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Rockpile AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Sonoma County, California, northwest of the town of Healdsburg, on the hills above the west shore of Lake Sonoma in the southern Mendocino Range. Established on February 28, 2002, Rockpile AVA was Sonoma County's twelfth designated wine appellation. The wine region consists of approximately 15,400 acres (62 km2) in northwestern Sonoma County. All of the AVA has an elevation in excess of 800 feet (244 m) above sea level. Eleven vineyards are currently located within the AVA and there are approximately 160 acres (1 km2) of planted wine grapes.
The Jahant AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within the Lodi AVA. Most of the AVA is located within San Joaquin County, California, with a small part in Sacramento County. At 28,000 acres (11,331 ha), Jahant is the smallest of the Lodi sub-appellations. The area is known for its distinctive pink colored Rocklin-Jahant loam soil with the AVA's boundaries being delineated by the extent and reaches of the soil. This low-lying AVA is affected by its close proximity to the Mokelumne River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta which keeps the climate cool and dry.
The North Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the state of California that encompasses grape-growing regions in six counties located north of San Francisco: Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano. This large appellation covers over 3,000,000 acres (5,000 sq mi) and includes a number of smaller sub-appellations that all share the common ecology trait of weather affected by the fog and breezes off the Pacific Ocean.
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 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 Malibu-Newton Canyon Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Los Angeles County, California. The boundaries of the AVA include Newton Canyon, located about 4 miles (6 km) from the Pacific Ocean within the city limits of Malibu. George Rosenthal planted the first vineyards planted in the area since Prohibition in 1987, and was successful in his petition for the creation of the AVA in 1996. The canyon varies in elevation from 1,400 feet (427 m) to 2,800 feet (853 m) above sea level. Coastal fog and wind can influence the microclimate of the canyon, providing a cooler climate than the surrounding areas.
The Cienega Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in western San Benito County, California, United States. It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA. The valley was once a major source of wine grapes for Almaden Vineyards before it was acquired by Constellation Brands in 1987. Approximately 1,100 feet (340 m) above sea level, the valley floor is divided by the San Andreas fault. Soil on the east side of the fault is predominantly granite and sandstone, whereas soils on the west side of the fault are predominantly granite and limestone. It contains some of the oldest pinot noir grapes in California.
The San Bernabe AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southern Monterey County, California. It is part of the larger Monterey AVA. San Bernabe is located in the Salinas Valley, between the Salinas River on the east, and the Santa Lucia Mountains on the west. To the north of the appellation is Pine Canyon and to the south is the San Lucas AVA.
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 Mokelumne River AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in San Joaquin County, California. It is located in the southwest part of the larger Lodi AVA, and includes the city of Lodi and the towns of Woodbridge and Acampo. The AVA is named after the Mokelumne River, which drains out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains into the San Joaquin River and passes through the heart of the appellation. The wine region includes a portion of the lower Mokelumne River and the Cosumnes River, a tributary. The Mokelumne River AVA covers 87,500 acres (35,410 ha), of which 42,000 acres (16,997 ha) are planted to wine grapes. The soil in the area is alluvial fan deposits of sand and loam. Ample rainfall and soil moisture retention allows most grape growers to farm without the use of irrigation.
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 Sloughhouse AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Sacramento County, California. It is in the northeast part of the larger Lodi AVA. Sloughhouse has the warmest climate in the Lodi region. Elevations in Slouhhouse AVA reach as high as 590 feet (180 m) above sea level, reducing the influence of fog that keep lower elevation areas in Lodi cooler. Sloughhouse is considered by some to be a transitional climate and terrain between the characteristics of the wine regions of the Central Valley and the nearby Sierra Foothills AVA.
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 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 Capay Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Capay Valley, in northwest Yolo County, California.
The Tracy Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located approximately 55 miles (89 km) east-southeast from San Francisco in both San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County, California. The 40,000 acres (16,187 ha) region was designated an AVA as a result of a petition from the owners of Tulip Hill Winery in Lake County, who owned a vineyard on Mount Oso in the Tracy Hills. The five original vineyards in the appellation are planted between 100–500 feet (30–152 m) above sea level. The best known wines from Tracy Hills vineyards are the range of Italian varietal wines produced by Jacuzzi Family Vineyards who are based in Sonoma. The sloping hillside topography includes streams and alluvial fans and plains. The distinguishing climatic features of the proposed area include limited rainfall and persistent winds, along with sparse fog, frost, and dew.
The Catoctin AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Frederick and Washington counties of western Maryland. The region is bordered by Catoctin Mountain to the east, the Pennsylvania border to the north, South Mountain to the west, and the Potomac River to the south. "Catoctin" is Algonquian for "speckled rock", a geological feature of the area. Two commercial wineries operate in the AVA. The hardiness zones are 7a and 6b.
The Warren Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Warren County, New Jersey. The Warren Hills region includes several small valleys formed by tributaries of the Delaware River. The valleys drain from northeast to southwest, and most vineyards in the area are planted on southeast-facing hill slopes. The region is primarily planted with French hybrid grapes. It has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and is located in hardiness zones 6b and 7a.
References
- ↑ Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.145 Dunnigan Hills." Archived 2008-01-19 at the Wayback Machine Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2008.
- ↑ Wine Institute (2008). "American Viticultural Areas by State" Archived January 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved Jan. 23, 2008.
- 1 2 3 Appellation America (2007). "Borden Ranch (AVA): Appellation Description" Archived 2007-11-13 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved Jan. 25, 2008.
38°48′55″N121°56′36″W / 38.8152°N 121.9434°W
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