El Dorado AVA [ehl doh-RAH-doh]
appellation that covers the foothills (which range from 1,200 to 3,500 feet in altitude) in El Dorado County, east and slightly north of Sacramento, California. The boundaries of the larger Sierra Foothills AVA include the El Dorado AVA. This growing area ranges from a region II to a region III (see Climate Regions of California), depending on the location and the year. Fair Play AVA, sometimes called South County, is a new subzone created in 2001 within the El Dorado and Sierra Foothills AVAs. The Fair Play region is mostly in the 2,500- to 3,500-foot level, which is extremely high for California growing areas. El Dorado wines are known for their high acidity. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and three dozen other varieties are all grown here.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.