Wine from California
According to the Wine Institute, there are over are over 200 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in the United States and over 100 AVAs in California alone.
Each AVA is recognized as having unique growing conditions such as climate (i.e. temperature, humidity), soil (i.e. drainage, acidity) or altitude that results in certain characteristics in the finished wine.
When an AVA is designated on a wine label, 85% of the grapes used to make that wine must have come from that AVA. If a non-AVA, Appellation or region, is designated on a wine label, at least 75% of the grapes must come from that area. It should be noted that the designation of an AVA does not guarantee the quality of the wine, but may sometimes infer a general characteristic of the wine.
In very general terms, California wine grape growing regions can be divided into the following:
|
Wine Region
|
Example AVAs
|
|
North Coast
|
Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, Alexander Valley, Guenoc Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Los Carneros
|
|
Central Valley
|
Anderson Valley, Lodi, Clarksburg
|
|
Sierra Foothills
|
Amador County, Shenandoah Valley, El Dorado, Fiddletown
|
|
Central Coast
|
Livermore Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley
|
|
South Coast
|
Temecula, San Pasqual Valley
|
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Napa is the most well known growing region and is widely visited year round.
Sonoma has a beautiful coastline with many small, charming towns. This region produces more types of wine than any other due to the great variance of microclimates. Russian River, Mendocino County and Alexander Valley are part of Sonoma.
Carneros is in both southern Napa and Sonoma, near the Delta. This area produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and also very good Sparkling Wines.
Central Coast Region is spread out over a wider area and may be hard to cover on a short day trip; it also has some beautiful coastal areas and cities such as Carmel, Monterey and Santa Barbara. This region also includes Santa Cruz and the surrounding mountain vineyards.
Smaller, Less Known Regions include Lake County (near beautiful Clear Lake) and the Sierra Foothills (in Gold Country).
AVAs can themselves contain unique smaller regions called sub-AVAs. For example, the Napa Valley is an AVA that contains the Saint Helena and Oakville AVAs, among others.
Below is a full list of California AVAs -- all approved American Viticultural Areas in alphabetical order.
|
AVA Name
|
State
|
Acreage
|
Effective Date
|
|
Anderson Valley
|
California
|
600
|
9/19/1983
|
|
Central Coast
|
California
|
1000000
|
11/25/1985
|
|
Diablo Grande
|
California
|
30000
|
8/21/1998
|
|
Diamond Mountain District
|
California
|
5000
|
7/31/2001
|
|
Dry Creek Valley
|
California
|
80000
|
9/6/1983
|
|
Dunnigan Hills
|
California
|
89000
|
6/14/1993
|
|
Edna Valley
|
California
|
22400
|
6/11/1987
|
|
El Dorado
|
California
|
416
|
11/14/1983
|
|
Cucamonga Valley
|
California
|
109400
|
5/1/1995
|
|
Fair Play
|
California
|
21120
|
4/27/2001
|
|
Fiddletown
|
California
|
11500
|
11/3/1983
|
|
Alexander Valley
|
California
|
32536
|
6/13/1988
|
|
Arroyo Grande Valley
|
California
|
42880
|
2/5/1990
|
|
Arroyo Seco
|
California
|
18240
|
5/16/1983
|
|
Atlas Peak
|
California
|
11400
|
2/24/1992
|
|
Ben Lomond
|
California
|
38400
|
1/8/1988
|
|
Benmore Valley
|
California
|
1440
|
11/18/1991
|
|
California Shenandoah Valley
|
California
|
10000
|
2/27/1987
|
|
Carmel Valley
|
California
|
19200
|
1/13/1983
|
|
Chalk Hill
|
California
|
22400
|
6/13/1988
|
|
Chalone
|
California
|
8540
|
7/14/1982
|
|
Chiles Valley
|
California
|
6000
|
4/19/1999
|
|
Cienega Valley
|
California
|
0
|
9/20/1982
|
|
Clarksburg
|
California
|
64640
|
2/22/1984
|
|
Clear Lake
|
California
|
168960
|
6/7/1984
|
|
Cole Ranch
|
California
|
150
|
5/16/1983
|
|
|
Guenoc Valley
|
California
|
4396
|
12/21/1981
|
|
Hames Valley
|
California
|
10240
|
4/25/1994
|
|
Howell Mountain
|
California
|
14080
|
1/30/1984
|
|
Knights Valley
