Knights Valley American Viticultural Area (Calif.)

Knights Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Sonoma County, California encompassing an approximate 5.3 miles (8.5 km) long by 1.8 miles (2.9 km) wide valley landform named Knights Valley. As one of the Sonoma's five original viticultural areas, Knights Valley was established as the nation's 51st, the state's 33rd and the county's fifth appellation on October 21, 1983, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by The Knights Valley Wine-Growers Committee, an organization of grape/wine industry members and signed by 16 persons, proposing a viticultural area in northeastern Sonoma County named "Knights Valley." The area encompasses approximately 36,240 acres (57 sq mi) with over 30 growers cultivating 2,000 acres (809 ha) under vine. In the easternmost Sonoma County region, Knights Valley has the warmest climate in the county. Its northernmost boundary line runs slightly to the north of Pine Mountain; the southernmost boundary line borders the petrified forest area immediately to the north of Porter Creek. The Sonoma County line bordering Lake County and Napa County outlines the eastern section of the viticultural area. The western section is adjacent to the boundaries of Alexander Valley and Chalk Hill viticultural areas. The plant hardiness zone ranges from 9a to 10a.