The Atlas Peak AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA just northeast of the city of Napa. The appellation sits on a higher elevation than most of Napa's wine region which limits the effects of the cool fog coming in from Pacific Ocean. The westward orientation of most vineyards on the Vaca Mountains also extends the amount of direct sunlight on the grapes. The soil of this AVA is volcanic and very porous which allows it to cool down quickly despite the increased sunlight. The area has a fairly significant diurnal temperature variation upwards of 30 °F (17 °C) between daytime and night. This contributes to the balance of acidity that grapes from Atlas Peak vineyards are known to have.[2]
| Wine region | |
 | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1992[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Napa Valley AVA |
| Other regions in Napa Valley AVA | Calistoga AVA, Chiles Valley AVA, Diamond Mountain District AVA, Howell Mountain AVA, Los Carneros AVA, Mt. Veeder AVA, Coombsville AVA, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA, Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, Spring Mountain District AVA, St. Helena AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Wild Horse Valley AVA, Yountville AVA |
| Total area | 11,000 acres (17 sq mi)[2] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,500 acres (2 sq mi)[2] |
| Varietals produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel |
In August 2020, Atlas Peak was evacuated due to the Hennessey Fire, which resulted in the burning of over 315,000 acres (127,476 ha) in five counties, including in north Atlas Peak.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "§ 9.140 Atlas Peak" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Atlas Peak (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
- ^ "Hennessey Fire Information". CAL FIRE. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
38°26′N 122°16′W / 38.44°N 122.27°W
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