Wine - California - Other - Appellations

Front 1

Discuss the Sierra Foothills AVA.
What sorts of winemakers does it attract?
What are the best varieties?

Back 1

(p470)
Sierra Foothills AVA
(California)

In the 1850s, this land of majestic vistas was California's gold-rush country, but since the 1970s scores of new wineries have opened up, mostly of the one-man "boutique" ilk. The Sierra Foothills is a quality-wise area that is definitely not part of the Central Valley. It attracts rugged specialists who, not content with the safe option of farming fertile valley floors, want the challenge of making expressive wine in limited quantities in one of the few areas of California where, owing to the altitude, cultivating grapes is not always possible. In the 19th century, Zinfandel was the king of these mountain vineyards, and quickly reestablished itself as the big, blockbusting, spicy star of the 1980s. However, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling were quick to take up the challenge, with Barbera and, predictably, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot not far behind.

Front 2

Discuss the California Shenandoah Valley AVA.

Back 2

(p470)
California Shenandoah Valley AVA
(Amador County, California)

The famous Shenandoah Valley is, of course, in Virginia and, like this AVA, received its status in 1983. The California Shenandoah Valley AVA, which is set amid the Sierra Foothills, was named by Virginia settlers who migrated to California during the gold rush. Vines were first grown here in 1881 when the miners ran out of gold, and, as a result, turned to making wine instead. The soil is well drained, moderately deep, and consists mostly of coarse sandy loams formed from weathered granitic rock over heavy, often clayey, loam.

Front 3

Discuss the El Dorado AVA.
What is the soil like?
What are the two main winegrowing areas?

Back 3

(p470)
El Dorado AVA
(El Dorado County, California)

The soil is mostly decomposed granite, except on Apple Hill, east of Placerville, where an old lava flow exists (see Lava Cap winery). Apple Hill is one of two main winegrowing areas and, as the name suggests, the area is covered with orchards. Orchards invariably predate vineyards in the US and vines always do extremely well wherever apples have grown best. The other main vineyard is located in the southeast of the AVA, between Quiltingdale and Fairplay. Go any farther east and not only is it too cold for grapes, but grizzly bears become a real pest.

Front 4

Discuss the Fiddletown AVA.
How does it differ from California Shenandoah Valley?
What is the soil like?

Back 4

(p470)
Fiddletown AVA
(Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California)

The Fiddletown viticultural area is located in the eastern Sierra Foothills of Amador County. It differs from the neighboring Shenandoah Valley of California area because of its higher elevations, colder temperatures at night, and greater rainfall. Grapes are grown without any irrigation and the vineyards are located on deep, moderately well-drained, sandy loams.

Front 5

Discuss the Seiad Valley AVA.
How much of it is actually planted with vines?

Back 5

(p470)
Seiad Valley AVA
(Siskiyou County, California)

Located just 15 miles (21 kilometers) south of the Oregon border, the Seiad Valley AVA is comprised of 2,165 acres (877 hectares), of which just over 2.5 (1 hectare) are planted with vines.

Front 6

Discuss the Willow Creek AVA.
What is the climate like?

Back 6

(p470)
Willow Creek AVA
(Humboldt County, California)

This area is influenced primarily by two major climatic forces: the Pacific Ocean and the warmer climate of the Sacramento Valley, 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the east. These create easterly winds that give Willow Creek fairly cool temperatures in the summer and infrequent freezes in the winter. The area to the east of Willow Creek experiences colder temperatures in winter and hotter temperatures in summer.

Front 7

Discuss the Cucamonga Valley AVA.
When was it first planted?
When did the vineyards reach their peak?
How many are there today?

Back 7

(p470)
Cucamonga Valley AVA
(Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, California)

An area of more than 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares), some 45 miles (72 kilometers) from Los Angeles, the Cucamonga Valley was first planted with Mission grapes in about 1840. Despite Prohibition, the vineyards reached their peak in the 1950s, when more than 35,000 acres (14,000 hectares) were under vine. As the viticultural emphasis in California moved northward, these vineyards declined, but there are still five operational wineries and some 2,000 acres (800 hectares) of vine.

Front 8

Discuss the Malibu-Newton Canyon AVA.

Back 8

(p470)
Malibu-Newton Canyon AVA
(Los Angeles County)

A one-vineyard appellation on the south-facing slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Front 9

Discuss the San Pasqual Valley AVA.
What is the climate like?

Back 9

(p470)
San Pasqual Valley AVA
(San Diego County, South Coast)

A natural valley located in the Santa Ysabel watershed, the San Pasqual Valley is fed by natural streams that feed the San Diequito River, and is substantially affected by coastal influences. Temperatures are warm in the summer, but seldom very hot, and ocean breezes cool the area, especially during the nighttime. The surrounding areas have a variety of very different climates ranging from tropical, through desertlike, to mountainous.

