Petaluma, Calif.—The Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance, PGWA, announced today that it submitted a petition to the TTB to form the new Petaluma Gap AVA. The proposed appellation would span more than 200,000 acres in southern Sonoma County and northern Marin County. More than 80 different vineyards encompassing 4,000 acres of vines already exist within the boundaries of the proposed AVA.

“We began this process two years ago” says Ana Keller, president of the alliance, in a statement announcing the application. “We felt that the Sonoma Coast AVA was too broad and that a separate Petaluma Gap AVA would help consumers recognize the special character of this area. Over the past two years we began assembling information outlining why this area is so special. In addition to the cool climate and morning fog, the daily afternoon wind roaring into the area through the Petaluma Gap is really what defines us. We documented the data and have now sent our petition on to the TTB for consideration.”