Bennett Valley

Bennett Valley is located in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. The valley is approximately one mile wide in the northwest and the axis of the floor slopes 40 feet per mile from the pinched central portion of the valley. There are knolls that divide the northwestern from the southeastern section of the valley.

The valley is drained by Matanzas Creek which is incised into the valley floor; there is also a flood-control reservoir on the creek in the central portion of the valley which collects water from the upper portion of the valley. The precipitation in the valley varies; it can be between 35 and 40 inches per year. Rainfall occurs mainly during the winter months.

The valley is access mainly by Bennett Valley Road; this road traverses the valley floor and connects southeast Santa Rosa with Warm Springs Road in Glen Ellen. The ecology of the valley includes oak woodlands which are found on the upper southwest and northeast side slopes of Bennett Valley. The dominate soil found in the valley is Clear Lake clay which drains poorly; it is gray in appearance and manifests to a fine granular structure. Zamora silty clay loam is also found in large patches on the valley floor. To keep up with demand for the growth of wine grapes in this region the soils in the valley were developed for viticulture.

Economic factors led to upscale residential development and premium wine grape cultivation in the valley in the 1980s, this sent land values soaring in the area. Homes are constructed on large properties which range from five to 40 acres. The grapes used for production are sold to premium production facilities and have led to the American Viticultural Area naming Bennett Valley as a premium wine-grape sub region.