Los Carneros AVA
Los Carneros AVA (also known as Carneros AVA) is an American Viticultural Area which includes parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties in California, U.S.A. It is located north of San Pablo Bay. The proximity to the cool fog and breezes from the bay makes the climate in Los Carneros cooler and more moderate than the wine regions farther north in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. The cooler climate has made Los Carneros attractive for the cultivation of cooler climate varietals like Pinot noir and Chardonnay. Many of the grapes grown in Los Carneros are used for sparkling wine production. Receiving its AVA status in 1983, the Carneros area was the first wine region in California to be defined by its climate characteristics rather than political boundaries.
| Wine region | |
Vineyards in the Sonoma section of Los Carneros | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1983, amended in 1987 and 2006 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, North Coast AVA, Napa County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley AVA, Sonoma Valley AVA |
| Total area | 37,000 acres (58 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 9,000 acres (3,642 ha) |
| Varietals produced | Albarino, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Nebbiolo, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot Meunier, Pinot noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Tocai Friulano, Vermentino, Vernaccia, Viognier, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot |