A long, thin area, the Howell Mountain AVA measures about 10 miles (16km) from northwest to southeast and less than two miles across at its widest point around the town of Angwin. The local vineyards are grouped in several distinct areas, carefully oriented according to the lie of the land, in contrast to the densely planted valley floor below. There is no Howell Mountain peak – the AVA is named for the tiny Howell Mountain township, which sits 1,690 feet (515m) above sea level.