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Cucamonga Valley AVA

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Coordinates: 34°07′27″N 117°31′53″W / 34.124044°N 117.531373°W / 34.124044; -117.531373
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Cucamonga Valley
Wine region
View of the Cucamonga Valley AVA from Cucamonga Peak
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1985[1]
Years of wine industry187[2]
CountryUnited States
Part ofCalifornia, Riverside County, San Bernardino County
Other regions in California, Riverside County, San Bernardino CountyYucaipa Valley AVA
Climate regionRegion IV[1]
Heat units3501-4000 GDD units[1]
Soil conditionsalluvial valley floors, fans and terraces derived from granitic rock[1]
Total area109,400 acres (44,300 ha)[1]
Size of planted vineyards2,000 acres (810 ha)[1]
Grapes producedAleatico, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chasselas, Grenache, Merlot, Mission, Mourvedre, Palomino, Pedro Ximenes, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel[2]

Cucamonga Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) straddling the border of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California in the Cucamonga Valley region of the Pomona Valley, about 15 miles (24 km) west of San Bernardino. It was established on March 30, 1985 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted from Gino L. Filippi of J. Filippi Vintage Co. on behalf of himself, local grape growers and vintners to propose a viticultural area known as "Cucamonga Valley."[3][4] The AVA designation enables wineries to use the name "Cucamonga Valley" on their wine labels when utilizing at least 85% Cucamonga Valley grapes.[1][5]

Cucamonga Valley has a warm climate for viniculture, with summer temperatures often exceeding 100 °F (38 °C). The valley floor is sandy, alluvial soils. Pierce's disease has affected vines in the valley.[2]

History

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Grape cultivation began in the Cucamonga Valley in 1838 by Tiburcio Tapia on the Rancho Cucamonga, a Mexican land grant in Alta California.[5] In 1859 rancher John Rains began large vine plantings in Cucamonga, introducing agriculture on a large scale to replace traditional cattle and sheep raising in the region. By 1917 the Cucamonga-Guasti vineyards spanned over 20,000 acres, and Secondo Guasti was advertising his vineyard as "The Largest in the World."[5]

When Prohibition began in 1920, the Cucamonga Valley produced more wine grapes than Napa County and Sonoma County combined. In 1910, the former Mission Vineyard winery, later known as the Virginia Dare Winery, was established in the town of Rancho Cucamonga followed by others including the Thomas Brothers Winery, G. Filippi and Son Winery, and Ellena Bros./Regina Winery.[5]

Following Prohibition and its Repeal in 1933, the wine industry and other agricultural businesses in the Cucamonga Valley faced increasing pressure from the urban expansion of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. During the 1970s, agricultural land in Cucamonga Valley underwent massive conversion and loss to suburbanization, for families from those counties seeking affordable housing.

The Joseph Filippi Winery & Vineyards and other vintners and growers in the area worked to attain the AVA designation, and have been bringing back winemaking to the Cucamonga Valley.[3][5]

Wineries

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Name City Year of Creation
Biane Brothers Winery Rancho Cucamonga, CA 1832 [6]
Scythian Wine Co.[7] Fontana, CA 2021
Galleano Winery Mira Loma, CA 1927
Joseph Filippi Winery & Vineyards[5] Rancho Cucamonga, CA 1922
Rancho De Philo Winery Rancho Cucamonga, CA 1974[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Cucamonga Valley Viticultural Area (94F-011P)" (27 CFR Part 9 [TD ATF-362; Re: Notice No. 802] RIN 1512-AA07 Final Rule). Federal Register. 60 (62). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 16576–16579. March 31, 1995.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c "Cucamonga Valley (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Filippi, Gino L. (May 28, 1994). "Petition for the Establishment of American Viticultural Area "Cucamonga Valley"". TTB.gov. J. Filippi Vintage Co.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Berger, Dan (May 19, 1994). "California's Lost Wine Country : Cotes de Cucamonga". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "The Wineries of Rancho Cucamonga are back". Inside The Inland Empire. Archived from the original on July 7, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  6. ^ "About Paul Biane &The Biane Family". Biane Wine. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  7. ^ "Scythian Wine Co". Instagram. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "Rancho de Philo's award-winning Sherry a family tradition". Daily Bulletin. November 3, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
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34°07′27″N 117°31′53″W / 34.124044°N 117.531373°W / 34.124044; -117.531373

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