MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT AVA
Moon Mountain District occupies the western flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains, on the Sonoma County side of the ridge that separates Sonoma from Napa Valley. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved it on October 1, 2013, after a petition by Christian Borcher of Repris Wines on behalf of local growers. The district covers roughly 17,663 acres along a feather-shaped strip running northwest to southeast above the Valley of the Moon, with only about 1,500 acres planted to vine. The name references both Moon Mountain itself, formally designated in 2007, and the older "Valley of the Moon" name that "Sonoma" translates as in the language of the local Pomo and Miwok peoples.
The defining geological feature is volcanic soil. Where most of the Mayacamas Range is built from sedimentary material lifted by tectonic activity, Moon Mountain rests largely on iron-rich volcanic basalt and tuff that runs deep red in color and is exceptionally well-drained. Elevations range from 400 to 2,200 feet, with vineyards perched on steep west-facing slopes that look directly across Sonoma Valley to Sonoma Mountain. The terrain is severe enough that most vineyard work is done by hand, and yields are naturally restrained.
Climate places Moon Mountain in one of Sonoma County's warmer growing zones, owing to the inland position, but elevation and wind temper the heat. Crosswinds from both the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Pablo Bay to the south reach Moon Mountain after warming over the valley floor, providing gentle moderation in the afternoons. Cool air drains downhill at night, reducing frost risk and lengthening the hang time on the slopes. The result is intense, structured red wines: old-vine Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon are the headliners, alongside Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, and a notable amount of historic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at Hanzell.
The vineyard history is among California's most storied. Monte Rosso Vineyard, originally planted in 1886 by San Francisco grocers Emmanuel Goldstein and Benjamin Dreyfus as Mount Pisgah, was renamed by Louis M. Martini after he acquired it in 1938 for its red volcanic soil. Now owned by E. & J. Gallo, Monte Rosso remains a source of coveted old-vine Zinfandel and Cabernet for producers including Bedrock, Carlisle, Ravenswood, Robert Biale, and Sixteen 600. Hanzell Vineyards, established in 1953, contains the oldest continuously producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines in the United States. Other notable producers include Kunde Estate, Repris Wines, Kamen Estate (founded by Karate Kid screenwriter Robert Kamen), Amapola Creek (founded by veteran winemaker Richard Arrowood), B. Wise Vineyards, and Ledson.
For buyers, Moon Mountain offers spectacular Mayacamas estate land within twenty minutes of the Sonoma Plaza, with views, elevation, and access to some of California's most historic vineyard real estate.
