The first wine grapes were brought to the Russian Rive Valley by Russian fur traders who arrived at the start of the 19th Century and established their base on a bluff near the mouth of the river. Along with grapes, farmers raised apples, plums, grains and hops. By the start of the 20th century the Russian River Valley was already famous for its wines. They were said to have a special character, a depth and brilliance in their flavors that came as a gift of land, climate and careful farming.

These special qualities were recognized as a distinct growing region, an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1983. The district is characterized by a cool climate and defined by the fog that follows the river valley to blanket the vineyards. Early winegrowers, many of them Italian immigrants, planted Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, and Carignane, to make hearty, simple wines.

Since the 1960s the Russian River Valley has been home to the pioneers of Pinot Noir, a delicate and difficult grape that makes complex, exciting wines.

The climate in the Russian River Valley offers winegrowers a textbook model of warm days and cool nights that encourages complex character in the ripening grapes. The vines blossom early and the grapes ripen late, full of sunny flavors and foggy, mist-shrouded undertones.

Ancient geologic accidents created distinct differences in soils from vineyard to vineyard, and the fast-adapting Pinot Noir vines pull a sense of place into their grapes, an expression of terroir obvious in bottle and glass. This diversity gives the Russian River Valley winemaker a broad palette with which to create the flavor and aroma in a final blend.