Squaw Valley-Miramonte AVA

Squaw Valley-Miramonte AVA
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2015
Years of wine industry21
CountryUnited States
Part ofCalifornia
Other regions in CaliforniaMadera AVA, Sierra Foothills AVA
Climate regionRegion IV-V
Precipitation (annual average)14 to 32 in (356–813 mm)
Soil conditionsVista, Sierra, and Auberry soil series
Total area44,690 acres (70 sq mi)
Size of planted vineyards7.5 acres (3.0 ha)
No. of vineyards5
Varietals producedAglianico, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc
No. of wineries3

Squaw Valley-Miramonte is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) and a unique grape-growing region in Fresno County, California surrounding the towns of Yokuts Valley and Miramonte approximately 40 miles (64 km) east of the city of Fresno. It was established on August 7, 2015 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Christine Flannigan, owner of the Sierra Peaks Winery and Purgatory Vineyards, on behalf of the Squaw Valley Grape Growers Group, proposing the viticulural area named "Squaw Valley-Miramonte." It is largely a rural region located entirely within the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and does not overlap any established AVAs. To the northwest, west, and south is the San Joaquin Valley while the Sequoia National Forest is adjacent to its northern and eastern boundaries. The scenic highway U.S. 180 bisects the region eastward from the Valley to the Big Trees in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. The AVA stretches over 44,690 acres (70 sq mi) with five commercially-producing vineyards cultivating about 7.5 acres (3.04 ha) and three bonded wineries. The USDA plant hardiness zone for the AVA is 9b.