Lamorinda AVA
Lamorinda is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the San Francisco Bay Area located due east of the Berkeley Hills in Contra Costa County encompassing the region around the cities of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. The name Lamorinda is a portmanteau from the names of the three locales defining the region: Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. The AVA is a sub-region within the existing San Francisco Bay AVA and the larger, multi-county Central Coast AVA stretching approximately 30,000 acres (47 sq mi) with 46 commercially-producing vineyards that cover approximately 139 acres (56 ha). The USDA plant hardiness zone for the AVA is 9b. The AVA was proposed as the growers in the area found the wider San Francisco Bay and Central Coast AVA titles too generic and not indicative of its terroir. The area was officially established March 25, 2016 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) after reviewing the petition from Patrick L. Shabram, on behalf of the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association, proposing the establishment of the "Lamorinda" viticultural area.
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2016 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Central Coast AVA, San Francisco Bay AVA |
| Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, San Francisco Bay AVA | Livermore Valley AVA, Pacheco Pass AVA, San Ysidro District AVA, Santa Clara Valley AVA |
| Climate region | Maritime |
| Soil conditions | Thin clay-rich Orinda formation |
| Total area | 30,000 acres (47 sq mi). |
| Size of planted vineyards | 139 acres (56 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 46 |
| Varietals produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Syrah |
| No. of wineries | 6 |