Lamorinda AVA

Lamorinda
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2016
Years of wine industry165
CountryUnited States
Part ofCalifornia, Central Coast AVA, San Francisco Bay AVA
Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, San Francisco Bay AVALivermore Valley AVA, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Contra Costa AVA
Climate regionRegion II-III
Heat units2,816-3225 GDD
Soil conditionsThin clay-rich Orinda formation
Total area30,000 acres (47 sq mi).
Size of planted vineyards139 acres (56 ha)
No. of vineyards46
Varietals producedCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Syrah
No. of wineries6

Lamorinda is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the San Francisco Bay Area located due east of the Berkeley Hills in Contra Costa County encompassing the region around the cities of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. The name Lamorinda is a portmanteau from the names of the three locales defining the region: Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. The AVA is a sub-region within the existing San Francisco Bay AVA and the larger, multi-county Central Coast AVA stretching approximately 30,000 acres (47 sq mi) with 46 commercially-producing vineyards that cover approximately 139 acres (56 ha), and six bonded wineries with plans for three more. The USDA plant hardiness zone for the AVA is 9b. The AVA was proposed as the growers in the area found the wider San Francisco Bay and Central Coast AVA titles too generic and not indicative of its terroir. The area was officially established on February 23, 2016, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition from Patrick L. Shabram, on behalf of the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association, proposing the establishment of the "Lamorinda" viticultural area.