Wild Horse Valley AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1988 |
| Years of wine industry | 145 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, North Coast AVA, Napa County, Solano County, Napa Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 273 days |
| Climate region | Region I |
| Heat units | 2100-2500 GDD units |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 32 inches (813 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Primarily shallow, well-drained, sloping stony loams of the Hambright-Toomes association found only in mountainous uplands |
| Total area | 3,300 acres (5.2 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 73 acres (30 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 3 |
| Grapes produced | Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Riesling |
| No. of wineries | 1 |
Wild Horse Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) that straddles between Napa and Solano Counties, California and partly resides within the larger Napa Valley AVA. The wine appellation was established as the nation's 102nd, the state's 58th, and both counties' fifth AVA on November 30, 1988 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by John Newmeyer of Napa and four other interested persons proposing the viticultural area named "Wild Horse Valley."
The appellation encompasses a valley landform near the city of Napa that extends approximately five-and-a-third-mile (9 km) long and one-and-two-thirds-mile (3 km) across at its widest point. The petition states Wild Horse Valley's total acreage is 3,300 acres (5 sq mi) with 73 acres (30 ha) of cultivation in the viticultural area. Its southerly location results in more hours of sunshine than other locations in Napa Valley and the adjacent Solano County Green Valley. The proximity to San Pablo Bay results in a cooler climate, making Wild Horse Valley attractive for the cultivation of grapes like Pinot noir. The Wild Horse Valley viticultural area is within the North Coast viticultural area. Wild Horse Valley partially overlaps the Napa Valley and Solano County Green Valley viticultural areas. The Suisun Valley viticultural area is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) east of the Wild Horse Valley separated only by the Solano County Green Valley.