Fort Ross-Seaview AVA
Lingering coastal fog in the valleys below yields the right amount of cool on the vines of Fort Ross-Seaview. The region rises above the fogline to occupy a completely unique ecosystem—one that’s dryer, sunnier and warmer than most. This elevated, “coastal cool” maritime climate is ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There are also plantings of Pinotage, Roussanne and, further inland, highly acclaimed Syrah, Zinfandel and Cabernet..
Early Beginings
Sonoma County’s first grapevines—a “lost” Peruvian varietal—were planted in 1817 by Russian explorers in what came to be called Fort Ross.
It all started in 1972, when Bohan Vineyards was established with one acre of Zinfandel. Donnie Schatzberg of Precious Mountain Vineyards homesteaded 40 acres of ridge-top property in 1973. In 1977, Daniel Schoenfeld of Wild Hog Vineyard set up his operation. The Martinelli family has roots in Sonoma County going back to the 1880s, when its forebears began planting Zinfandel and Muscat grapes.
Marcassin, Flowers & Fort Ross Wineries
Helen Turley established her renowned Marcassin Vineyard here, along with Sir Peter Michael. With plantings of some 72 acres, Flowers Vineyards is now one of the AVA’s largest wineries. 1994 saw the first plantings of what would become Lester and Linda Schwartz’s patchwork of 32 small vineyard blocks that comprise the 53 acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinotage of the Fort Ross Vineyard.
Wayfarer & Del Dotto Cinghiale
In 1999, Jayson Pahlmeyer planted Wayfarer Vineyard, which is made up of 30 undulating acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Anther well-known winery from Napa, the Del Dotto Cinghiale Vineyard, moved into the AVA and is producing excellent Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
PARTICIPATING WINERIES:
Ca’Nani – a Del Dotto Family Winery – Cinghiale Vineyard
Flowers Vineyard & Winery – Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard
Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery
Kutch Wines – McDougall Ranch
Martinelli Winery
Pahlmeyer – Wayfarer Vineyard
Siduri Wines – Hirsch Vineyard
Tin Barn Vineyards – Coryelle Fields Vineyard
WesMar Winery – Hellenthal Vineyard
Wild Hog Vineyard
Williams Selyem Winery – Precious Mountain Vineyard
GROWER MEMBERS:
Coryelle Fields Vineyard
Del Dotto Cinghiale Vineyard
Fort Ross Vineyard
Hellenthal Vineyard
Martinelli Winery – Three Sisters Vineyard
Morhardt Ridge Vineyard
Pahlmeyer Wayfarer Vineyard
Precious Mountain Vineyard
Waterhouse Ridge Vineyard
Wild Hog Vineyard
Wineries located outside of the AVA that make wine with grapes from Fort Ross-Seaview vineyards and are open for tasting include Martinelli Winery in Windsor, Red Car Wine in Sebastopol, and Tin Barn Vineyards in Sonoma.