Sierra Foothills is a wine-growing region located between the Central Valley and the Rocky Mountains about 150 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean in California of the United States. It became popular in the 1850s because of the Gold Rush and became one of the first AVA (American Viticultural Area) in 1987. Most of the vineyards are found at an altitude of 450 to 900 metres above sea level which is well suited to the production of big, ripe, red wines made from Zinfandel, Syrah and Italian varieties like Barbera. Because of its location and the high altitude, the days tend to be hot and dry, while the nights are significantly cooler. The geology is very diverse and the rocky soils have low fertility which makes the vines to go deeper in the ground to search for nutrients and all that leaves the wine with not many clusters and concentrated flavours. Sierra Foothills is divided into six AVAs including Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley, Fiddletown, El Dorado, Fair Play and North Yuba. The other grapes which are thriving here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Merlot and Chardonnay. An exceptional region in terms of quality and value.