The Sierra Foothills AVA (established in 1987) is an American Viticultural Area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

in the United States. Wine grapes were introduced to the area in the nineteenth century during the California Gold Rush. Over 100 wineries are located within its boundaries.

Geography and climate

The Sierra Foothills AVA contains portions of eight California counties: Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa,

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th-most extensive, ...

, Placer, Tuolumne and Yuba. The total area is , one of the largest viticultural areas in the state of California.

History

Wine grapes were first planted in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada during the California Gold Rush of the late 1840s and early 1850s. Federal recognition of the viticultural area occurred on November 18, 1987.

Vineyards

of the appellation are planted to grapevines. The most common grape

variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

is Zinfandel, which accounts for . Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on , and Syrah is planted to . The most common white grape variety is Chardonnay, planted to . Other grape varieties are grown in smaller quantities. Vineyards are generally planted in locations between above sea level. There are over 100 wineries located within the Sierra Foothills AVA. Many are small, boutique wineries, often family-owned. The first known planting in the Sierra Foothills was in the Coarsegold Gulch area during the Gold Rush period.

Wineries in the Sierra Foothills AVA

Bear River Winery Bear River Winery is a winery in Meadow Vista, California in the United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily lo ...

Lone Buffalo Winery Lone Buffalo Vineyards is a winery in Auburn, California in the United States. History Lone Buffalo was started in 2007 by the Maddux family in Auburn, California. They owned a one-acre vineyard. Phil Maddux, who is the winemaker and works as a ...

Ironstone Vineyards Ironstone Vineyards is a winery that is noted for the production of several leading US wine brands, including Obsession Wines, Leaping Horse Vineyards, Christine Andrew, Stone Valley, and Drifting. As of 2004, Ironstone has been listed as the 17th ...

Le Casque Winery Le Casque Winery is a winery in Loomis, California in the United States. Le Casque Winery is located within the Sierra Foothills AVA and more specifically within Placer County. History Le Casque Wines was founded in 2006 by the Stevenson famil ...

* Wise Villa Winery * Bella Grace Vineyards

References

{{Coord missing, California American Viticultural Areas of California American Viticultural Areas Sierra Nevada (United States) Geography of Amador County, California Geography of Calaveras County, California Geography of El Dorado County, California Geography of Mariposa County, California Geography of Nevada County, California Geography of Yuba County, California 1987 establishments in California

Geography and climate

History

Vineyards

Wineries in the Sierra Foothills AVA

See also

References