© Philip Cuadra
Calaveras County is an AVA at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. It has a hot, dry climate that is well suited to the production of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, as well as some more interesting wines made from Tempranillo and Petit Verdot.
The Calaveras County AVA covers the administrative area of the same name. Calaveras County was one of the original counties in California and was established in 1850. A huge influx of immigrants during the Gold Rush of the 1850s led to the planting of many vineyards to meet the heavy demand for wine, but the estates were forgotten after the population boom died down.
Today, the wine industry here is thriving, and both commercial and boutique vineyards are found in Calaveras County. The greatest concentration of vineyards can be found on the hilly land surrounding the historic town of Murphys.
Amador County is on Calaveras County's northern border, and Tuolumne County can be found in the south. The area is 110 miles (180km) from the cooling influences of the San Francisco Bay, making it one of the hotter regions in California. However, the warm days here are cooled by winds coming off the Sierra Nevada mountains at night. This significant difference in day- and night-time temperatures (the diurnal temperature variation) lengthens the growing season and leads to the development of rich fruit characters in the wine. Most vineyards are planted on red clay and gravelly slopes at 1500–2400ft (457–731m) above sea level.
