Wine region | |
Type | American Viticultural Area |
---|---|
Year established | 1985[1] |
Years of wine industry | 174[1] |
Country | United States |
Part of | California, Sierra Foothills AVA |
Other regions in California, Sierra Foothills AVA | California Shenandoah Valley AVA, El Dorado AVA, Fair Play AVA, Fiddletown AVA |
Climate region | Region II,III[1] |
Precipitation (annual average) | 20 to 25 in (508–635 mm)[1] |
Soil conditions | Sierra-Auberry, Englebright-Rescue and Dobbins developed from granitic and igneous rocks[1] |
Total area | 22,400 acres (35 sq mi)[1] |
Size of planted vineyards | 365 acres (148 ha)[2] |
No. of vineyards | 5[2] |
Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Zinfandel[2] |
Varietals produced | 13[2] |
No. of wineries | 4[2] |
North Yuba is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Yuba County, California, United States about 70 miles (113 km) north of Sacramento. It was established on August 30, 1985 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Treasury after approving the submitted petition by Karl Werner and James R. Bryant, officers of Renaissance Vineyard and Winery, Inc. in Oregon House. They petitioned ATF for the establishment of a viticultural area to be named "North Yuba.”
The name "North Yuba" is well documented. Yuba County is named after the Yuba River which took its name from the Indian tribe which populated the area. "North Yuba" is the name used locally to designate the area in north central Yuba County in which the towns of Dobbins and Oregon House are located.[1] The appellation consists of the middle and upper foothills in Yuba County immediately west of the Sierra Nevadas and north of the Yuba River. The 2,000 feet (610 m) contour line of the Sierra Nevada Mountains forms the eastern and northern portions of the boundary of the viticultural area and the 1,000 feet (305 m) contour line north of the Yuba River canyon forms the southern portion of the boundary. The soil is primarily volcanic, with dense plutonic rock. In 1985, the appellation encompassed 22,400 acres (35 sq mi) with 365 acres (148 ha) of cultivation and one commercial winery operating in the "North Yuba."[1][3] Renaissance Vineyard and Winery was the largest producer in the region, with 365 acres (148 ha) of terraced vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary wine grape grown with Rhône varietals Syrah, Grenache, Semillon, Viognier and Roussanne also flourishing.[2]