小气候，正如Erica Stancliff所言，就像葡萄酒产区的一个微型AVAs。Stancliff，既是加利福尼亚索诺玛山Trombetta Family Wines和Pfendler Vineyards的酿酒师，也是Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance 的成员，她将小气候定义为“与周边地区具有独特气候差异的一小部分地区”。这些区域可能覆盖几英亩土地，也可能跨越数平方英里。影响小气候的因素包括与水体接近程度、土壤类型、地理特征、海拔高度以及温度和湿度，即使在同一葡萄园内，这些条件也会有所不同。“这不仅对酿酒师来说是一个重要的成熟度收获决定，而且也是许多小型酿酒区和葡萄园独特之处。”斯坦克利夫说。

Matt Davis, a winemaker in Santa Barbara County, has a profound understanding of how microclimate affects the different regions within his AVA. Just like in Sonoma County, he says the biggest determining factor is proximity to the ocean. Nearby vineyards feel the cold ocean air and fog. In these two AVAs, a series of hills, valleys and plateaus make the microclimate even more nuanced, all of which determine whether grapevines are exposed to marine influence or not.

For example, fog settles into valleys creating cooler microclimates. Vineyards above the fog line are exposed to more sunlight during the day with higher temperatures but may experience more extreme diurnal temperature variations due to altitude.

These details decide where certain varieties grow best. "We got something we like to call cool-climate sun," Davis said. "It's very well-suited for planting Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah." Ballard Canyon [AVA]......[has] warm days and much colder nights with limestone soils mixed with sand and clay. Syrah and Bordeaux varieties grow best there."

Moving east towards Happy Canyon, grapevines face more extreme diurnal temperature fluctuations that help keep acidity levels high for widely planted Bordeaux varieties.

"I wouldn't even consider Los Alamos," Davis added in comment on many sub-appellations within broader Santa Barbara County AVA each having its own unique environmental conditions.

Stancliff collaborates with several vineyards in Sonoma County where Pinot Noir is one of the most widely planted varieties. Grapes are a case study on how to break down broader AVA into specific environmental conditions.

"In some areas such as Russian River Valley," she said., "Pinot Noir's maturity will be slightly faster than surrounding coastal areas resulting in different flavor profiles and tannin maturity." In Petaluma Gap due to long growing season you see mature tannins develop alongside fresh acidity deep color rich fruit flavors that complement each other."

Wind plays an equally crucial role at Petaluma Gap AVA named after coastal mountains' fissures gathering cool sea breezes inland "[it] defines our microclimate", Stancliff said., "Grape skin reaction forms thicker skins." Thicker skins produce more color singletons flavor intensity in grapes used for wine production

"For everything we do in cellar important remember grapes are defined by thousands moments related life vines — wind sun roots depth human intervention" Davis said., "Terroir driven by tens thousand such moments"

Thus terroir Terroir refers countless moments driving it