El Dorado AVA

El Dorado
Wine region
El Dorado County vineyard
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1983[1]
1987 Amended[2]
Years of wine industry176[3]
CountryUnited States
Part ofCalifornia, Sierra Foothills AVA
Other regions in California, Sierra Foothills AVAFiddletown AVA, North Yuba AVA
Sub-regionsCalifornia Shenandoah Valley AVA, Fair Play AVA
Precipitation (annual average)33 to 45 in (838–1,143 mm)
3–4 in (76–102 mm) per 300 ft (91 m) elevation rise[1]
Soil conditionsVolcanic and sedimentary deposits; alkaline[1]
Total area1,093,120 acres (1,708 sq mi)[4]
Size of planted vineyards2,000 acres (809 ha)[5]
Grapes producedAglianico, Albarino, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Charbono, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Counoise, Fiano, Gewurztraminer, Graciano, Grenache noir, Grenache blanc, Lagrein, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Mondeuse, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli, Muscat of Alexandria, Petite Sirah, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Pinotage, Piquepoul, Riesling, Rolle, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, Vermentino, Viognier, Zinfandel[6][7]
Varietals produced32[6]
No. of wineries57[6]

El Dorado is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in El Dorado County, California, east of the state’s capital, Sacramento and centered around the county seat of Placerville. It was established on November 14, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Treasury after approving the submitted petition from the El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Association of Camino, California applying to establish a viticultural area named "El Dorado.” The area includes parts of El Dorado County on the north border by the Middle Fork American River and on the south by the South Fork of the Cosumnes River.[1] El Dorado viticultural area lies within the vast 4,062 square miles (2,600,000 acres) Sierra Foothills viticultural area, one of the largest appellations in California, which extends about 170 miles (274 km) through portions of Yuba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties.[8] The El Dorado viticultural area encompasses 1,093,120 acres (1,708 sq mi) which entirely includes Fair Play and a small portion of northeastern California Shenandoah Valley AVAs.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e "El Dorado Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [TD ATF-152; Re: Notice No. 4391 Final Rule). Federal Register. 48 (199). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 46518–46520. October 18, 1983.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Revision of the El Dorado Viticultural Area Boundary, California" (27 CFR Part 9 [TD ATF-254; Re: Notice No. 439 and 592] Final Rule). Federal Register. 52 (121). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 23650–23651. June 24, 1987.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Root was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "El Dorado County, CA". National Association of Counties. County Government Center. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "About". El Dorado Wines. 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "El Dorado (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  7. ^ "All Available Grapes". El Dorado Grapes. El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Association. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "Sierra Foothills Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [T.D. ATF-261; Notice No. 632] Final Rule). Federal Register. 52 (222). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 44103–44106. November 18, 1987.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.