Jahant is a Californian AVA in the center of the larger Lodi AVA, just north of the town of Lodi itself. The unique pink-colored soil in Jahant and the relatively cool climate serve to distinguish it from the surrounding AVAs, and it is recognised for producing powerful, concentrated wines from Tempranillo.
Jahant is Lodi's smallest AVA, and it is bordered by the Dry Creek River in the north and the Mokelumne River in the south-west. The Clements Hills AVA lies between Jahant and the Sierra Foothills, and the Sacramento Delta is on the western edge of the AVA.
Unusually for this part of California, the Jahant AVA's boundaries are defined by the presence of the region's distinctive pink-colored Rocklin-Jahant loam soil. This has a large clay component, which makes it excellent for retaining water, meaning viticulturists do not need to rely on irrigation during the summer months. Dry-farmed vines are better at producing concentrated grapes with a higher skin-to-juice ratio, leading to wines with excellent color and firm, structured tannins.
The climate in Jahant is relatively cooler than in the surrounding appellations, due to the temperature-moderating influence of the Mokelumne River and the close proximity of the Sacramento Delta, 20 miles (32km) away. Cooling breezes off the delta in the afternoon mean that warm days are followed by cooler nights, extending the growing season and helping the grapes to find balance between ripeness and acidity.
While only a few wineries can be found within the Jahant AVA, there are many grower vineyards producing grapes for wineries in other parts of Lodi and as far afield as Napa Valley and Sonoma. Tempranillo is the region's most important grape variety, but the cool climate has seen an increase in the white wines produced here, particularly those made from Sauvignon Blanc.
