CALIFORNIA–Lake County

CLEAR LAKE IS–  AVA- 7    @Lakeport

  • WHITE= Sauvignon Blanc 21%, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Muscat(Canelli), Muscat(Orange), Riesling, Semillon, Viognier
  • RED= Cabernet Sauvignon 42%, Zinfandel 19%, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Counoise, Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Montepulciano, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Petit Sirah, Petite Verdot, Primitivo, Roussanne, Souzao, Syrah, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, Trousseau

GEOGRAPHY– California, North Coast(North-East),  LATITUDE: 39° ‘N’

  • Sub-AVA.’s– Benmore Valley AVA., Big Valley AVA., Guenoc Valley AVA., High Valley AVA., Kelsey Bench AVA., Red Hills AVA.   | UN-OFFICIAL– Long Valley AVA., Upper Lake Valley AVA.
  • Sub-Zones– Clover Valley– North of Clear Lake(5mi.)
    • Bachelor Valley– North-East of Clear Lake(15mi.)
    • Scotts Valley– North-East of Clear Lake(10mi.)
  • BORDERS-Mendocino(West), Napa(South), @Hw.#20/ Hw.#29

TOPOGRAPHY– 

TOPOGRAPHIC FEATURES-

  • “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly/ Mountainous/ Valleys(Benmore, Big, Guenoc, High, Long)”
  • BETWEEN-Mayacamas Mountains, Vacca Mountians, Mendocino Range
  • SLOPES/ Alto-Mayacamas Mountains(North), +Alt. 1,382ft. at Lake Level
    • Cobb Mountain 4,724 Feet High, Mount Konicti 4,285 Feet High
  • On~Clear~Lake~(Surrounding), Clear Lake is North Americas Oldest Lake.(and is a Natural Lake)
    • 2.5 Million Years Old and the Largest Lake Within the Borders of California.
  • **Refer to “CLIMATE/ Altitudes” For Additional Information.

TOPOGRAPHIC EVENTS- Lake County Has Had Volcanic Activity 10,000 Years Ago.

  • Fault Movement/ Activity- Clear Lake is Directly Over the Main Basin Fault & Konacti Bay Fault Line.
  • Clear Lake Volcanic Field– A Cluster of Doormat Volcanos. (Late Piocene to the Early Holocene Epoch Areas, 5.3 Million Years Ago to 11,700 Years Ago.) Clear Lake Volcanic Field is Made Up of Lava Domes.(Formed by Magma Being Erupted Onto the Surface, Then Piling Up Around the Vent), Cinder Cones(Piles of Lava Blown Into Air and Break Into Small Fragments That Fall Around Opening of Volcano Maars (Shallow, Flat-Floored Crater Resulting From Violent Expansion of Magmatic Gas.), Geysers Magma Chambers/ Geothermal Field That Powers a Geothermal Power Plant. The Eruption Products Range from Basalts to Rhyolite Material.
  • Cobb Mountain Volcano– +Alt. 4,724 ft.
  • Mount Konacti Volcano– Stratovolcano +Alt. 4,285 ft.
  • Round Mountain Volcano– +Alt. 3,599 ft.
  • Cache Formation- Sequence of Fluvial and Partly Lacustrine Sandstone, Conglomerate, and Siltstone That’s Exposed In the Clear Lake Basin and Along the North Fork of Cache Creek.
  • Lower Lake Formation- Sequence of Lascustrine Siltstone, Sandstone, and Pebbly Sandstone, Limestone, Calcareous Siltstone, Diatomite and Interbedded Tuff and Lapilli Tuff.
  • Franciscan Formation-

SOILS–  “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, “Sedimentary”, Wind-Loess

  • Aiken/ Weathered Basalt, Quarts, Glenview-Bottlerock, Konacti-Benridge, Collayomi
  • Obsidian(Black Volcanic Glass/ Magma That Oozed Out of Volcano and Cooled quickly In the Open /Air.)
  • Lake County Diamond(Quartz Cyrstals Embedded in Volcanic Rock That Have Broken Free.)
  • Soil Series-   ~Clear Lake Series~     ~Cole Series~
  • Hillside Volcanic- Gravelly/ Rocky and Well Drained. These Soils Are Red In Color and Include Aiken/ Basalt, Arrowhead/ Obsidian and Soda Bay/ Scoria Soils. “Konocti-Benridge”
  • Hillside Sandstone Shale- Found On Mountains That Were Once Ancient Sea Floor, These Soils Are Well Drained and Shallow. These Soils Are Yellowish- Brown In Color and Include Maymen, Mayacamas and Hopland Soils.
  • Alluvial Terraced- Formed by Combination of Geologic Uplift and River Down-Cutting. These Soils Are Found Throughout Lake County. These Soils are Reddish In Color and Include Jaffa, Forbesville and Manzanita Soils.
  • Alluvial Valley- Formed by River Movement and Include Sand, Silt and Clay Soils.

