The AVA encircles approximately 89,000 acres (139 sq mi) in a 14.5 by 9.5 miles (23.3 by 15.3 km) west-southwest to east-northeast oriented rectangular area.

[1] Ramona Valley had many agricultural incarnations over the past century, from the "Turkey Capital of the World", dairies, and chicken egg production, to avocados and citrus farms, and currently into a rapidly growing wine grape region.

In modern times, Ross Rizzo, the master vintner at Bernardo Winery, recalls that up to a thousand acres of wine grapes were growing in Ramona Valley during the 1940s and 1950s.

[7][2] Ramona Valley viticultural area is encircled by a ring of hills and mountains that isolate it from the surrounding regions of San Diego County.

[1] Ramona Valley viticultural area has a variety of soil types due to its differing landforms, slopes, and geology.

Also, the mid-slopes to the east and west of the Ramona Valley floor have the reddish coloration of San Marcos Gabbro, a mafic rock type.

[1] Ramona Valley is often called “The Heart of San Diego's Wine Country.” Currently, the AVA is home to more than 80 commercial vineyards with over 100 acres (40 ha) of varieties of both white and red grapes in cultivation.

The area's vineyards and wineries are mostly small boutique, family-owned and operated ventures that adds a personal touch and individualism to the viticulture business resulting in a variety of excellent and award-winning vintages.

Yet, Ramona Valley's growing popularity has caught the attention of big wineries building expectations of a future explosion of business and visitors to follow affecting the region for generations to come.