AmericanWinery.com

Also known as Los Carneros, this AVA lies at the northern end of San Pablo Bay (the northern section of San Francisco Bay) and includes vineyards in both sonoma and napa counties. Because of the Bay’s cooling effects, and the fog that the hotter inland areas draw over the land, Carneros has become an increasingly popular growing area. Its climate is ranked a region I (see Climate Regions of California), although some areas protected from the cooling breezes can be warmer than region II. There are approximately 8000 acres planted. The dominant grapes in Carneros are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, 20 percent of which are made into sparkling wine. Small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are grown here as well. Carneros has attracted foreign investment in the form of three sparkling wine facilities: Artesa (formerly Codorníu Napa) from the Spanish giant Codorníu; domaine Carneros from the French Champagne house Taittinger; and Gloria Ferrer from Freixenet, another Spanish firm. All three wine facilities also make still wines. The Carneros area supplies grapes to many wineries not located in the AVA itself. Carneros is Spanish for “sheep,” referring here to the numerous sheep ranches that once populated the area.