The Cole Ranch AVA has the distinction of being North America’s smallest appellation. This isolated viticultural area of less than one quarter square mile sits between the Russian River and Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. Here sixty acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Riesling vines are found tucked into the high hills ranging from 1,400-1,600 feet in elevation. Today, the Sterling family, proprietors of the Esterlina Winery located at Philo, owns the entire vineyard acreage of the appellation.
