The Moon Mountain District Sonoma County AVA is California’s newest appellation, approved on October 1, 2013. It’s a feather-shaped region that runs northwest to southeast and comprises roughly 17,663 acres overall, 8% of that planted to wine grapes — including some very old and respected vineyards. The new appellation is enclosed entirely within the already existing Sonoma Valley AVA.

Located alongside the western slopes of Mayacamas Mountain, the range that separates Napa from Sonoma, Moon Mountain rises from 400 to 2,200 feet. It is an aptly-named arid, remote, lunar-like moonscape so pocked with deep hollows and craters that being there feels like standing on the moon.

The rocky red soils of Moon Mountain have excellent drainage and are primarily volcanic ash – called Sonoma Volcanics – which were formed from 5 million year old prehistoric lava flows of andesite, tufa, obsidian and basalt with a thin top layer of clay loam. The grapes must work hard to access the water they need.

Owned by screen writer Robert Kamen, Kamen Vineyard is meticulously and organically farmed by legendary viticulturist Phil Coturri. Yields are low, 2-3 tons per acre, leaving small, very concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with intense mineral rich flavors.