| Ramona Valley AVA (wine region) | |
|---|---|
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
| Year established | 1985[1] |
| Country | USA |
| Part of | California, South Coast AVA |
| Total area | 89,000 acres (360 km2) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 62 acres (25 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 20 |
The Ramona Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located 28 miles (45 km) northeast of the city of San Diego in San Diego County, California centered around the city of Ramona. 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 89,000 acres (360 km2) in area and centered around the town of Ramona, California, it is 14.5 miles (23.3 km) long and 9.5 miles (15.3 km) 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 1,400 feet (430 m) and an annual average rainfall of 16.5 inches (41.9 cm).
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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 25 miles (40 km) east of the Pacific Ocean and 25 miles (40 km) west of the Colorado Desert.
Currently the Ramona Valley AVA is home to 20 vineyards with 62 acres (25 ha) of a variety of white and red grapes in cultivation.