Diamond Mountain District AVA
Encyclopedia
The Diamond Mountain District AVA is an American Viticultural Area
located in California
's Mayacamas Mountains in the northeast portion of the Napa Valley AVA
. The appellation
sits at a higher elevation than most of Napa Valley's wine region, resulting in less cool fog coming in from San Pablo Bay
, and more direct exposure to sunlight
.
The soil of this AVA is volcanic and very porous which allows it to cool down quickly despite the increased sunlight.
that give the area it's name.
The AVA is defined by the Napa-Sonoma county line on the west, Petrified Forest Road on the north, the 400 foot line of altitude running parallel to Route 29 on the east, and the Spring Mountain District to the south.
Additionally, as originally proposed, the AVA would have been called the "Diamond Mountain AVA," but since the bulk of Diamond Mountain, and indeed, it's peak, are in Sonoma County, the AVA was renamed.
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , United States Department of the Treasury....
located in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Mayacamas Mountains in the northeast portion of the Napa Valley AVA
Napa Valley AVA
Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States. Napa Valley is considered one of the top wine regions in the United States...
. The appellation
Appellation
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown; other types of food often have appellations as well...
sits at a higher elevation than most of Napa Valley's wine region, resulting in less cool fog coming in from San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay is a tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in mid bay, which allows access to Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, and...
, and more direct exposure to sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
.
The soil of this AVA is volcanic and very porous which allows it to cool down quickly despite the increased sunlight.
Geography and Climate
The entire AVA is over 400 feet (121.9 m) above sea level, which helps to cool it compared to the nearby valley floor appellations. The soil of the Diamond Mountain District is volcanic, including the small bits of volcanic glassVolcanic glass
Volcanic glass is the amorphous product of rapidly cooling magma. Like all types of glass, it is a state of matter intermediate between the close-packed, highly ordered array of a crystal and the highly disordered array of gas...
that give the area it's name.
The AVA is defined by the Napa-Sonoma county line on the west, Petrified Forest Road on the north, the 400 foot line of altitude running parallel to Route 29 on the east, and the Spring Mountain District to the south.
History
Diamond Mountain District's history as a winegrowing region dates back to 1862 or 1863, when the first vines were planted by Jacob Schram on a tract of land he purchased on the Napa side of the mountain. By 1892, his holdings had expanded to 100 acres, including underground cellars for aging and storing wine. His name has continued in the property, now known as Schramsberg VineyardsSchramsberg Vineyards
Schramsberg Vineyards is a well-known winery located in Calistoga, California in the Napa Valley region. The vineyard, which was originally founded in 1862 produces a series of sparkling wines using the same method as champagne. Schramsberg is considered one of the premium brands in the...
Controversy
When the AVA was proposed in 1999, a request for public comments was published in the Federal Register. One winery, Diamond Mountain Vineyards, objected to the western border ending on the Napa-Sonoma county line, as it would split their property in half. Their objections extended the public comment period by several months. Ultimately, the decision was to keep the boundary on the Napa-Sonoma line.Additionally, as originally proposed, the AVA would have been called the "Diamond Mountain AVA," but since the bulk of Diamond Mountain, and indeed, it's peak, are in Sonoma County, the AVA was renamed.