Sonoma Coast is one of the largest AVAs in Sonoma, California. It covers some 500,000 acres (200,000ha) of land altogether, although only a tiny portion of this is planted to vine. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay dominate the vineyards along the Sonoma Coast, making premium wines in a range of different styles.

The AVA was created in 1987, primarily for political and commercial reasons. In the mid-1980s, the legal definition of ‘estate bottled’ was tightened in the US, restricting the use of the term to wines that were grown and vinified within a single AVA. This led a number of wine companies whose vineyards were scattered all along the coastline of Sonoma County to propose an over-arching AVA, affording them continued use of the phrase. This sets Sonoma Coast apart from other AVAs in northern California, most of which were created based on geological and climatological considerations.