Sierra Foothills

Located east of Sacramento California at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Sierra Foothills got its start as a wine producing region when area became settled during the great Gold Rush of the mid 1800's. The Sierra Foothills AVA was officially recognized in 1987 and is one of the geographically largest AVA's in the state of California. It is known primarily for production of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay, although a wide range of varietals are grown in the region. The Sierra Foothills contain a diverse medley of soils and climates due to significant ancient tectonic plate activity that formed the tall sprawling mountains nearby. Soils here range from loam to granite to heavily volcanic in composition. Weather in the lower elevations is relatively warm while higher elevations can see significant cooling influences from the nearby mountains. While the Sierra Foothills is still relatively unknown the quality of wine being produced in this region is on par with the best in the state.