Alexander Valley Wineries - Robert Young Estate Winery
American Viticultural Area

This print by artist Kerne Erickson depicts the Robert Young Estate Winery located in the Alexander Valley AVA. This AVA established in 1984 is located in Sonoma County north of the town of Healdsburg. There are over 15,000 planted acres, with over 40 wineries and 200 vineyards that grace this region. Alexander Valley is one of the warmest areas in Northern California but at night experience a wide diurnal temperature variation that offers cool climate conditions. The region's proximity to the Russian River serves a source for early morning fog that covers the lower vineyard areas until it burned off by the morning sun Grape varieties include: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignion, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo, Syrah, Semillon, Malbec, Barbera. The viticultural area is approximately 15 miles long and about two miles wide. It is immediately to the west of the 3,000 foot Coastal Mountain Range and about 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. Daily high and low temperatures often diverging 40 or 50 degrees, enabling Pinot Noir growers to keep acid development in line with sugar and flavor formation through long, warm Indian summers. It also makes for superb Gewürztraminer and Riesling. Soils are primarily alluvial with a substantial amount of clay. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer and Riesling dominate plantings in this sub AVA of Mendocino County.
Wineries include: Navarro Vineyards, Toulouse Vineyards & Winery, Baxter Winery, Handley Cellars, Balo Vineyards, Goldeneye Winery, Foursight Wines, Roederer Estate, Phillips Hill Winery, Lula Cellars and Domaine Anderson.