| Eagle Peak Mendocino County AVA | |
| Type: | U.S. County |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Country: | US |
| Similar: | Mendocino AVA, Redwood Valley AVA, Potter Valley AVA |
| Climate Region: | Temperate |
| Soil: | shallow, well-draining, coarse gravel, sandstone, clay, and loam mixes |
| Total Size: | 26260acres |
| Planted: | 115acres |
| Vineyards: | 1 |
| Grapes: | Pinot noir |
| Varietals: | Pinot noir |
| Wineries: | 5[1] |
Eagle Peak Mendocino County is an American Viticultural Area located in Mendocino County, California and established on November 10, 2014, by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). It lies within the North Coast AVA and takes its name from the nearby Eagle Peak summit covering the mountainous area situated in the California Coastal Range just west of the Redwood Valley AVA and east of the V-shaped Mendocino AVA. It was first proposed in June 2013, designating roughly 26260acres and straddles U.S. Highway 101 between the towns of Ukiah and Willits. The new boundaries reduced about NaNacres from each bordering AVA to eliminate overlap with Eagle Peak Mendocino County.[2]
Eagle Peak's steeply sloping terrain is significantly cooler than its neighbor, Redwood Valley, and the further eastern Potter Valley. However, Eagle Peak Mendocino County is still an inland AVA with elevations from NaNfeet.[3] It experiences more seasonal temperature variation than coastal AVAs with less fog. Persistent breezes of 5-10 MPH travel from the ocean through the Big River airflow corridor. The soils are well-drained since water doesn't stick around due to the slopes and shallow root depths because of hard subsoil, There is enough water-holding capacity to keep vines healthy from dormancy through fruit set, however, some irrigation is required to usher the vines through to harvest.[3]
Pinot Noir grows best in Eagle Peak, as the temperature tends to be cooler than the inland valleys. The area is home to only one winery, Masút Vineyards and Winery, founded by third generation vintners and Mendocino-born Ben and Jake Fetzer. They submitted the Eagle Peak TTB appellation proposal to further define this little known, unique winegrowing area.[1]