The Fort Ross Vineyard is located less than a mile from the Paciļ¬c Ocean, seven miles north of the Russian River and two miles south east of the old Russian Settlement of Fort Ross. Perched on steep mountain ridges, floating high above the coastal fog, at elevations from 1200 up to 1700 feet above sea level, Fort Ross Vineyard is the closest vineyard to the Pacific Ocean in all of California. With its marine sedimentary soils, long bright sunny days, gentle sea breezes and cool maritime climate, these steep coastal ridges have become one of the most highly regarded cool-climate growing regions in California.
APPROVAL OF THE FORT ROSS-SEAVIEW AVA!
In January 2012, Fort Ross Vineyard became part of the new, rigorously defined Fort Ross-Seaview American Viticultural Area (AVA) which established the region as separate and distinct from all other wine growing regions in California. The process of approval was rather lengthy. Work on the petition began in 1999 and was first submitted to the TTB in 2003. This new AVA covers 27,500 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean at elevations from 920 to 1,800 feet and is located in the steep coastal ridges of the Sonoma Coast. The wines produced from grapes grown in this extreme and challenging region truly reflect their terrior with elegance, fine structure, seamless balance and vibrant fruit that distinguishes them from wines produced in the greater Sonoma Coast Appellation. Wines produced in this region will always be limited as yields are low and most of the terrain is too steep to farm.