North Yuba is a small AVA in the larger Yuba County AVA in the northern reaches of California's Sierra Foothills region. Only a small amount of land in the North Yuba zone is under vine, and a large portion of this belongs to the Renaissance Winery, founded by the belief-based Fellowship of Friends community in the 1970s.
Vineyards in North Yuba rise between 1500ft and 2000ft (460–600m) above sea level, and the typical mountain terroir of the region reflects this. Vines are planted in thin, low-quality soils that are largely volcanic in origin. These iron-rich soils are free-draining, meaning the vines have to grow deep root systems to access the water in the ground. This is important for vine health, and plants grown on these soils produce grapes with an excellent concentration of flavor.
Vineyards sit on a variety of slopes, ranging from steep to gentle, and are positioned to take advantage of the sunlight. Warm days are followed by colder nights, caused by winds coming off the higher parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This diurnal temperature variation extends the ripening period, ensuring that the grapes have a balance of ripeness and acidity.
The terroir of North Yuba leads to concentrated wines with good minerality and structure. Cabernet Sauvignon is the main grape variety grown here, but Rhone varieties – especially Syrah, Grenache and Viognier – are also planted.
