San Pasqual Valley AVA

San Pasqual Valley

Wine region
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	1981[1]
Country	United States
Part of	California, South Coast AVA, San Diego County
Other regions in California, South Coast AVA, San Diego County	Ramona Valley AVA, San Luis Rey AVA, Temecula Valley AVA
Climate region	Region IV
Total area	9,000 acres (14 sq mi)[2]
Size of planted vineyards	100 acres (40 ha)[3]
No. of vineyards	16
Grapes produced	Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Viognier[4]
No. of wineries	4[4]

San Pasqual Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in northern San Diego County, California. It is located in the thin San Pasqual Valley of the Peninsular Ranges which runs inland from the city of Escondido north of the city of San Diego. The 9,000 acres (14 sq mi) AVA was established on August 17, 1981 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by a representative of San Pasqual Vineyards to establish a viticultural area in San Diego County to be named "San Pasqual Valley."[1][3] San Pasqual Valley was the nation's fifth American Viticultural Area wine region established in 1981.[5]

Climate

The AVA belongs to Region IV on the Winkler scale. The climate in this appellation is desert-like but tempered by cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean, with long growing seasons (average temperatures above 50 °F (10 °C) year-round), warm winters with nighttime lows rarely dipping below 35 °F (2 °C), and summers with daily highs rarely exceeding 95 °F (35 °C). With cooler evenings and granite-based soils that drain well, grapes from this area are able to retain their colors and balanced acidity.

Vineyards

The area is planted with a wide range of Vitis vinifera with Grenache, Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo and Viognier being some of the most widely planted.[4] The AVA is defined roughly to include the valleys formed by the San Dieguito River and its tributaries. San Pasqual is the third oldest AVA in of California..[5] The terrain is varied, rocky with many microclimates. The elevations range from 500 to 1,500 ft (150–460 m). Nearby "Grape Day Park" features "Grape Day Festival" every September to celebrate the harvest time. The festival was established in 1908.

There are over 16 commercial vineyards in this AVA

• Altipiano Vineyard and Winery
• Cordiano Winery
• Domain Artefact Vineyard & Winery
• Espinosa Vineyards and Winery
• Forgotten Barrel Winery
• Highland Valley Vineyards
• Hungry Hawk Vineyard
• Matthews Organic Orchards
• Mia Marie Vineyard
• Orfila Winery
• Rancho Guijito Vineyard
• San Pasqual Winery
• Sky High Vineyards
• Speckle Rock Vineyards
• Wicked Snakes Winery
• ZXQ Vineyards and Winery

References

1. "San Pasqual Valley Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [T.D. ATF-90; Ret. Notice No. 351] Final Rule). Federal Register. 46 (158). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 41492–41493. 1981-08-17. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. "San Pasqual Valley Viticultural Area; Wine Labeling" (27 CFR Part 9 [Notice No. 351] Proposed). Federal Register. 45 (209). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 70914–70918. 1980-10-27. Archived from the original on 2024-10-07. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. "Application for Viticultural Designation for "San Pasqual Valley"". TTB.gov. 1980-01-15. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. "San Pasqual Valley (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
5. "List of AVAs by Establishment Date". TTB.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-07.

External links

• Grape Day Festival
• TTB AVA Map

33°04′17″N 117°02′37″W