Los Carneros AVA (also known as
Carneros AVA) is an
American Viticultural Area which includes parts of both
Sonoma and
Napa counties in
California,
U.S.A.. It is located north of
San Pablo Bay. The proximity to the cool fog and breezes from the bay makes the climate in Los Carneros cooler and more moderate than the wine regions further north in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. The cooler climate has made Los Carneros attractive for the cultivation of cooler climate
varietals like
Pinot noir and
Chardonnay. Many of the grapes grown in Los Carneros are used for
sparkling wine production. Receiving its AVA status in 1983, the Carneros area was the first wine region in California to be defined by its climate characteristics rather than political boundaries.