Petaluma Gap AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2018 |
| Years of wine industry | 195 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, North Coast AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA |
| Other regions in California, North Coast AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA | Los Carneros AVA, Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma Valley AVA |
| Climate region | Mediterranean |
| Soil conditions | volcanic mixed with clay, sandy loam |
| Total area | 202,476 acres (316 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 4,000 acres (1,619 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 80 |
| Varietals produced | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah |
| No. of wineries | 9 |
Petaluma Gap is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) established on January 8, 2018 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury. The area spans 202,476 acres (316 sq mi) stretching through an 30 miles (48 km) inland valley from the Pacific coast at Bodega Bay southeast to Highway 37 at Sears Point on San Pablo Bay straddling the border of northern Marin and southern Sonoma counties. The AVA lies entirely within the North Coast AVA and partially in the Sonoma Coast AVA with eighty commercially-producing vineyards cultivating 4,000 acres (1,619 ha) and nine bonded wineries. The wind gap in its coastal mountain range funnels cooling breezes and fog east from the Pacific Ocean through the city of Petaluma to San Pablo Bay. A persistent afternoon breeze causes lower grape yields and longer hang time contributes to the AVA vintages' unique flavors and fruit characteristics which defines their character and distinction.