Leona Valley is an AVA in the north of Los Angeles County, just 40 miles (65km) from downtown Los Angeles. It was granted appellation status in 2008, making it one of the newest AVAs in California, along with its neighbors Sierra Pelona Valley and Antelope Valley of the California High Desert.
The narrow Leona Valley lies on the part of the San Andreas Fault that cuts across the north-eastern portion of Los Angeles County. The San Gabriel Mountains separate the valley from the city of Los Angeles, and Portal Ridge separates it from the arid Mojave Desert.
Locals claim that Leona Valley was one of the first areas of wine production in California, and wines from the region that were planted before the era of Prohibition were held in particularly high regard. The 1920–33 nationwide ban on the production and sale of alcohol had a devastating effect on the wine industry in the area, and viticulture did not pick up again until the early 2000s.
The San Gabriel Mountains shield the valley from the Pacific’s influence, giving it a hot, dry climate that is suited to red-wine production. The high altitude of the valley – some 3000ft (900m) above sea level – means that the area enjoys particularly cool evenings following these hot days. This diurnal temperature variation extends the growing season here, ensuring that ripeness and varietal character do not come at the expense of acidity.
The valley's alluvial soils have been deposited by the nearby lakes of Elizabeth and Hughes and have a significant clay content from the erosion of the underlying rock. These soils are moderately free-draining and full of nutrients, ideal for quality grape growing.
Syrah and Chardonnay do particularly well in Leona Valley, although the newness of the AVA means few wines carrying its name on their label are currently available. This is likely to change: the quality of the terroir and the short distance to one of America's largest cities are expected to spur a surge in wine production in northern Los Angeles County.
