Sonoma Valley has played a significant role in the history of California wine.

The first vineyards in the valley were planted by Franciscan friars at Mission San Francisco Solano in 1823.

Prohibition affected Sonoma Valley as hard as any other wine region in California, and most wineries were unable to continue operating.

[6] Official boundaries for the Sonoma Valley wine region were codified into federal law in 1981 as the eighth designated American Viticultural Area.

The wine industry annually contributes over $8 billion USD to the local economy.