Alexander Valley Climate (Back to overview)
The warm, inland climate of Alexander Valley is best suited for medium to full bodied red varietals. Cabernet Sauvignon is excellent, and this is one of the few California regions that that can compete against Napa Valley with this grape.
The Role of Climate in Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Production
This AVA is protected from the coast by several mountain ridges, but it is moderated by the Russian River. During summer, mornings are often foggy, which retains acidity in grapes. By early afternoon, the sky is usually sunny and sufficiently ripens full bodied red varietals.
Cabernet Sauvignon began replacing Colombard and Alicante about three decades ago. The region used to provide many grapes for jug wines in the 1950s and 1960s. With the replanting due to the resurgence of Phylloxera in the early 90s, the transition was complete.
The region’s warm days and cool nights produce Cabs with considerable depth and complexity. Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is generally more fruit forward and less tannic that wines from Oakville and Rutherford in Napa Valley.
Alexander Valley Wineries
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