Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) centered on the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its territory spans three California counties, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo and was established January 4, 1982 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury. Santa Cruz Mountains AVA was among the first AVA to be defined by its mountainous topography. Based on elevation, it largely follows the fog line along the coast, extending down to 800 feet (240 m) on the eastern slope toward San Francisco Bay, 400 feet (120 m) on the western slope to the Pacific Ocean and extending along the ridge crest line at 3,000 feet (910 m) elevation plus.
| Wine region | |
Santa Cruz Mountains vineyard | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1982 |
| Years of wine industry | 187 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Central Coast |
| Other regions in California, Central Coast | Gabilan Mountains AVA |
| Sub-regions | Ben Lomond Mountain AVA |
| Soil conditions | Franciscan shale |
| Total area | 480,000 acres (750 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,500 acres (607 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 200 |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Grenache, Malbec, Malvasia, Merlot, Mondeuse, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel |
| No. of wineries | 60+ |
The mountainous terrain, the Pacific Ocean, and the San Francisco Bay have wide-ranging effects on the appellation, creating myriad microclimates in the region depending on the elevation of the land, location of the sloped mountainside vineyards, and the other terroir elements of fog, sun exposure, soil type and erosion.