Sonoma

Sonoma County has nearly 60,000 acres of vines across a dozen appellations, from the warm Dry Creek and Alexander valleys to the cold Sonoma Coast. Its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the state’s most admired, and its land costs far less than Napa’s: brokers put planted vineyard at US$70,000–215,000 an acre, with Russian River Chardonnay around $100,000, Pinot Noir $125,000 and the best Sonoma Coast sites $150,000 and above.

Economics in brief

Vintroux, the leading wine-country broker, reports Sonoma planted vineyards at US$70,000–215,000 an acre and plantable land at $30,000–110,000, against $300,000–500,000 an acre for prime Napa Cabernet ground. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes sell for less than Napa Cabernet but far more than most of California, and the cool, foggy sites that suit them are the ones in demand. Wildfire and the cost of labour and water are the risks every buyer prices in.