Established in April 2002, this new California viticultural area is located in northwestern Sonoma County. It covers 15,400 rugged, rock-strewn acres that must be at or above the 800-foot level. About 2,500 acres overlap the northwestern corner of dry creek ava. Rockpile currently has approximately 160 acres of vines planted mainly to zinfandel and petite sirah with some cabernet sauvignon. The name of this region dates back to 1858 when the Rock Pile Ranch (cattle) was operating. Currently no wineries exist in the AVA, but some wineries outside the area purchase grapes from the Rockpile AVA.