| Wine region | |
 Moon Mountain vineyard | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2013[1] |
| Years of wine industry | since 1880[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, North Coast AVA, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley AVA |
| Other regions in California, North Coast AVA, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley AVA | Bennett Valley AVA, Los Carneros AVA, Sonoma Mountain AVA |
| Soil conditions | Rocky, iron-rich volcanic[3] |
| Total area | 17,633 acres (28 sq mi)[4] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,500 acres (607 ha)[4] |
| No. of vineyards | 40[4] |
| Varietals produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel[5] |
| No. of wineries | 11[4] |
Moon Mountain District Sonoma County is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Sonoma Valley and North Coast viticultural areas, just north of the city of Sonoma. This mountainous region on the very eastern edge of Sonoma County has a historic reputation for producing rich, intensely-flavored wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varietals since the 1880s.[2] The District was established on November 1, 2013, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Its designation covers 17,663 acres (28 sq mi) of land stretching north-south along the western slopes of the Mayacamas mountains between Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Los Carneros viticultural area with the Napa Valley’s Mount Veeder viticultural area outlining the eastern slopes. Its name is derived from Moon Mountain Road, which traverses through the area and itself a reference to Sonoma, which means 'valley of the moon' in the local Native American dialect.[6] A clear view to San Francisco 50 miles (80 km) south is not uncommon from Moon Mountain District vineyards.[5]
- ^ "§9.231 Moon Mountain District Sonoma County" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. October 2, 2013.
- ^ a b Heald, Eleanor & Ray (June 11, 2007). "Sonoma Valley's Legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard: Acclaimed Winemaker Ed Sbragia Explains Its Allure". Appellation America.
- ^ "Moon Mountain District Wine". Wine-Searcher.
- ^ a b c d "Establishment of the Moon Mountain District Sonoma County Viticultural Area" (78 FR 60690 27 CFR 9 Doc#: 2013-23942). Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. October 2, 2013. pp. 60690–60693.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "Moon Mountain Wine Region and Appellation". Sonoma County Tourism.
- ^ Bowman, J. N. (July 1, 1946). "The Meaning of the Name "Sonoma"". California Folklore Quarterly. 5 (3). Western States Folklore Society: 300–302. doi:10.2307/1495526. JSTOR 1495526 – via JSTOR.
