The North Coast AVA is one of the most important winemaking areas in America. It’s located in Northern California, just north of San Francisco, and has a rich history that dates back centuries ago when European settlers first arrived there with their grapes for wine-making ambitions. Today you can find more than 3 million acres covered by vineyards across 6 counties including Sonoma, Napa Valley, and Mendocino Counties—all producing some excellent wines!
In this blog, we will explain exactly what an “AVA” is, dig deep into the characteristics of California’s North Coast AVA, and outline the qualities of certain varietals found in the region.
What is an “AVA?”
AVA stands for American Viticultural Area. The AVAs are officially determined areas that help identify the origin of a wine. For instance, if a wine comes from the North Coast AVA, the grapes must be grown within the agreed-upon geographical area. While AVAs are found all over the United States, we are partial to the products found around California and north of California in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Europe also has its own version of “AVAs” which are named “European Protected Designation of Origin,” or PDO. A key point of distinction between European PDOs and AVAs is that PDOs have strict limits on the grapes allowed as well as the wine styles the producers can make. AVAs don’t have that limitation. Europe uses PDOs to protect the historical wine styles and varieties. In the United States, wine history is still written as we speak, so producers have the freedom to experiment with any variety and style they want to produce. As long as the grapes are grown within the limits of the AVA, the wine can showcase its origin on its label. In some cases, the grapes and style are tied to the AVA, as is the case with Napa and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The climate of California’s North Coast AVA
The main influence on the climate of California’s North Coast AVA is the Pacific Ocean. In Northern California, the Pacific Ocean is extremely cold, and it makes neighboring areas equally cold. The mountains form parallel ranges running from North to South, along the coast, so they offer protection from the cold to the inland areas. As a rule, the further you move from the ocean, the bolder the wines get. There are exceptions to this loose rule, however, as breaks in the mountain ranges trap the cold in more inland locations, affecting large areas, like the northern part of Sonoma and Mendocino county. What’s more, San Francisco’s Bay Area transfers the lower temperatures to the south of Sonoma and Napa, making these regions also cooler than other AVAs.
One of the ways the ocean affects the North Coast AVA is by bringing fog at night and allowing it to disperse only before noon, extending its cooling influence. After that, the warm California sun takes over and warms the vines, giving them enough sunlight to reach the perfect ripeness. The final factor influencing California’s North Coast AVA is altitude. Altitude can also contribute to a cooling influence on the grapes. The North Coast is blessed with tons of large mountains and rolling hills that offer a favorable exposition for grapes.
The main grape varieties of California’s North Coast AVA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is considered by many as the king grape of the North Coast AVA. It is planted all over the region and the most iconic wines come from the Napa Valley AVA. Cabernet Sauvignon prefers slightly warmer climates, so don’t expect to see many grown close to the coast. It creates red wines with a deep ruby color and powerful aromatics of blackberry, blackcurrant, vanilla, and cloves. Its tannins are high but smooth and not drying, and together with precise winemaking, it is a very approachable style both young and after bottle aging.
Chardonnay
The main white grape found in the North Coast vineyards is Chardonnay. Chardonnay is a true chameleon because it can produce world-class wines in all of the different climates of the North Coast. Most wines have invigorating aromas of pineapple and lemon, while some bring an additional “oak” complexity of vanilla and cedar. There truly is a Chardonnay for every occasion grown on the North Coast.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic variety grown mostly within the Napa Valley AVA. It has pungent aromas of elderflower, and tropical fruits, and slight green notes, while the palate is refreshing and light, mirroring the nose. The iconic Fume Blanc style was created in Napa Valley in 1972 and it is still widely made. It features barrel fermentation, which creates a wine with a fuller body and smoky aromas.
The main characteristics of wines from California’s North Coast AVA
Red wines
The red wines of the North Coast AVA show precise winemaking and elegant use of oak. Their aromas can be light and delicate when they come from colder climates and deeper and riper if the wine comes from a warmer area in California’s North Coast AVA. Generally speaking, if you enjoy robust red wines with some oak flavors, I recommend a wine from the warmer regions in California’s North Coast.
