Antelope Valley of the California High Desert AVA
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| Wine region | |
 | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2011[1] |
| Years of wine industry | 137[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Kern County, Los Angeles County |
| Growing season | 240–260 days[1] |
| Climate region | Region V[1] |
| Heat units | 4,600 GDD[1] |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 4 to 9 in (100–230 mm)[1] |
| Soil conditions | deep loamy fine sand to loam and silty clay[1] |
| Total area | 426,000 acres (665 sq mi)[1] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 125 acres (51 ha)[1] |
| No. of vineyards | 4 |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Shiraz[1] |
| No. of wineries | 8 |
| Wine produced | 6500 cases, approximately 58,500 litres (15,500 US gal) annually[2] |
Antelope Valley of the California High Desert is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) within the wedge-shaped geologic landform, Antelope Valley, straddling the border of southern Kern County and northeastern Los Angeles County, California. It was established on May 23, 2011, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. Ralph Jens Carter, on behalf of the Antelope Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) proposing a viticultural area named "Antelope Valley of the California High Desert."[3] The vast 426,000 acres (665 sq mi) viticultural area encircles the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale. Just outside its western boundary lie the previously established, diminutive Leona Valley and Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural areas. In 2007, Antelope Valley had 128 acres (52 ha) of cultivation on 16 commercial vineyards and 2 bonded wineries according to the petition,[1] yet, there are currently four vineyards and eight wineries in the AVA according to AVWA.
The name "Antelope Valley of the California High Desert" combines the name recognition of the valley and the California high desert area into a single geographic descriptor, according to the petitioner. The modifier "California High Desert" distinguishes the viticultural area from other places in California and elsewhere also called "Antelope Valley." "California High Desert" is commonly used by area inhabitants to distinguish and identify the Antelope Valley located in the high desert in southeastern California. According to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) maintained by the USGS, the "Antelope Valley" name identifies 35 geographical locations in 10 States, including 9 locations in California. The petition contains several documents and citations that refer to the "Antelope Valley" in Los Angeles and Kern Counties, as follows: The USGS 1974 photorevised Little Buttes Quadrangle map; the 1977 Geologic Map of California, compiled by Charles W. Jennings; the 2005 DeLorme Southern and Central California Atlas and Gazetteer; the California Air Resources Board Web site; and the 2001 edition California State Automobile Association (CSAA) Coast and Valley map. The petition also includes excerpts of the 2006 Antelope Valley AT&T telephone directory listing more than 80 entities—businesses, churches, health care providers, a college, a high school district, and a chamber of commerce with "Antelope Valley" in their names. References to the "High Desert" in the viticultural area name include an excerpt from the 2006 Antelope Valley AT&T telephone directory. The telephone directory lists 25 entities in the subject Antelope Valley area businesses; health care providers, a school, a church, and a hospital with "High Desert" in their names. Also of relevance, Antelope Valley is described as "Medium to high desert of California and southern Nevada."[4][1]
History
For an estimated 11,000 years, various cultures have populated the Antelope Valley region, according to the petition. Native American tribes, traveling north from what is now Arizona and New Mexico, used the valley as a trade route. In the 1880s and early 1890s, Antelope Valley had ample rainfall and available surface water for farming. When settlers needed irrigation for farming, they initially used water from mountain streams, but eventually they dug wells into underground water reservoirs. The petition states that early viticulture in the Antelope Valley area consisted of two growers in Lancaster.[5] By 1893, viticulture in the area grew to 239 acres (97 ha) of vines, 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) of wine grapes, and 8 growers.[6] A drought in 1894 and Prohibition (1919–1933) ended viticulture in Antelope Valley. However, in the early 20th century, water supplies for general farming in the valley became dependable as gasoline engines and electric pumps became advent. In 1913, the Los Angeles Aqueduct was built, extending from Owens Valley in southeastern California to Los Angeles. Bordering the north side of Antelope Valley, the Los Angeles Aqueduct revived the agricultural economy in the valley. Viticulture restarted in 1981, when Steve Godde planted five acres (2 ha) of grapevines on the west side of the valley.[1][3][7]