CLIMATE– “Continental”, Extreme Temperatures Moderated by Thermal Mass of Clear Lake.

  • *Summers– Warm, Long, Cool Nights   |    *Winters– Cold, Wet
  • +Diuranal Shifts(+40°) Lake County Rarely Experiences Coastal or Valley Fog.
  • +CLEAN AIR/ Rated Cleanest Air In America. (Lack of Fine Paricle Polluiton)

VITICULTURE– 168,000 ac./ 9,500 ac. Planted

  • BENEFITS– Extreme Temperate(Highs/ Lows)
    • +Humidity(Little Disease Pressure and Few Pests Can Tolerate Climate.)
  • CHALLENGES– Compact Growing Period, Late Bud-Break, Early Ripening.
    • Spring/ Fall Frost Can Be an Issue.
  • HISTORICAL VINEYARD SOCIETY
    • Catfish(HVS.,*1901/7ac.)   @Kelsey Bench AVA.
    • Old Stake 1901(HVS.,*1901/7ac.)   @Kelsey Bench AVA.

HISTORY–

  • 1870 @Lake County– “Viticulture”, First Vineyards
  • 1900 @Lake County– Strong Wine Industry Throughout Lake County.
  • 1909 @Lake County– Had 600 Acres of Vineyards.
  • 1920 @Lake County– “Prohibition”, Puts an End to Growing Wine Industry.
  • 1960 @Lake County– “Re-Emergence”, Wine Industry Starts Growing Again.
  • 2000 @Lake County– “Investment”, Increased In Promoting and Establishing New Vineyards.

CULTURE

  • PIONEERS~ ~Lilly Langtry~  1854, Guenoc Valley, One of First to Plant Vines In Lake County.
    • ~Charles Hammond~ 1893, Won Best American, Red Wine at World Exposition.
    • ~T.H. Buckingham~ 
    • ~Ogulin Family~ 1870, Planted Vineyards In High Valley.
    • ~George Wrey~  1884, One of First to Buy Land and Plant Vineyards.
  • ASSOCIATIONS~
    • ~Lake Country Winery~
      • Mission~ Promotes the Lake County Wine Region as Producers of Premium, High Elevations Wines and a Relaxing Travel Destination.
    • ~Lake Country Winegrape Growers~
      • Mission~ Marketing Order Established In 1991 to Promote the Regions Premium Winegrapes and to Assist Winegrape Growers Though Marketing, Research, ad Educational Programs.
  • FESTIVALS~ ~Lake County Wine Adventure~ (May/ Lake County)
  • AGRICULTURE~ Pears, Walnut
  • BUSINESS~ ~Master Vigneron Academy~ MVA.-
    • Mission~ Professional Workforce Development Program Designed Specifically For Experienced Vineyard Supervisors and Foreman. Designed to Provide an In-Depth Understanding About the Supervisor’s Role and Responsibilities In Implementation Quality Wine-Growing Practices and Improving Farm Workers Productivity. This Program is Exclusively Taught In Lake County
  • Axis of Cab– Monicker Given to North to South Direction of Superior Growing Conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon Between the Mayacamas and Vacca Mountain Ranges. This Axis Runs From Northern Lake County to Southern Napa County.

LAKE COUNTY     @Entire County

  • WHITE=   |   RED= **Refer to “AVA.’s” For Grape Information
  • VITICULTURE– Labeled– “LAKE COUNTY”  Wines Produced Non-Conforming to an AVA.
    • Estates/ Producers-(Not Located In Demarcated AVA.)– Bad Rat, Eden Crest, Hawk & Horse,  Mount Konocti Growers, Nove, Steele, Six Sigma(40ac.),  Shannon Ridge, Wildhurst
    • Vineyards- Lushsinger, Nove“Estate”, Robledo’s, Snows Lake

UPPER LAKE VALLEY AVA.       @Upper Lake

  • WHITE= Chardonnay, Muscat(Canelli), Sauvignon Blanc
  • RED= Cabernet Sauvignon
  • GEOGRAPHY- California, REGION-Clear Lake, COUNTY-Lake, Clear Lake AVA.(North), @Hw.#20
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Clear~Lake~(North-West)
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”, +Diuranal Shifts(+40°)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”
  • VITICULTURE- 17,360 ac./  ? ac. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers-
    • Vineyards- Elk Mountain
  • HISTORY & CULTURE- 2022- AVA. Officially Established

