Sonoma County, California, is one of the most important winegrowing regions in the whole of the United States. Vines have been planted here since the 1850s and, apart from the inevitable hiatus brought about by Prohibition, the county`s relationship with wine has been prolific and unbroken. Sonoma Valley is located in the county`s southeastern corner, and effectively mirrors the shape and orientation of Napa Valley just across the Mayacamas Mountains. It encompasses Bennett Valley, Sonoma Mountain and the western half of Carneros – arguably California`s finest "cool-climate" terroir. The Sonoma Valley climate is famously blessed with cooling fog, which rolls in from San Pablo Bay in the summer months. When combined with cooling ocean breezes, this means that Sonoma Valley is sufficiently cool yet sufficiently sunny to create wines which are elegant, bright and intensley flavoured.