Lake County wine facts for kids
| Wine region | |
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| Type | U.S. County |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1861 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, North Coast AVA |
| Sub-regions | Benmore Valley AVA, Clear Lake AVA, Guenoc Valley AVA, High Valley AVA, Red Hills Lake County AVA, Big Valley District-Lake County AVA, Kelsey Bench-Lake County AVA |
| Soil conditions | Volcanic origin, gravel, sand, tephra and obsidian |
| Total area | 219,000 acres (886 km2) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 8,400 acres (34 km2) |
| Grapes produced | Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Gamay Beaujolais, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Sauvignon Musque, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier, Zinfandel |
Lake County wine comes from grapes grown in Lake County, California. This area is north of Napa County. It is known for making special wines. Each part of Lake County has its own unique features for growing grapes. But they are all affected by Clear Lake. This is the biggest lake inside California.
Lake County is famous for its bright red wines. These are often made from grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Zinfandel. It also makes fresh white wines from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most common grape grown here.
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Big Valley District AVA
The Big Valley District AVA is a special grape-growing area. It is located south of Clear Lake. This area was officially recognized on October 2, 2013. It covers about 11,000 acres. At that time, it had six wineries and 43 vineyards. About 1,800 acres were planted with grapevines.
Big Valley was the first settlement in Lake County. It has a long history of farming. Sauvignon Blanc is the most planted grape in this area. The boundaries of this region include Clear Lake to the north. Mount Konocti and the Red Hills Lake County AVA are to the east. Merritt Road and Bell Hill Road are to the south. Highland Springs Road is to the west.
Clear Lake AVA
About half of the Clear Lake AVA area is taken up by Clear Lake itself. The lake helps keep the temperature steady in the surrounding area. This means there is less change between day and night temperatures. The land here ranges from 1,300 feet to over 3,000 feet high. Clear Lake AVA is one of the coolest places in California for growing grapes. This cool climate helps grapes like Sauvignon blanc grow very well.
Guenoc Valley AVA
The Guenoc Valley AVA was created in 1981. It was the first American Viticultural Area to be named for a place with only one winery. Guenoc Valley is a small valley far from the coast. It has rich, fertile soils that are good for growing grapes. These soils are separated from other areas by rocky hills.
High Valley AVA
The High Valley AVA is in the eastern part of Lake County. This valley is high up, from 1,600 feet to 3,000 feet above sea level. You can find red volcanic soil on the hillsides. The valley floor has well-drained areas called alluvial fans and benches. These are perfect for grapevines.
Kelsey Bench AVA
The Kelsey Bench AVA was also recognized on October 2, 2013. This area covers about 9,100 acres. When it was officially named, it had one winery and 27 vineyards. The name "bench" describes the higher, hilly land in this area. The Kelsey Bench has rich soils that drain well. This is good for growing grapes.
The Kelsey Bench AVA borders the Big Valley District AVA to the north. A 1,600-foot elevation line runs east of Kelsey Creek to the east. Kelsey Creek Drive is to the south. Adobe Creek Drive to Highland Springs Road is to the west.
Red Hills Lake County AVA
The Red Hills Lake County AVA is along the southwestern edge of Clear Lake. It separates Excelsior Valley to the east from Big Valley to the west. These hills are at the base of Mount Konocti. Mount Konocti is a volcano that last erupted 11,000 years ago. However, it is still considered active. The land here has rolling hills. The elevations are between 1,400 feet and 3,000 feet above sea level.
