The Alexander Valley is a Californian American Viticultural Area (AVA) just north of Healdsburg in Sonoma County. It is home to many wineries and vineyards, as well as the city of Cloverdale. It is the largest and most fully planted wine region in Sonoma. Highway 101 runs through the valley, and the Russian River flows down the valley, surrounded by vineyards on both sides. From the higher elevations of the valley rim, there is a view as far south as Taylor Mountain and Sonoma Mountain. The region was named for Cyrus Alexander, owner of a part of the Rancho Sotoyome Mexican land grant, in 1847. Granted AVA status in 1984, the boundaries of the appellation are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Section 9.53.
Capay Valley is a mostly rural valley northwest of Sacramento in Yolo County, California, United States. It lies east of Blue Ridge and west of the Capay Hills.
Knights Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Sonoma County, California. One of Sonoma County's original five AVAs, Knights Valley AVA was formally designated an American Viticultural Area on October 21, 1983. Knights Valley AVA includes approximately 37,000 acres (150 km2). Over 30 growers maintain the 2,000 acres (8 km2) planted to wine grape vineyards. The easternmost designated Sonoma County wine region, Knights Valley AVA has the warmest climate in the county. The valley lies between the Alexander Valley AVA and Chalk Hill AVA wine regions to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east. Geographically, the appellation separates the rest of Sonoma County from the Napa Valley AVA.
Guenoc Valley is an American Viticultural Area in Lake County, California, United States, about 15 mi (24 km) north of the town of Calistoga. Guenoc Valley AVA was the first American Viticultural Area designation granted to an area with just a single winery.
The Bennett Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Sonoma County, California. The boundaries of this appellation lie completely within the North Coast AVA, almost completely within the Sonoma Valley AVA and overlaps into some areas of the Sonoma Coast AVA and Sonoma Mountain AVA. The region was granted AVA status on December 23, 2003 following the petition of Matanzas Creek Winery. The AVA is surrounded to the south, east and west by the Sonoma Mountains and to the north by the city of Santa Rosa, California. The region receives a moderating effect on its climate from Pacific Ocean through the cool coastal fogs and breeze that creep into the area from the southwest through Crane Canyon between Sonoma Mountain and Taylor Mountain. Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc and Syrah are the leading grape varieties planted.
The Dry Creek Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California, located northwest of the town of Healdsburg. The valley is formed by Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River, and is approximately 16 miles (25.7 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. The appellation benefits from the proximity of the Lake Sonoma reservoir for irrigation in this relatively dry area.
The Northern Sonoma AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California, United States. The appellation covers most of the county with the notable exceptions of the Los Carneros AVA and Sonoma Valley AVA wine regions, which are located in the southern portion of the county. The creation of this AVA was largely based on the petitioning of the E & J Gallo Winery as part of their expansion of their Gallo of Sonoma brand. The viticultural area incorporates the Alexander Valley AVA, Chalk Hill AVA, Dry Creek Valley AVA, Knights Valley AVA, Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA, and parts of the Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA and Rockpile AVA valleys.
The Sonoma Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California which centers on the Sonoma Valley in the southern portion of the county. The name 'Sonoma' means 'Valley of the Moon' in the local Native American dialect. The appellation is bordered by two mountain ranges: the Mayacamas Mountains to the east and the Sonoma Mountains to the west.
Benmore Valley is an American Viticultural Area located in southwestern Lake County, California. The valley is named for Benjamin Moore, a local 19th century cattle rustler. The valley is a high depression in the mountains of southwestern Lake County, and is much cooler than surrounding areas.
The Seiad Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Siskiyou County, California, located adjacent to the Klamath River and close to the border with Oregon. The wine region was granted AVA status in 1994 despite having only one commercially bonded winery in operation, Seiad Valley Vineyards, which has since ceased operations. The valley floor is covered in the excavated rock left behind as tailings from gold mining. The exposed rocks absorb and retain heat from the sun, moderating the effects of a cool, mountain valley climate. There are approximately 3 acres (1 ha) of Riesling being grown inside the geographic boundaries of the AVA.
