American Viticultural Area · CA
Spring Mountain District
Spring Mountain District is a federally-designated American Viticultural Area in CA, established in 1993. The map below shows its official TTB boundary alongside nearby AVAs.
The Spring Mountain District boundary is highlighted. Nearby AVAs are rendered in gray — click any of them to view that AVA's page.
At a glance
Established
1993
State
CA
Climate
Mountain Mediterranean
Signature varietals
Boundary recorded in 27 CFR Part 9 · Source: TTB
About the Spring Mountain District AVA
Spring Mountain District, designated 1993, occupies the eastern face of the Mayacamas Mountains above the town of St. Helena, on the western side of Napa Valley. Vineyards are planted on steep, often forested slopes between about 600 and 2,600 feet, on a patchwork of volcanic and sedimentary soils. Springs and creeks give the district its name and, historically, the water that made hillside viticulture possible here in the 19th century. Spring Mountain District lies within the Napa Valley AVA and within North Coast.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading variety, producing structured, age-worthy wines, and the cooler, higher sites also have a long history with Chardonnay, Riesling, and other white varieties. Because the slopes sit above the valley fog and face a range of exposures, the district sees wide diurnal temperature swings and a slow, even ripening season that retains acidity in both reds and whites.
Nearby AVAs
Other American Viticultural Areas closest to Spring Mountain District — useful when a vineyard sits inside more than one AVA at once.