Temecula Valley AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1984 1986 Amended 1987 Amended 2004 Amended |
| Years of wine industry | 205 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, South Coast AVA, Riverside County |
| Climate region | Region II,III,IV |
| Heat units | 3598 GDD units |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 10 to 20 in (250–510 mm) |
| Soil conditions | decomposed granitic rocky and sandy loam |
| Total area | 33,000 acres (52 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 500 acres (200 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 42 |
| Grapes produced | Black Muscat, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Cinsault, Cortese, Dolcetto, Gamay noir, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli, Muscat of Alexandria, Nebbiolo, Orange Muscat, Palomino, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Rubired, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Tannat, Viognier, Zinfandel |
| Varietals produced | 30 |
| No. of wineries | 50 |
Temecula Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the Temecula Valley, located in southwestern Riverside County, California against the eastern slopes of the Santa Ana Mountains. It was initially established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury as "Temecula" on October 22, 1984 after reviewing petitions submitted by the Rancho California/Temecula Winegrowers Association and Callaway Vineyard and Winery, Temecula, California in 1981. The petitioners originally proposed to establish a viticultural area in Riverside County to be named "Temecula," "Murrieta," and "Rancho California" but the ATF did not adopt it. In 2004, it was renamed "Temecula Valley" by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), approving the 2001 petition submitted by the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association. The petition stated the name change would provide a more accurate description of the Temecula geography and greater clarity as to its location for wine consumers and the public. The petition did not request any change to the established AVA boundaries. This was the first AVA to change its name after the initial approval. Temecula Valley encompasses 33,000 acres (52 sq mi) and 5,000 acres (8 sq mi) is located in a "protected" area referred to as the Citrus/Vineyard Zone. This area is generally located in and around the Rancho California Road area within Riverside County. County guidelines strictly enforce the number of acres needed to build a winery, lodging and other limited housing and commercial ventures.