Ramona Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in San Diego County, California, centered on the community of Ramona. It was designated the 162nd American Viticultural Area in January, 2006 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the Department of the Treasury, which recognized the area for its distinctive microclimate, elevation, and soil attributes. Approximately 89000 acre in area, it is 14.5 mi long and 9.5 mi wide. Geographically, Ramona Valley is described as being a broad, flat valley ringed by hills and mountains that isolate it from the surrounding areas. The valley has an average vineyard elevation of 1400 ft and an annual average rainfall of 16.5 in.

Climate and geography

Located within the large multi-county South Coast AVA, Ramona Valley was the third AVA to be designated in Southern California, after San Pasqual Valley AVA in 1981 and Temecula Valley AVA in 1984. In an interview on National Public Radio, Bill Schweitzer of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association described the area's exceptional viticultural characteristics as being partially derived from its unique location of being 25 mi east of the Pacific Ocean and 25 mi west of the Colorado Desert.

Wine production

Currently the Ramona Valley AVA is home to more than 80 commercial vineyards with over 100 acre of varieties of both white and red grapes in cultivation. As of 2016, there were over 20 bonded wineries operating in the AVA.