California's Russian River Valley has sustained farmers for more than 150 years, and today remains one of the state's prized growing grounds for astounding grapes. The Sonoma County valley got its name from Russian explorers who settled around Fort Ross, near the river's mouth on the Pacific Ocean, around 1812. They were there to set up a military site to explore, fish and hunt for their settlements in Alaska.
By 1841, when the last Russian ship left Fort Ross, an array of vineyards had been established. At that time, there were only about 300 Americans in Yerba Buena, which would become the city of San Francisco.
Gold would drive the growth of the valley. In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill and the region would never be the same. Hundreds of thousands of people "rushed" to the rivers of Northern California with dreams of finding gold and wealth.
By the mid-1870s the first "wine boom" was underway and vineyards were thriving. The many English, German, Swiss and Italian entrepreneurs were perfecting their craft and introducing enthusiasts to a "pinot" grape around 1880.
In 1891, The California State Viticulture Commission reported that more than 300 grape growers and 7,000 acres of vineyards were producing a staggering half a million gallons of wine in the region.
The Russian River Valley is still a prolific wine region, with dedicated vintners producing some of the most impressive pinot noirs and chardonnays in the world.
THE VALUES
2012 Picket Fence Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, California (about $17 retail)
2012 Kenwood Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, California (about $18 retail)
THE SPLURGES
2012 Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir, California (about $26 retail)
2012 Ramey Wine Cellars Russian River Valley Chardonnay, California (about $43 retail)
2012 Siduri Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir, California (about $32 retail)
2012 MacMurray Russian River Pinot Noir, California (about $40 retail)
Lorri Hambuchen is a member of London's Institute of Wines and Spirits. Contact her at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or email:
uncorked@thewinectr.com
Food on 07/23/2014