Lake Sonoma Winery is where your wine appreciation grows.

Once, a region such as California was all that mattered to many wine consumers. But California winemaking has moved on, as has consumer wine appreciation. While California is a “Region,” Sonoma County is a controlled “American Viticultural Area” (AVA). It is also referred to as an “Appellation.” And specific areas within Sonoma County are “Sub-appellations.” For winemaking, there is a more finite designation referred to as “Vineyard Specific”.

SUB-APPELLATION
A sub-appellation is an area with a specific amalgam of soil, slope and climate.

TERROIR
It is important to understand the meaning of the French term “terroir.” Simply stated, “terroir” means “growing environment.”

Terroir encompasses the physical qualities that make up the soil and subsoil, and how it interacts with the specific and varied climate of the vineyard. more...