Neat rows of chardonnay grapevines hug the ground, descending toward a wide bowl-shaped valley of flourishing cabernet sauvignon, the Les Pavots vineyard of Peter Michael Winery. Rising above it all like a grand sentinel is Mount St. Helena, the area's most influential feature, whose stark rocky summit seems close enough to touch. The still afternoon is interrupted only by the occasional melodic song or startling squawk of a lone bird. Knights Valley, the most remote of the 11 American Viticultural Areas in Sonoma County, is tucked between Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill and Napa County. There are about three dozen vineyards, and just two wineries.
Nights offer a cool contrast to the often sweltering days.
To get to Knights Valley, head north from Calistoga on Highway 128. About seven miles north of town, you'll pass back into Sonoma County, but if you're not looking, you may never see the sign. You can't deny that this obscure region feels like an extension of Napa Valley, yet it is one of Sonoma's richest historical treasures. The history of Knights Valley is agricultural. Shortly after Thomas Knight made the arduous journey from his native Maine in 1845, an explosion destroyed his wagon and all of his possessions, leaving him stranded and broke in what was then known as Mallacomes Valley.