micro-climates that occur within the crevices and folds of the hillside terrain and as such is home to production for a wide range of varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Zinfandel. Notable wineries in the Sonoma Mountain region are Benziger Family Estate, Laurel Glen Winery, and Coturri.