Freestone & Russian River Valley
Freestone
Freestone, California is a small community in Sonoma County nestled between Sebastopol and Bodega Bay, located in the southwest corner of the Russian River AVA (American Viticultural Area) and a stone's throw away from the Sonoma Coast AVA. This unique location lends itself to a cool, moisture-rich climate full of overcast mornings and sunny afternoons that encourages long growing seasons, but also makes caring for the vines a delicate balancing act.
The historic district of Freestone was inhabited for centuries by the Pomo Indians, then by Russians in the early nineteenth century, who grew wheat in the valley to support their northern settlements. The town evolved into a center for harvesting and milling redwood and in 1871 became a rail stop on the North Coast Pacific Railroad. Today, Freestone has a special charm with the preservation of classic Western style buildings and local landmarks including the Wildflour Bread Bakery and Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary.
Russian River Valley AVA
The Russian River AVA, home of the Cleary Ranch Vineyards, is centered around the Russian River, lying between Sebastopol and Santa Rosa in the south, and Forestville and Healdsburg in the north. The area's climate is characterized by the cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean a few miles to the west, usually arriving in the evening and often dropping the temperature 35 to 40 degrees from its daytime high.
This natural air-conditioning allows the grapes to develop full flavor maturity over an extended growing season. Natural Goldridge loam soil is also special to the Russian River Valley. Developed millions of years ago from volcanic collisions between North American and Pacific tectonic plates, this sandstone-evolved soil combined with the region's misty fog creates many notable cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals. This unique mixture of elements makes the Russian River Valley AVA a truly magical place.