The Trinity Lakes AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Trinity County, California. The boundaries of the AVA surround Trinity Lake and Lewiston Lake and includes a portion of the Trinity River basin below Lewiston Dam.
The Cucamonga Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in San Bernardino County, California. It is in the Cucamonga Valley region of the Pomona Valley, about 15 miles (24 km) west of San Bernardino.
The Borden Ranch AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in both Sacramento County and San Joaquin County, California. It is part of the larger Lodi AVA. Located in the east central portion of the Lodi area, Borden Ranch vineyards are located at altitudes between 73 feet (22 m) and 520 feet (158 m) above sea level. The northern edge of the AVA is defined by Laguna Creek and the southern edge is defined by Dry Creek, both of which flow out of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains into the San Joaquin Valley. The soils in Borden Ranch is alluvial with cobbles, clay pan, and clay loam. Red wine grape varietals are the most commercially important grapes in the area.
The Clements Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in San Joaquin County, California. It is located in the southeast part of the larger Lodi AVA. The Mokelumne River flows through the wine region, which is composed of rolling hills between 90 feet (27 m) and 400 feet (122 m) in elevation. A variety of microclimates exist within the hills of the region. The soils in the area includes loams, clay loams, and clays. Below the alluvial top soil are areas of granite and volcanic soils.
The River Junction AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in both San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County, California. West of the city of Modesto, the wine region is located at the confluence of the San Joaquin River and the Stanislaus River. The AVA was created as a result of a petition by McManis Family Vineyards, the only commercial winery in the appellation. River Junction AVA is cooler than surrounding areas of the Central Valley, and is the only place in the valley where high concentrations of fine sandy loam are to be found. 90% of the vineyard land planted in the AVA is planted with Chardonnay grapes.
The Dunnigan Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Dunnigan Hills, in Yolo County, California. Located in the northwest portion of Yolo County, the wine region has a Mediterranean climate that is less prone to frost than other parts of the Sacramento Valley. The largest winery in the Dunnigan Hills is R.H. Phillips, which has a 1,300 acres (526 ha) estate vineyard.
The Clarksburg AVA is an American Viticultural Area that spans three counties in California's Sacramento Valley. Located in portions of Sacramento County, Solano County, and Yolo County, the Clarksburg AVA includes 64,640 acres (26,159 ha) near the town of Clarksburg. The growing region has dense clay, silt, and loam soils. Fog and cool breezes from San Francisco Bay keep the Clarksburg area cooler than nearby Sacramento. 90% of the grapes grown in the Clarksburg AVA are crushed in winery facilities located elsewhere in California, and relatively few wines are released with the Clarksburg AVA on their labels.
The Merritt Island AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Yolo County, California. Part of the larger Clarksburg AVA, Merritt Island is a 5,000 acres (2,023 ha) island in the Sacramento River Delta. The island is surrounded by Elk Slough, Sutter Slough, and the Sacramento River. The island soil is a very fertile and rich loam. Cool breezes and fog arriving from the nearby San Francisco Bay create a cool maritime climate. Most grapes grown on Merritt Island are used in blends with grapes from other parts of the state. Merritt Island is administered under Reclamation District 150.
The Diablo Grande AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Stanislaus County, California. All 30,000 acres (12,141 ha) in the AVA are owned by the Diablo Grande Resort Community, and Isom Ranch Winery is the only winery producing wines that carry the Diablo Grande AVA designation on their labels. Vineyards in the AVA are planted between 1,000 feet (300 m) and 1,800 feet (550 m) above sea level. The region is named after nearby Mount Diablo, the highest peak in the Pacific Coast Range.
The Chehalem Mountains AVA is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the Yamhill and Washington counties of northwestern Oregon. It contains two sub-regions, Laurelwood District AVA and Ribbon Ridge AVA.
