Fair Play AVA
| Wine region | |
Fair Play vineyards (adjoining properties) | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2001 2015 Expansion |
| Years of wine industry | 138 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, El Dorado AVA, Sierra Foothills AVA |
| Other regions in California, El Dorado AVA, Sierra Foothills AVA | California Shenandoah Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 230 and 250 days |
| Climate region | Region III |
| Heat units | 3,500 GDD units |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 35 to 40 in (890–1,020 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Deep, moderately to well drained, granitic soils of the Holland, Shaver, and Musick series |
| Total area | 21,000 acres (33 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 350 acres (140 ha) |
| Grapes produced | Barbera, Black Muscat, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot noir, Pinotage, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Souzao, Syrah, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, Viognier, Zinfandel |
| No. of wineries | 30 |
Fair Play is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in El Dorado County, California. It was established on February 26, 2001 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) after reviewing the petition submitted by Brian Fitzpatrick, President of Fair Play Winery Association, proposing to establish a viticultural area in southern El Dorado County known as "Fair Play." Fair Play viticultural area encompasses 21,000 acres (33 sq mi) encircling the town of Fair Play and located entirely within the existing boundaries of the El Dorado and vast Sierra Foothills viticultural areas. The topography of Fair Play includes rolling hills at elevations between 2,000 and 3,000 feet (610–910 m) above sea level, making it the second highest average elevation after Squaw Valley-Miramonte viticultural area in the state. The soils are decomposed granite as part of the Sierra Nevada Foothills region, and the area is within the Cosumnes River watershed. In its cultivated 350 acres (140 ha), the most popular red wine grape variety is Zinfandel, although varieties popular in Rhône Valley and Italy, such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Barbera are the common varietals. White wine is less popular in Fair Play, but significant plantings of Viognier and Grenache Blanc, along with Chardonnay are most common.