| Wine region | |
 Full moon over Livermore Valley vineyard | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1999[1] 2006 Amended[2] |
| Years of wine industry | 168[3] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Central Coast AVA |
| Sub-regions | Lamorinda AVA, Livermore Valley AVA, Pacheco Pass AVA, San Ysidro District AVA, Santa Clara Valley AVA[4] |
| Climate region | Region I,II,III[1] |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 18 to 40 in (460–1,020 mm)[1] |
| Total area | 1,586,720.00 acres (2,479.25 sq mi)[1][2] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 5,800 acres (2,347 ha)[1][5] |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel[6] |
| No. of wineries | 137[6] |
San Francisco Bay is a multi-county American Viticultural Area (AVA) which is centered and surrounds the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was established on March 22, 1999 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after evaluating the petition submitted by a consortium of nearly 75 growers and vintners led by Wente Bros. to establish the viticultural area known as "San Francisco Bay." It lies within the larger Central Coast viticultural area and includes San Francisco and counties encompassing the areas known as “South” and “East Bay.” This consists of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Mateo as well as portions of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. “North Bay” counties of Sonoma, Napa and Marin were excluded for they reside within the North Coast viticultural area with its distinct properties. ATF also concluded the established Santa Cruz Mountains viticultural area exhibits features and characteristics unique to its boundaries when compared to the surrounding areas, therefore, it was excluded from the "San Francisco Bay" viticultural area.[1]
"San Francisco Bay" AVA expands 1,566,720 acres (2,448 sq mi) and encompasses five designated AVAs within its boundaries: Lamorinda, Livermore Valley, Pacheco Pass, San Ysidro District and Santa Clara Valley. In conjunction with establishing "San Francisco Bay" viticultural area, ATF amended the boundaries of the Central Coast viticultural area to include San Francisco Bay entirely as the previous boundaries of Central Coast encompassed only smaller portions of the San Francisco Bay region. Approximately 440,960 acres (689 sq mi) was added to Central Coast with an additional 2,827 acres (1,144 ha) under vine.[1][6] In 2006, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB} added 20,000 acres (31 sq mi) to San Francisco Bay viticultural area and the Central Coast viticultural area to conform to the expanded boundaries of the Livermore Valley viticultural area.[2]
- ^ a b c d e f g "Establishment of the San Francisco Bay Viticultural Area and the Realignment of the Boundary of the Central Coast Viticultural Area (97- 242)" (27 CFR Part 9 RIN 1512–AA07 [T.D. ATF–407; Ref Notice No. 856] Final Rule). Federal Register. 64 (12). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 3015–3026. January 20, 1999.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "Expansion of San Francisco Bay and Central Coast Viticultural Areas (2002R–202P)" (27 CFR Part 9 [T.D. TTB–48; Re: Notice No. 44] RIN 1513–AA55 Final Rule). Federal Register. 71 (115). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury: 34522–34525. June 15, 2006. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Balzer & Geis 1978, p. 193
- ^ "Establishment of the Lamorinda Viticultural Area" (27 CFR 9 [Docket No. TTB–2015–0007; T.D. TTB–133; Ref: Notice No. 151] RIN 1513–AC17 Final Rule). Federal Register. 81 (36). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB}, Treasury: 9105–9109. February 24, 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Fallis, Catherine (2000). "San Francisco Bay American Viticultural Area". Wine Business Monthly. Wine Communications Group.
- ^ a b c "San Francisco Bay (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
