Sonoita AVA

Sonoita AVA
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1984[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofArizona
Other regions in ArizonaWillcox AVA, Verde Valley AVA
Climate regionsubtropical/arid/semi-arid
Total area208,000 acres (84,200 ha)[2]
Grapes producedAglianico, Albarino,Counoise,Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malvasia, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Pinot noir, Riesling,Sagrantino,Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier, Zinfandel[3]

The Sonoita AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southeast Arizona, south of the city of Tucson. The Sonoita area is a basin surrounded by four mountain ranges, the Huachuca Mountains, the Santa Rita Mountains, the Mustang Mountains, and the Whetstone Mountains. The vineyard plantings are 4,500 to 5,000 feet (1,400 to 1,500 m) above sea level, some of the highest in North America. The soil is alluvial fans of gravelly loam that retains scarce water well.[3]

  1. ^ "§9.97 Sonoita" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  2. ^ "American Viticultural Areas by State". Wine Institute. 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Sonoita (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2008.