BIG VALLEY DISTRICT AVA.     @Kelseyville

  • WHITE= Chardonnay, Muscat(Canelli), Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
  • RED= Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Charbono, Malbec, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Souzao, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, Zinfandel
  • GEOGRAPHY- California, REGION-Clear Lake, COUNTY-Lake, @Hw.#29
    • In Clear Lake AVA., Part of Clear Lake Basin
    • BORDERS–On~Clear~Lake~(South-West), North-West of Kelseyville-City(    mi.)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Valley”
    • “Basin Within a Larger Clear Lake Basin”, On~Kelsey~Creek~
    • SLOPES/ Mayacamas Mts.(East), +Alt. 1,300ft.- 1,500ft.(Peak 4,305ft.),Mt. Konocti
    • Kelsey Tuff- Aquifer Fromed by Volcanic Ash and Tuff.
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, Lacustrine, Gravel, Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”, +Diurnal Shifts(+40°)
  • VITICULTURE- 11,000 ac./ 216 ac. Planted
    • Estates/ Producers- Gregory Graham
    • Vineyards- Bartolucci, Luchsinger, Sawyer, Windrem
  • CULTURE- 2013- AVA. Officially Established.

KELSEY BENCH AVA.     @Kelseyville

  • WHITE= Chardonnay, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier
  • RED= Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Montepulciano, Touriga Nacional, Trousseau, Zinfandel
  • GEOGRAPHY- California, REGION-Clear Lake, COUNTY-Lake, @Hw.#29
    • In Clear Lake AVA., South-West of Kelseyville-City(    mi.)
    • Sub-Zones- Bell Hill Bench
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Clear~Lake~(South/ Near), +Alt. 1,400 ft.- 1,800 ft.
    • Transition Between Volcanic Mountains and Alluvial Flood Plain of Lake.
    • Volcanic Fan/Bench That Sits Above Big Valley.  ON FAULT/ Big Valley
    • Kelseyville Formation/ Bench- Facustrine and Fluvial Beds Exposed Near Kelsyville.
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, “Sedimentary”, Alluvial, Clay-Loam, Gravel
    • Soil Series- ~Kelseyville Formation~
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”, +Diuranal Shifts(+40°)
  • VITICULTURE- 9,100 ac./ 900 ac. Planted
    • Estates/ Producers- Burton Ranch, Devoto, Nora, Oakie Slopes, Prima Materia, Rosa d-Ora, Wildhurst
    • Vineyards- Catfish(HVS.*1901), Luchsinger, Old Stake 1901(HVS.,*1901/7ac.), Fore Familiy
  • CULTURE- 2013- AVA. Officially Established.

RED HILLS AVA.     @Lakeport

  • WHITE= Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
  • RED= Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Charbono, Cinsault, Counoise, Garnacha, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Primitivo, Syrah, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
  • GEOGRAPHY- California, REGION-Clear Lake, COUNTY-Lake, @Hw.#29/ #175
    • In Clear Lake AVA.(South-West)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly/ Mountainous”, On~Clear~Lake~(South)
    • SLOPES/ Mayacamas Mountains, +Alt. 1,350ft.- 2,900ft.(Peak 3,700 ft.)
    • North-Coast Lava Pocket, Dozens of Volcanic Formed Hills, Mt. Hannah(Peak 2,595 ft.)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”
    • Aiken/ Weathered Basalt, Quarts, Glenview-Bottlerock, Konacti-Benridge, Collayomi -Aiken
    • Obsidian(Black Volcanic Glass/ Magma That Oozed Out of Volcano and Cooled quickly In the Open /Air.)
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”, +Diuranal Shifts(+40°), +RAIN/ 25 in.-45 in.
  • VITICULTURE- 31,250 ac./ 3,250 ac. Planted
    • Estates/ Producers- Beckstoffer, Boatique, Cougar’s Leap, Easkoot, Gregory Graham, Hawk and Horse(18ac.), Fore Family, Laujor, Moore Family, Obsidian Ridge(250ac.), Sol Rouge(6ac.), Thorn Hill, Vigilance
    • Vineyards- Beckstoffer-Amber Knolls(1,081ac.), Beckstoffer-Amber Mountain(2301ac.), Beckstoffer-Crimson Ridge(678ac.), Hawk and Horse“Estate”(18ac.), St. Olof
  • CULTURE- 2004- AVA. Officially Established.

