Solano County Green Valley is a small AVA at the very western edge of Solano County, California, located alongside the south-eastern corner of the world-famous Napa Valley region. It is not to be confused with the more famous Green Valley of Russian River Valley located 45 miles (75km) to the west in Sonoma County.
Solano County Green Valley wines do not enjoy the same levels of prestige as their neighbors from Napa Valley, but they hold a reputation for striking a balance between quality and affordability.
The AVA is located in a small, north/south-oriented valley about 12 miles (19km) north-east of San Pablo Bay. It lies in the southern foothills of the Vaca Mountains and is just eight miles (13km) from Napa township. The valley's orientation and its proximity to the cooling winds and fog from San Pablo Bay mean that it enjoys many of the same climatic conditions as Napa and Sonoma valleys.
The valley's temperate maritime climate is well-suited to the production of high-quality wine grapes. Warmth during the day is replaced by cold fog in the evenings, giving the grapes a chance to cool overnight. This extends the ripening period, leading to a good balance of ripeness and acidity in the berries.
The alluvial soils here are deep and free-draining, and the majority of the 800 acres (320ha) of vineyards are planted along the valley floor, which slopes gently down toward Suisun Bay in the south. These soils allow the vines' root systems to penetrate deeply into the ground, which makes for healthier, stronger plants and higher-quality grapes.
Solano County Green Valley is considered an 'up-and-coming' AVA. Currently, only a handful of wineries are operating here, but given the valley's short distance from San Francisco and the neighboring Napa Valley, this is likely to change.
