Carmel Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Monterey County, California, southeast of Carmel-by-the-Sea and it is one of the ten AVAs in the county. Approximately south of San Francisco, the AVA was recognized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on January 13, 1983, after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. David Armanasco, General Manager of Durney Vineyard, located in Carmel, to propose a viticultural area named "Carmel Valley."
The appellation is nestled about inland from the Pacific coast within the towering Santa Lucia Range encompassing over with of cultivated grapes on elevations ranging from above sea level. The AVA is resident to a number of wineries and some vineyards dating back to the 1870s, as well as the town of Carmel Valley Village. Bordeaux varietals are popular with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot comprising more than 70% of the grapes grown in the area. The Carmel Valley viticultural area is within the watershed of the Carmel River and within a larger area commonly known by the name Carmel Valley. Grapevines have been grown commercially in Carmel Valley since 1968 though vineyards were first planted in the region in the 1870s. County Route G16 traverses through the valley while the Carmel River flows on the valley floor. The vineyards in the region are mostly located at above sea level or higher.