American Viticultural Area · CA
Calistoga
Calistoga is a federally-designated American Viticultural Area in CA, established in 2010. The map below shows its official TTB boundary alongside nearby AVAs.
The Calistoga boundary is highlighted. Nearby AVAs are rendered in gray — click any of them to view that AVA's page.
At a glance
Established
2010
State
CA
Climate
Warm Mediterranean
Signature varietals
Boundary recorded in 27 CFR Part 9 · Source: TTB
About the Calistoga AVA
Calistoga, designated 2010, is the northernmost valley-floor AVA in Napa Valley, surrounding the town of Calistoga at the head of the valley. It records some of the hottest daytime temperatures in Napa, but cool marine air spilling through the Chalk Hill Gap to the west and down from Mount St. Helena at night produces a dramatic diurnal swing. Volcanic soils, weathered from the surrounding peaks, dominate the district. Calistoga lies within the Napa Valley AVA and within North Coast.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading grape, joined by Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and other warm-climate varieties. The wide day-to-night temperature range lets fruit ripen fully while retaining freshness, giving Calistoga reds their characteristic ripeness, depth, and structure. The town is also known for its geothermal hot springs, a surface sign of the volcanic activity that shaped the AVA's soils.
Nearby AVAs
Other American Viticultural Areas closest to Calistoga — useful when a vineyard sits inside more than one AVA at once.