Atlas Peak AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1992 |
| Years of wine industry | 156 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Napa Valley AVA |
| Other regions in Napa Valley AVA | Calistoga AVA, Chiles Valley AVA, Diamond Mountain District AVA, Howell Mountain AVA, Los Carneros AVA, Mt. Veeder AVA, Coombsville AVA, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA, Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, Spring Mountain District AVA, St. Helena AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Wild Horse Valley AVA, Yountville AVA |
| Growing season | 273 days |
| Climate region | Region II |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 37.5 inches (952 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Alluvial and residual upland soils derived entirely from volcanic parent material |
| Total area | 11,400 acres (18 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,500 acres (607 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 18 |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel |
| No. of wineries | 11 |
Atlas Peak is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in eastern Napa County California about six to ten miles (10–16 km) north-northeast of the county seat of Napa on the western slope of the Vaca Range which separates Napa Valley and Sacramento Valley.
It was established as the nation's 115th, the state's 66th and the county's sixth appellation on January 22, 1992 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. Richard Mendelson, on behalf of Atlas Peak Vineyards, the only bonded winery within the area, proposing a viticultural area in Napa County to be known as "Atlas Peak."
At an elevation of 2,663 feet (812 m), Atlas Peak is the most prominent landform in the viticultural area which also includes the Foss Valley and portions of the Rector and Milliken Canyons. The petition stated that the original derivation of the name "Atlas Peak" for the mountain and the surrounding area remains unclear but that the name has been applied since at least 1875. The viticultural area sits on a higher elevation than most of Napa Valley's wine region which limits the effects of the cool fog coming in from Pacific Ocean. The westward orientation of most vineyards on the slopes also extends the amount of direct sunlight on the grapes. The soil is volcanic and very porous which allows it to cool down quickly despite the increased sunlight. The area has a fairly significant diurnal temperature variation upwards of 30 °F (−1 °C) between daytime and night. This contributes to the balance of acidity that Atlas Peak grapes are known to have.
The viticultural area encompasses approximately 11,400 acres (18 sq mi) with currently about 1,500 acres (607 ha) under vine on eighteen commercial vineyards. At the outset, there was one winery, Atlas Peak Vineyards, and one additional winery under construction. Currently, there are now eleven wineries residing in Atlas Peak.
In August 2020, the Atlas Peak area was evacuated due to the Hennessey Fire which resulted in the burning of over 315,000 acres (492 sq mi) in five counties including northern Atlas Peak.