The Sonoma Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County , California , United States containing more than 500,000 acres (2,000 km), 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. The area has such a broad range of microclimates that petitions have been made to the United States Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for the creation of sub-AVAs such as the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA which was approved in December 2011.
5-699: The boundaries of the appellation are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Section 9.116. The following seven cities are located in, or partly in, the Sonoma Coast AVA: The Petaluma Gap is also part of the Sonoma Coast AVA. E & J Gallo Winery operates Two Rock Vineyard, a 400-acre (1.6 km) hillside vineyard near Cotati. 38°24′N 123°00′W / 38.4°N 123°W / 38.4; -123 Petaluma Gap The Petaluma Gap
10-546: Is a geographical region in Sonoma County, California which extends in a band from the Pacific Ocean to San Pablo Bay . It is an area of low land 22 to 31 miles (35 to 50 kilometers) wide in the coast ranges of the northern San Francisco Bay Area . The western edge of the gap is located in the coastal lowlands between Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay . The eastern edge of the gap is located at San Pablo Bay around
15-553: The Petaluma Gap are said to be influenced enough by this climate to give its wines a distinctive character. Mornings in the region tend to be foggy, followed by sunny days and windy afternoons. The cool evening temperatures help to preserve the natural acidity of the grapes over an extended growing season. Although many varietals are grown, the Petaluma Gap is best known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah grapes. In 2006, twenty-four local organizations and individuals formed
20-468: The central Bay Area from the northwest. Warm air rises from the land and allows cold, moist air, plus winds and fog to move into the area. Vineyards have been prevalent in the Petaluma Gap since the 1880s. During the 1990s, the Sonoma County wine industry adopted the term Petaluma Gap to help differentiate its products. It is a sub-region of the Sonoma Coast AVA . Wine grapes growing in
25-640: The mouth of the Petaluma River . The city of Petaluma is near the center of the gap. The Petaluma Gap affects wind patterns (and thus microclimates and air quality) in the San Francisco Bay Area . Fresh marine air generally blows eastward through the gap, branching into southward and northward streams which blow toward the Carquinez Strait and Santa Rosa respectively. The southward stream brings marine air overland into
#655344