Wine region | |
Type | American Viticultural Area |
---|---|
Year established | 1987[1] |
Years of wine industry | 184[1] |
Country | United States |
Part of | California |
Sub-regions | California Shenandoah Valley AVA, El Dorado AVA, Fair Play AVA, Fiddletown AVA, North Yuba AVA |
Climate region | Mediterranean |
Soil conditions | decomposed granite[2] |
Total area | 2,688,000 acres (4,200 sq mi)[1] |
Size of planted vineyards | 5,700 acres (2,307 ha)[1][3] |
No. of vineyards | 150[1] |
Grapes produced | Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel[3][2] |
Varietals produced | 48[2] |
No. of wineries | 211[2] |
Sierra Foothills is a vast American Viticultural Area (AVA) encompassing the foothill "belt" of the Sierra Nevada in north-central California, United States. It was established on December 18, 1987 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after evaluating the petition filed by the Sierra Foothills Winery Association of Somerset, California for the establishment of a "Sierra Foothills" viticultural area in portions of Yuba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties. Wine grapes were introduced to the area in the nineteenth century during the California Gold Rush. Over 280 vineyards/wineries are located within its boundaries.[1][2]