The Alta Mesa AVA is an American Viticultural Area entirely located within the Lodi AVA in Sacramento County, California in the United States. The appellation's name is Spanish for "high table", a reference to the higher elevation of the land compared to the surrounding terrain.
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2006[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Lodi AVA |
| Total area | 55,400 acres (224 km2)[2] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 5,300 acres (21.4 km2)[2] |
| Grapes produced | Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot[2] |
Geography and climate
edit90% of the soil in the Alta Mesa AVA is dense clay and heavy gravel.[2] The appellation is known for warm summers, and low annual rainfall. Alta Mesa is considered one of the warmest subregions of the Lodi AVA.
History
editFederal recognition of the AVA occurred on July 17, 2006.[1]
Vineyards
edit5,300 acres (21.4 km2) of the appellation are planted to grapevines. The most common grape varieties are Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.195 Alta Mesa." Archived 2012-02-12 at the Wayback Machine Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Jan. 25, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Chandler, David (2007). "Alta Mesa (AVA)" Archived 2007-11-13 at the Wayback Machine. Appellation America. Retrieved Oct. 4, 2007.