The Petaluma Gap

WINE TALK
1

Interesting piece on the Petaluma Gap:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20140204/lifestyle/140209885

2

Thanks for posting the link, Bob - I hadn’t seen this article. I thought this was the key paragraph:

More loose marketing association than official designation (there is no Petaluma Gap appellation, for now), most of what is considered the Petaluma Gap officially is within the Sonoma Coast appellation, a distinction with plenty enough cachet.

I’m sure that Petaluma Gap will have its own AVA at some point, but I think the deciding factor may be whether labeling wines as “Petaluma Gap” will carry more clout with consumers than “Sonoma Coast”.

3

I thought Sonoma Coast AVA was so bloated that it had no meaning? Or have they restricted it recently?

4

Many writers/bloggers/etc whine about the SonomaCoast AVA being so big as to have no meaning. It stretches all the way from the Pacific to over by the town of Sonoma,
which is a pretty large span of climate situations. And from Novato all the way up to Annapolis.
Most folks often refer to the “Extreme Sonoma Coast” or “Far Sonoma Coast” to the western part of the AVA, but can’t put that on the label.
But I find the SonomaCoast AVA rather useful…depending upon the producer. If it says Failla SonomaCoast PinotNoir, I’m pretty sure
it’s from the Extreme SonomaCoast.
Tom

5

You just have to work around it.

6

As you guys know, the Sonoma Coast AVA is already being subdivided. Within the West Sonoma Coast region of the overall Sonoma Coast AVA, Fort Ross-Seaview gained its own AVA within the past few years, and others may be in the works. This map of the West Sonoma Coast shows the areas that have their own separate AVAs now (Green Valley of Russian River Valley and Fort Ross-Seaview) as well as potential future AVAs:

720×445 231 KB

And here’s a map showing what a Petaluma Gap AVA might look like:
[resizeableimage=1000,647]http://petalumagap.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Petaluma-Gap-Brochure-Map_v5.jpg[/resizeableimage]

This would include a number of northern Marin vineyards as well as those in the Sonoma County part of Petaluma Gap.

7

Great reading, thanks for the link.

Ken, do you have a link to that Petaluma Gap map?

8

Matt, the map is on the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance website:
Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance

Lots of other interesting info on the site too.

9

I’ve been elected to the board of the Gap and will be participating as an AVA Ambassador for our area. Sonoma County Winegrape Comission has been very generous to let us participate even though we do not have AVA status. If anyone has questions I’ll try my best to get you answers. The map really describes where the fog and wind creates a different climate. It blasts through the wind gap at Bodega Bay, hits Sonoma Mountain and goes south to the bay. It can be rather dramatic. The higher elevations benefit from inversion and early sun. The key here is cool climate not cold climate. Syrah can be outstanding as well.

10

I’m new to the area, so this is all great info for me.

The weather around here is baffling. I’m glad it’s so good for the grapes, because it makes getting dressed for the day very difficult.

11

If you are down in the fog usually clears out by 10-11. Oh, but you have to be ready for the 2:30 zephyrs. They have them in Marin too blowing down Lucas Valley Road. I used to play in the Mayflower Soccer League and it could get out of control with keeper punts blowing back over their heads.

12

For those intrigued by the recent articles, the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance will have tasting tables at Sonoma In The City(SF) and PinotDays in LA, NY and Chicago. Come by and taste how the wind and cool climate create a special place for wine.

13

Is there a map of various vineyards within the proposed Petaluma Gap? Right now, i couldn’t even tell you if I have tried a Petaluma Gap wine…

14

Have you checked farther up this thread? :slight_smile:

15

This link gives you a larger image not viewable within the forum restraints. Still a few left out, not sure of the age of the map.
Petaluma Gap Vineyard Map

16

Hi Joe,

Yes, go to http://www.petalumagap.com. Go to the tab The Petaluma Gap>Map. There is also a list of growers and wineries. If you have tried Chardonnay or Pinot Noir from Gaps Crown Vineyard or Sangoicomo Roberts Road or Syrah from Griffins Lair or any of the Keller Estate wines then you have tasted the gap. Investment has come in very quickly recently with Bill Price buying Gaps Crown to secure fruit for Kosta Brown. Alex Guarachi just purchased Sun Chase for his brand. Have you tried Williams Selyem Terra del Promissio Vineyard? Kendal Jackson has just planted out an immense vineyard around that location. Charles Banks of Screaming Eagle purchased a controlling stake in Pax Mahle’s Wind Gap Wines, made from fruit in the Gap.

These are just a few of the many examples. The Sonoma coast is getting carved up into smaller AVAs and that is surely for the better. It is of no benefit to have a West Sonoma Coast and a Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir only have Sonoma Coast as a descriptor for consumers.

Cheers,
Evan

17

The Petaluma Gap is a special area. If you haven’t had any wines from this area you should seek them out. As Evan points out the amount of investment and attention this area is getting is strong. I have worked with fruit from a few different vineyards within the Gap and I thoroughly enjoy it.

18

What can clearly be shown by topo maps is the east west orientation of the mountains/hills versus north south. This is determining factor in carving up the map as it so influences climate. The break right at Bodega and the cut off just to the north and south. Soon, I will make a time lapse movie from our vineyard on Sonoma Mountain to show how dramatic it can be flowing through the gap.

19

LOL
Dress based on what grows at your destination. Are you going to a high acid Pinot area or a Cabernet place?

20

I checked on the petalumagap.com website and see that Rice-Spivak Vineyard is listed as one of the wine growers in the region. LaRue Wines makes a very nice Pinot Noir from Rice-Spivak grapes. Cobb Wines also makes a Pinot Noir from these grapes.