|
California
|
36240
|
11/21/1983
|
|
Livermore Valley
|
California
|
259000
|
10/1/1982
|
|
Lodi
|
California
|
458000
|
3/17/1986
|
|
Los Carneros
|
California
|
0
|
9/19/1987
|
|
Madera
|
California
|
230000
|
1/7/1985
|
|
Malibu-Newton Canyon
|
California
|
850
|
6/13/1996
|
|
McDowell Valley
|
California
|
540
|
2/27/1987
|
|
Mendocino
|
California
|
275200
|
7/16/1984
|
|
Mendocino Ridge
|
California
|
87466
|
12/26/1997
|
|
Merritt Island
|
California
|
5000
|
2/27/1987
|
|
Lime Kiln Valley
|
California
|
2300
|
7/6/1982
|
|
Redwood Valley
|
California
|
22400
|
2/21/1997
|
|
River Junction
|
California
|
1300
|
7/9/2001
|
|
Pacheco Pass
|
California
|
3200
|
4/11/1984
|
|
Paicines
|
California
|
4500
|
9/15/1982
|
|
Paso Robles
|
California
|
666618
|
11/3/1983
|
|
Potter Valley
|
California
|
27500
|
11/14/1983
|
|
Sonoma Coast
|
California
|
480000
|
7/13/1987
|
|
Green Valley of Russian River Valley
|
California
|
32000
|
12/21/1983
|
|
Sonoma Mountain
|
California
|
5000
|
2/22/1985
|
|
Sonoma Valley
|
California
|
4000
|
1/24/1982
|
|
South Coast
|
California
|
115200
|
12/23/1985
|
|
Spring Mountain District
|
California
|
8600
|
6/14/1993
|
|
Stags Leap District
|
California
|
2700
|
2/27/1989
|
|
Suisun Valley
|
California
|
15360
|
12/27/1982
|
|
Temecula Valley
|
California
|
33000
|
2/7/1986
|
|
Sierra Foothills
|
California
|
2600000
|
12/18/1987
|
|
Solano County Green Valley
|
California
|
2560
|
1/28/1983
|
|
Wild Horse Valley
|
California
|
3300
|
12/30/1988
|
|
Monterey
|
California
|
35758
|
7/16/1984
|
|
Mount Harlan
|
California
|
7440
|
12/17/1990
|
|
Mount Veeder
|
California
|
15000
|
3/22/1990
|
|
Napa Valley
|
California
|
225280
|
2/27/1981
|
|
North Coast
|
California
|
3008000
|
10/21/1983
|
|
Northern Sonoma
|
California
|
348000
|
9/25/1986
|
|
Oakville
|
California
|
5760
|
8/2/1993
|
|
North Yuba
|
California
|
22400
|
8/30/1985
|
|
Russian River Valley
|
California
|
96000
|
11/21/1983
|
|
Rutherford
|
California
|
6650
|
8/2/1993
|
|
Saint Helena
|
California
|
9060
|
10/11/1995
|
|
San Benito
|
California
|
45000
|
11/4/1987
|
|
San Francisco Bay
|
California
|
1566713
|
3/22/1999
|
|
San Lucas
|
California
|
33920
|
3/2/1987
|
|
San Pasqual Valley
|
California
|
9000
|
9/16/1981
|
|
San Ysidro District
|
California
|
2340
|
12/17/1990
|
|
Santa Clara Valley
|
California
|
332800
|
4/27/1989
|
|
Santa Cruz Mountains
|
California
|
408000
|
1/4/1982
|
|
Santa Lucia Highlands
|
California
|
22000
|
6/15/1992
|
|
Santa Maria Valley
|
California
|
80000
|
9/4/1981
|
|
Sta. Rita Hills
|
California
|
30720
|
7/30/2001
|
|
Santa Ynez Valley
|
California
|
76800
|
5/16/1983
|
|
Seiad Valley
|
California
|
2160
|
6/20/1994
|
|
York Mountain
|
California
|
9360
|
2/27/1987
|
|
Yorkville Highlands
|
California
|
40000
|
6/8/1998
|
|
Yountville
|
California
|
8260
|
5/18/1999
|
|
Rockpile
|
California
|
15400
|
4/29/2002
|
|
Capay Valley
|
California
|
102400
|
2/18/2003
|
|
Bennett Valley
|
California
|
8140
|
12/29/2003
|
|
Red Hills Lake County
|
California
|
0
|
9/10/2004
|
|
Salado Creek
|
California
|
2940
|
8/30/2004
|
|
San Bernabe
|
California
|
24796
|
8/30/2004
|
|
Willow Creek
|
California
|
6000
|
9/19/1983
|
|
Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
|
California
|
8300
|
4/26/2004
|
|
Ramona Valley
|
California
|
89000
|
1/6/2006
|
|
Dos Rios
|
California
|
15500
|
11/14/2005
|
|
High Valley
|
California
|
14000
|
8/1/2005
|
|
Trinity Lakes
|
California
|
96000
|
4/29/2005
|
|
Alta Mesa
|
California
|
55400
|
8/16/2006
|
|
Borden Ranch
|
California
|
70000
|
8/16/2006
|
|
Clement Hills
|
California
|
85400
|
8/16/2006
|
|
Cosumnes River
|
California
|
54700
|
8/16/2006
|
|
Jahant
|
California
|
28000
|
8/16/2006
|
|
Mokelumne River
|
California
|
85700
|
8/16/2006
|
|
Sloughhouse
|
California
|
78800
|
8/16/2006
|
|
Covelo
|
California
|
38000
|
3/20/2006
|
|
Tracy Hills
|
California
|
39200
|
12/8/2006
|
|
Saddle Rock Malibu
|
California
|
2090
|
8/16/2006
|
|
San Antonio
|
California
|
150400
|
7/10/2006
|
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