This Is What Makes Napa and Sonoma Wines Different

Wines from Napa and Sonoma are often referred to interchangeably, but the wine regions are very different in geology, climate, and terroir. As a result, the wines produced in each can be very distinctive.

“Napa and Sonoma might be spoken of together because they sit next to each other, but there are definitely more differences between the two than there are similarities,” says Guillaume Boudet, winemaker at Napa Valley’s Hyde de Villaine (HdV). “Even considering Napa or Sonoma as a single entity is quite far-fetched. There are so many micro-terroirs within each region, different types of soils, elevations, microclimates, varieties grown, etc.”

Location and climate

Napa and Sonoma may sit side-by-side, but how the regions are impacted by the Pacific Ocean is quite different. 

“Sonoma is a [more] distinctly coastal wine region, and the influence of the Pacific Ocean plays an important role in the profiles of the wines that come from here,” says Mikayla Avedisian-Cohen, corporate wine director for STARR Restaurants. Napa Valley is further inland, “so the temperature swings are more dramatic, [with] hotter days and cooler nights,” she says.

Both enjoy a range of climates and terroirs. Like any great wine-producing region, they are incredibly complex. 

“Diversity in climate and geology can be found across Napa and Sonoma,” says Elizabeth Tangney, winemaker of Cornell Vineyards in Sonoma County. “However, Napa’s diversity is more compact and confined between two mountain ranges [the Vaca Mountains in the east and the Mayacamas in the west], while Sonoma has a larger footprint that spans coastal, mountain, inland, and sea-level regions. Additionally, Sonoma boasts a greater variety of grape types and farming styles.”

Avedisian-Cohen uses an analogy to compare Napa and Sonoma.

“I often think about Napa and Sonoma in the same way that I think about Manhattan and Brooklyn,” she says. “Napa Valley is very small, just as Manhattan is in comparison to Brooklyn. [Manhattan] is the destination, it is luxurious, and it has worldly prowess. Sonoma, much like Brooklyn, is almost three times the size of Napa Valley. It is more bohemian.” She says that Sonoma tends to produce “wines that are lighter on their feet…and almost always more savory.”

The grapes and the wines

Because of their differences, the grape varieties cultivated in each region are famously different. 

Napa Valley is regarded as one of the world’s great sources of Cabernet Sauvignon, in addition to other classic Bordeaux grape varieties like Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Some of the most sought-after and expensive producers of Cabernet Sauvignon, like Harlan Estate, Screaming Eagle, and Schrader, can be found in Napa Valley.

While there are infinite nuances in Napa Cabernet from the region’s many appellations, the wines are known for their richness and generosity of ripe fruit. Other grape varieties thrive in Napa Valley, like Petite Sirah, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

In contrast, Sonoma has become one of the most exciting sources of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Each appellation leaves its distinct style on the wines, whether it’s the effusive fruit and spice of Pinot Noirs from the Russian River Valley or more tautly acidic and ocean-influenced expressions from the West Sonoma Coast AVA.

Sonoma is also home to terrific Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and more. The Cabernet Sauvignons of Sonoma County shouldn’t be ignored, either. A pair of wineries, Jordan and Vérité, have produced excellent Cabernet in Sonoma for decades, and newer producers like Aperture have gained serious acclaim in recent years.

It’s all about the microclimates

Cornell’s Tangney points out the danger to assume that Napa or Sonoma just excels with a particular set of grape varieties. “Of course, there are places in Napa that grow wonderful Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and there are places in Sonoma that grow incredible Cabernet Sauvignon,” she says. “[At] Cornell, for instance, our microclimate on the Mayacamas Mountain Range is ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and yet we are in Sonoma.”

Not everybody agrees that they differ greatly in total. The microclimates are so unique to one another that we need far more granular examination of them. In both regions, the nuances of individual pockets are critically important. 

“Sonoma ranges from the San Pablo Bay to Mendocino, and Napa from Carneros to Lake County, so it feels silly to just talk about them as two regions,” says Boudet. “That is why it is very important for more sub-appellations to be created.”

In general, the differences between Napa and Sonoma are significant. But that benefits wine lovers everywhere. With so much exciting wine being produced, they offer a lifetime of opportunities for delicious exploration.