Ramona Valley AVA

Infobox Wine Region
name = Ramona Valley AVA


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type = American Viticultural Area
year = 1985 [http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=bff700d0bbb2a632948b70fe7e91d7d4;rgn=div5;view=text;node=27%3A1.0.1.1.7;idno=27;cc=ecfr#27:1.0.1.1.7.3.41.171 Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.191 Ramona Valley."] Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Jan. 23, 2008.]
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country = USA
part of = California, South Coast AVA
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total size = convert|89000|acre|km2|0fact|date=January 2008
planted = convert|62|acre|ha|0fact|date=January 2008
vineyards = 20fact|date=January 2008
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The Ramona Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located convert|28|mi|km|0 northeast of the city of San Diego in San Diego County, California. It was designated the 162nd American Viticultural Area in January, 2006 by the United States Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which recognized the area for its distinctive microclimate, elevation, and soil attributes. Approximately convert|89000|acre|km2|0 in area and centered around the town of Ramona, California, it is convert|14.5|mi|km|1 long and convert|9.5|mi|km|1 wide. Geographically, the Ramona Valley is described as being a broad, flat valley ringed by hills and mountains that isolate it from the surrounding areas. The valley has an average vineyard elevation of convert|1400|ft|m|-1 and an annual average rainfall of convert|16.5|in|cm|1.

Located within the large multi-county South Coast AVA, Ramona Valley was the third AVA to be designated in Southern California, after San Pasqual Valley AVA in 1981 and Temecula Valley AVA in 1986. In an interview on National Public Radio, Bill Schweitzer of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association described the area's exceptional viticultural characteristics as being partially derived from its unique location of being convert|25|mi|km|0 east of the Pacific Ocean and convert|25|mi|km|0 west of the Colorado Desert.

Wine Production

Currently the Ramona Valley AVA is home to 20 vineyards with convert|62|acre|ha|0 of a variety of white and red grapes in cultivation. There are nine wineries in the valley, with two tasting rooms open to the public (Schwaesdall Winery and Ramona Vintners Cellars).fact|date=January 2008

Wineries

*With Tasting Room:
**Lenora Winery/Ramona Vintners Cellars
**Schwaesdall Winery

*Without Tasting Room:
**Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery
**Pamo Valley Winery
**Salerno Winery

ee also

*California wine

References

External links

* [http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-23684.pdf Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau's published ruling]
* [http://www.ramonavalleyvineyards.org/ Ramona Vineyard Association]