HIGH VALLEY AVA.     @Clearlake Oaks

  • WHITE= Chardonnay, Gewurztraminor, Muscat(Orange), Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier
  • RED= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Malbec, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
  • GEOGRAPHY- California, REGION-Clear Lake, COUNTY-Lake, @Hw.#20
    • In Clear Lake AVA.(North-East),  (9 Miles Long & 3 Mile Wide)
    • Sub-Zones- The Volcanic Ridge
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Valley(High“Transverse”)”, On~Clear~Lake~(North-East)
    • SLOPES/ Round Mountain Volcano(Cinder Cone) , +Alt. 1,800ft.- 2,900ft.
    • Flat Plain Surrounded by Mountains Ring.
    • High Valley is a Watershed to Clear Lake, Once Blocked by Volcanic Activity the Entire Valley Became a Lake, This Left Alluvial Soils Throughout.
    • Sub-Zones-  Valley Floor & Hillsides
    • VOLCANISM~ ~Round Mountain Volcano~ +Alt. 3,599 ft.
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, (Volcanic Shale, Franciscan Shale)
    • “Sedimentary”, Alluvial Sandy Loams,
    • Soil Series-  ~Lupoyoma Series~, ~Mayacamus Series~
    • Gravelly Loams Eroded Franciscan Shales, Orange-Black Volcanic Sand & Tephra
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”, +Diuranal Shifts(+50°),  +WINDS/ ~Wind Machine~
    • 2 Gaps In West Valley Allow Lake Moisture to Influence Valley.
  • VITICULTURE- 14,000 ac./ 977 ac. Planted
    • Estates/ Producers- Brassfield(2,700ac.)
    • Vineyards- High Serenity Ranch, High Valley, Monte Sereno, Perspective, Volcanic Ridge
  • CULTURE- 2005– AVA. Officially Established.
    • PIONEERS~ ~Ogulin Family~ 1870, Planted Vineyards In High Valley

LONG VALLEY AVA. (Un-Official)       @

  • WHITE= Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
  • RED= Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Syrah
  • GEOGRAPHY- California, REGION-Clear Lake, COUNTY-Lake, @Old Long Valley Rd.
    • Clear Lake AVA.(East), BORDERS-High Valley AVA.(North-East)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Canyon/ Valley(Long)”, SLOPES/ ?, 1,200 ft.
    • (9mi. Long & 1mi. Wide)
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, Alluvial
  • VITICULTURE-  7,605 ac./ ? ac. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Beaver Creek, Cache Creek, Noggle

BENMORE VALLEY AVA.     @Lakeport

  • WHITE= Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
  • RED= Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel
  • GEOGRAPHY- California, REGION-Clear Lake, COUNTY-Lake, @Hw.#175
    • West of Clear Lake AVA., East of Hopland-City(     km.)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Hill/ Mountainous/ Valley(Benmore)”, +Alt. 2,400ft.- 2,700ft.
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, “Sedimentary”, Manzanita Loam
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”, +Diuranal Shifts(+40°), Cooler Than Other Clear Lake AVA.‘s.
  • VITICULTURE- 1,440 ac./  ? ac. Planted
    • Estates/ Producers- Sourced by Geyer Peak
  • CULTURE- PIONEERS~ ~Benjamin Moore~ 1800’s, Cattle Rustler
    • 1991- AVA. Officially Established.

GUENOC VALLEY AVA.     @Middletown

  • WHITE= Chardonnay, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier
  • RED= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Petit Sirah, Petite Verdot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
  • GEOGRAPHY- California, REGION-Clear Lake, COUNTY-Lake(South-East), @Hw.#29
    • South of Clear Lake AVA., East of Middletown-City(7 mi.), North of Calastoga-City(20mi.)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/Hilly/ Valley(Guenoc)”,
    • SLOPES/ Mayacamas Mountains, +Alt. 800ft.- 1,700ft.
    • Extension of Napas Pope Valley(AKA=North Pope Valley),  On~McCreary~Lake~
    • Sub-Zones- Butts Canyon
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, “Sedimentary”, Alluvial, Arroyo Seco, Conejo Loam Series, Tuffa, Ash
    •  Cole & Maxwell Clay Loams
    • Millsholm-Gressa(Sandstone, Shale, Mixed With Bressa(Weathered Sandstone)
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”
  • VITICULTURE- 4,340 ac./ 440 ac., Planted, Extremely Hot, Over Ripening a Concern
    • Estates/ Producers- Banshee, Beaver Creek(Bio-Dy.), Guenoc, Langtry(E.)
    • Vineyards- Genevieve, Serpentine Meadow, Tephra Ridge
  • HISTORY- 1854 @Guenoc Valley– “Rancho Guenoc”, Part of Original Mexican Land Grant.
    • 1981- AVA. Officially Established.

NORTH COAST AVA.   @Lake County

  • WHITE=   |   RED= **Refer to “AVA.’s” For Grape Information
  • GEOGRAPHY– California, Northern California
    • COUNTIES-(AVA. Laps)Mendocino County, Napa County, Sonoma County
  • VITICULTURE– Labeled– “NORTH COAST” Wine Produced Non-Conforming to an AVA.
    • Grapes Can Be Source From Mendocino, Sonoma, Lake and Napa Counties.

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.