Mendocino Ridge AVA
Encyclopedia
The Mendocino Ridge AVA is an American Viticultural Area
located in coastal Mendocino County
, California
. The boundaries of the AVA include a range of coastal mountains adjacent to the Pacific Ocean
. Although the area included in the AVA is over 250000 acres (1,011.7 km²), the only land suitable for grape
cultivation lies above 1200 feet (366 m) in altitude
, above the coastal fog
. Most of the land is unsuitable for grape growing, and currently less than 75 acres (30 ha) are under vine. Nearly all of the plantings in this area are Zinfandel
, and grapes have been planted in the valley since the late 19th century. Much of the non-planted land is covered by Redwood
and Douglas Fir trees.
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 coastal Mendocino County
Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...
, 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...
. The boundaries of the AVA include a range of coastal mountains adjacent to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Although the area included in the AVA is over 250000 acres (1,011.7 km²), the only land suitable for grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
cultivation lies above 1200 feet (366 m) in altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
, above the coastal fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
. Most of the land is unsuitable for grape growing, and currently less than 75 acres (30 ha) are under vine. Nearly all of the plantings in this area are Zinfandel
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century...
, and grapes have been planted in the valley since the late 19th century. Much of the non-planted land is covered by Redwood
Redwood
-Trees:Conifers* Family Cupressaceae *** Sequoia sempervirens - coast redwood**** Albino redwood*** Sequoiadendron giganteum - giant sequoia*** Metasequoia glyptostroboides - dawn redwood* Family Pinaceae...
and Douglas Fir trees.