A Note on Ramona Valley’s Federal AVA Designation:

A popular saying among wine makers is "great wine begins with dirt."

A growing number of San Diego (and national) wine aficionados are aware of the Ramona’s unique microclimate which is ideal for the cultivation of fine wine grapes.

The quality of Eagles Nest Wines is derived from Ramona Valley AVA and San Diego County wine grapes produced within and near this AVA.

The Ramona Valley was awarded its own appellation by virtue of its Federal designation as an American Vinticultural Area (AVA). Awarded in January of 2006, this designation recognizes Ramona’s vinticultural ”terrior” (a loose French translation is “sense of place”).Ideally located at 1,600 feet altitude and midway between the cool Pacific coast and the warm California deserts, and blessed with wine-grape friendly soils, Ramona Valley vintners have already produced award winning wines and given appropriate support from the County government and area leaders, the Ramona area is poised to become a regional wine destination in it own right.

Unknown to most, before the days of the Prohibition in the early 1900’s, the Ramona area had more vineyard acreage than the now world-famous Napa Valley region. Ramona’s recent appellation has added to regional excitement and enthusiasm when considering the possibilities for San Diego to have its very own mini-Napa or Temecula wine industry and agri-tourism. Ramona wine grape growers and award winning winemakers are excited, and Eagles Nest Cottage is one of the backcountry’s first high-end wine-themed lodging venues to be offered to the public.

 A few words on Terrior- The components of terroir may include:

• Mesoclimate - refers to the distinct climatic conditions of a specific area. Used in reference to the conditions affecting a vineyard or potential vine-growing site
• Soil characteristics - Is it rich in nutrients or barren, is it primarily chalk or clay?
• Geology - Good drainage or poor, is the bedrock shallow or deep?
• Aspect - Do the plants get lots of sun due to being on a south-facing, steeply sloped site?
• Altitude - higher altitude means the same amount of sun but lower temperatures
• Vineyard management practices, including such things as vine spacing, direction of rows, fertilization techniques, "green harvesting," pruning practices, harvesting techniques, and other factors.
• Vinification practices including blending choices, length of fermentation, temperature of fermentation, proportion of new oak barrels used for ageing, length of aging, fining and filtering decisions, and many more factors.
• Human history of the land, including length of time the land has been cultivated, who has owned the land, and many more factors land, and many more factors.