Alta Mesa - Wine Region of the Day
/Alta Mesa by David Toomey for Qorkz.
Alta Mesa received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Located on 55,400 acres, Alta Mesa is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA and is located in Sacramento. The soil in Alta Mesa consists of clay, and gravel. The climate of Alta Mesa is warm with very little rainfall annually. The dense soil and low rainfall force the vines to grow smaller and focus all of their energy in producing their fruit, giving it a robust deep flavor. The most common grape varieties are Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.