Anderson Valley Terrain & Soil The Influence of Anderson Valley
Soil on Wine Production The AVA begins at about 800 feet above
sea-level in the northwest part of the valley. At these lower
elevations, soils are primarily alluvial with a substantial
amount of clay. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer and
Riesling dominate plantings in this part of the AVA. Soils in
the foothills surrounding the valley are substantially more
acidic and austere than those on the valley floor. The geology
of this part of the region supports fuller-bodied varietals
including Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. However,
wines made from these grapes do not resemble those from warmer
AVAs. These vineyards are still affected by wind and fog from
the Pacific Ocean and Navarro River. Subsequently, most wines
have high acid levels and are light to medium-bodied. The
viticultural area is approximately 15 miles long and about two
miles wide. It is immediately to the west of the 3,000 foot
Coastal Mountain Range and about 30 miles