“With the cool marine influence from the San Pablo Bay and Pacific Ocean, the diverse soil types, the terroir of Bennett Valley is excellent for Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah.”
- Pierre Seillan, Verite
Bennett Valley
Bennett Valley is a gently sloping elevated valley set between three mountains in Sonoma County. Our well-drained mountain benchland soils combine with early morning fog and marine breezes to create ideal conditions for growing exceptional cool-climate varietals. With 8,140 total acres and just 650 planted acres, Bennett Valley is one of the smaller Sonoma County appellations. Our 36 primarily family-owned vineyards average less than 20 acres each. At harvest time, you’ll often find our grower-owners, their family and friends working alongside the harvest crews. There is an obvious passion here, and our growers believe deeply in the potential of this unique winegrowing region.
Off the Beaten Path
The valley itself is peaceful and serene. We have just one winery open to the public (Matanzas Creek) but you’ll find our appellation listed on some of the most sought-after artisan wine labels in California: Donelan Family, Morlet, Carlisle, Bevan Cellars and Argot, to name just a few. In addition, there are a handful of recently established grower brands, many producing small lots of ultra premium wine in urban warehouse facilities which cater to artisan producers. While their focus may vary, all are committed to crafting wines that are true to their vineyards and our unique appellation.