White wines
The white wines of the North Coast express something that some might describe as “distinctly Californian.” Whichever the variety, they embody the stability and warmth of the Californian sun and the sometimes volatile temperatures of the Pacific. Ripe fruity aromatics, a hint of oak, and a lean palate combine to create the top Californian white wines. Chardonnays are the crown jewel of the region, but if aromatic white wines are your thing, you might enjoy white wines from the California North Coast.
Sparkling wines
The cool mesoclimates, defined as “the climate of a site as influenced by elevation, aspect, slope or distances from large bodies of water,” of the North Coast support the production of exceptional sparkling wines made with the champagne method. They are mostly produced from grapes sourced near the coast, like from the sub-AVAs of Carneros in Sonoma, Napa, and the Anderson Valley. Anticipate amazing quality, a lean mouthfeel, and the smallest hint of sweetness if you get the chance to try sparkling wine from California’s North Coast AVA.
Which are the main sub (or child)-AVAs?
There is a debate within the wine community about using the prefix “sub” to define regions found within larger AVAs. Some feel that “sub” insinuates a region to be “lower rank” or “secondary level.” The argument is that a sub-AVA is unique, and therefore, not secondary to the characteristics of the main AVA. For this blog, we’ll stick with the original definition: sub-AVA. The main sub-AVAs of the North Coast AVA are located in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties.
Napa County
Napa County is the most famous viticultural area in the US. Despite having only 4% of the total US vineyard acreage, there is a lot of focus on the individual subregions. The focus in Napa is undoubtedly Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe and powerful with supple tannins, while the Chardonnay is smooth and creamy with a complex nose. Napa AVA covers the whole of Napa county. However, the very diverse topography and climate within the region has led the producers to create even smaller AVAs. Each region creates wines with a unique character. Cabernet Sauvignon from the famous Oakville AVA, for example, is one of the most powerful in the county, bursting with ripe black fruit aromas. On the other hand, the Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mount Veeder AVA is much lighter and typically carries lower alcohol and delicate notes of red fruits.
Sonoma County
Sonoma County is part of the North Coast AVA and is home to many different sub-AVAs. This region’s most popular grapes are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In the Sonoma Coast AVA, for example, the Chardonnay embodies a precise nature that is influenced by the cooling characteristics of the chilly Pacific Ocean. As we move east of the coastal mountains, the climate gets warmer. Chardonnays from this region typically carry a nose full of tropical fruits and a lifting experience to the palate.
Mendocino County
Mendocino County is located in the Northern part of the North Coast AVA. It provides a variety of growing conditions that create an equally diverse collection of wine styles. The Mendocino AVA, for example, is located inland, so it has (you guessed it!) a warmer climate. Varieties from the Mediterranean area thrive here, including Zinfandel and Syrah. This makes the vineyard of Mendocino a great source of one-of-a-kind wines for the North Coast. The other side of Mendocino is the chilly Anderson Valley AVA. It is on the western end of the county, neighboring the cold Pacific Ocean, and is one of the coldest locations within the North Coast AVA, famous for sparkling wines.
What makes wines from the North Coast AVA special?
It is only natural that the wines of the North Coast AVA are among the top wines of the US and the world. With classics like Napa and Sonoma to lesser-known regions towards the north, it offers wines for connoisseurs and wine lovers alike. The California North Coast AVA has a unique climate and topography combination and is home to some of the most experienced winemakers in the world. All of these factors combine to create wines that many find irresistible and hard to forget.
Conclusion
The North Coast AVA is home to some of the most iconic wines in America, like Napa County. The wine grapes are grown on cool nights and warm days with an interesting climate that makes wines from this region compelling for viticulture and viticulture enthusiasts. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir are the main varieties and are found in many different styles, covering every occasion.