Pacheco Pass is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the Santa Clara and San Benito counties of California.
Pacheco Pass was established on April 11, 1984 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after evaluating the petition submitted by Mr. H.G.
[1] The region is named after Don Francisco Perez Pacheco who received a 150,000 acres (234 sq mi) land grant in 1843 from the Mexican Government.
The viticultural area is in a valley and generally has flat or gently sloping terrain, whereas to the east and west lie the rugged hills of the Diablo Range.
Further, the viticultural area has more rainfall than the Hollister Basin to the south, and it enjoys more moderate temperatures due to winds moving through Pacheco Pass en route to the San Joaquin Valley.