Front 10

Discuss the Temecula AVA.
What is the climate like?
What are the most widely planted varieties?

Back 10

(p470)
Temecula AVA
(Riverside County, California)

Temecula is located in Riverside County, southern California, and includes Murrieta and Rancho California. Marine breezes entering the area through the Deluz and Rainbow Gaps cool the area to moderate temperatures. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are the most widely planted varieties, and Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon the least successful.

Front 11

Discuss the Benmore Valley AVA.

Back 11

(p470)
Benmore Valley AVA
(Lake County, California)

Surrounded by the 2,900-foot (1,000-meter) peaks of the Mayacamus Mountains, this AVA encompasses 125 acres (50 hectares) of vines, but no wineries.

Front 12

Discuss the Clear Lake AVA.
What is the climate like?
What are the best varietals?

Back 12

(p470)
Clear Lake AVA
(Lake County, California)

Located between the Mayacamus Mountains and the Mendocino National Forest, Clear Lake's large water mass moderates the AVA's climate. Although this area is best for Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, well-textured Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced.

Front 13

Discuss the Fair Play AVA.
What is the elevation?
What is the soil like?
What varietals are favored here?

Back 13

(p470)
Fair Play AVA
(Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California)

Named after an old gold-mining camp, Fair Play is located in rolling hills at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 feet (600 to 900 meters), which, averaged, makes it the highest elevation of any California AVA. Low rainfall and loam soils favor Zinfandel, followed by Rhône and Italian varietals.

Front 14

Discuss the Guenoc Valley AVA.

Back 14

(p470)
Guenoc Valley AVA
(Lake County, California)

This appellation lies south of McCreary Lake and east of Detert Reservoir. Situated within the North Coast AVA, the valley has a more extreme climate, lower rainfall, and less severe fog than the nearby Middletown area.

Front 15

Discuss the North Yuba AVA.
What is the climate like?

Back 15

(p470)
North Yuba AVA
(Yuba County, California)

North Yuba is located in the middle and upper foothills of Yuba County, immediately west of the Sierra Nevada and north of the Yuba River. This area escapes both the early frosts and the snow of higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada and the heat, humidity, and fog common to the Sacramento Valley lowlands, and the climate is therefore relatively temperate compared with the rest of the AVA.

Front 16

Discuss the Solano County Green Valley AVA.
What is the soil like?
What is the climate like?

Back 16

(p470)
Solano County Green Valley AVA
(Solano County)

Green Valley is sandwiched between the Napa Valley to the west and the Suisun Valley to the east. The soil here is clay loam and the climate is influenced by the cool, moist winds that blow inland from the Pacific and San Francisco Bay almost continuously from spring through fall.

Front 17

Discuss the Suisun Valley AVA.
What is the climate like?
What is the soil like?

Back 17

(p470)
Suisun Valley
(Solano County, California)

Adjacent to Solano County Green Valley, and a stone's throw from the Central Valley, Suisun Valley AVA enjoys the same cool, moist winds that blow from spring until fall in both of these areas. The soils consist of various forms of clay, and silty and sandy loams.

Front 18

What are the AVAs of the Klamath Mountains in Northern California?

Back 18

(p470)
Klamath Mountains, Northern California:

Willow Creek AVA (1983)
Seiad Valley AVA (1994)
Trinity Lakes AVA (2005)

Front 19

What are the AVAs of the Sierra Foothills AVA in California?

Back 19

(p470)
Sierra Foothills AVA, California:

California Shenandoah Valley AVA (1982)
El Dorado AVA (1983)
Fiddletown AVA (1983)
North Yuba AVA (1985)
Sierra Foothills AVA (1987)
Fair Play AVA (2001)

Front 20

What are the AVAs of the South Coast AVA in California?

Back 20

(p470)
South Coast AVA, California:

San Pasqual Valley AVA (1981)
Temecula Valley AVA (1984)
Cucamonga Valley AVA (1985)
Ramona Valley AVA (1985)
South Coast AVA (1985)
Malibu-Newton Canyon AVA (1996)
Saddle Rock-Malibu AVA (2006)
Leona Valley AVA (2008)
Antelope Valley AVA (2010)
Sierra Pelona Valley AVA (2010)

Front 21

What are the AVAs of Solano County in California?

Back 21

(p470)
Solano County, California:

Solano County Green Valley AVA (1982)
Suisun Valley AVA (1982)

Front 22

What are the AVAs of Lake County in California?

Back 22

(p470)
Lake County, California:

Guenoc Valley AVA (1981)
Clear Lake AVA (1984)
Benmore Valley AVA (1991)
Red Hills Lake County AVA (2004)
(High Valley AVA (2005))