Pacheco Pass - Wine Region of the Day

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Pacheco Pass received its designation as an AVA in 1984. Pacheco Pass is located on 3,200 acres and is situated on the line between Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. Pacheco Pass is home to the famous roadside attraction Casa De Fruta farmstand, and they are the only producers in the region.  The region grows Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Merlot and Zinfandel.

The pass was named for Francisco Perez Pacheco owner of the nearby Rancho Ausaymas y San Felipe.  Often the pass was referred to as Robber's Pass due to attacks on travelers in the area.  The area is also said to be haunted by ghosts of accident victims (including one searching for his missing head), victims of Indian massacres and the lovelorn.

We think we will stick with the wine.

Consumes River - Wine Region of the Day

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Unlike most of the Lodi area American Viticuttural Areas which mainly grow red wine grapes, the Cosumnes River appellation produces a significant amount of white wine.  Located between Sacramento and Lodi, California the Cosumnes River appellation is located in the low river plains among wetlands, levees, sloughs and creeks.

The name of the area as well as the river comes from the native Miwok peoples words for the type of people who settled in the area.  Cosumnes refers to the residents being the “Salmon People”.  Salmon still run in the river up to Rancho Murieta as the river draining west of the Sierras that has no major dam.  Because of this, the area is subject to occassional flooding or may even dry up at times.  The topography of the region slopes downward from the highest points in the eastern portion of the appellation to the southwest corner.  The river runs downstream through the AVA until in converges with the Mokelumne River and then into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta leading to the Pacific.

 This topography allows cool moist air to travel up the river delta cooling the river valley and creating maritime and inland fog in the region which cools the environment but is dissapated by the moderate winds blowing down from the Sierra Nevadas.  The soils are young and alluvial near the many water sources with older San Joaquin series deep, red, gravelly loamy clays covering fanning over the region.

Like many of the new Lodi  AVAs there is only one winery in the Cosumnes River Viticultural Area.  The property has been a working ranch for five generations and began planting grapes on the property in 1993. Cold weather vines do well here, and the region is known for its Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Sierra Pelona Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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The Sierra Pelona Valley received its designation as an AVA in 2010. Situated across a ten-mile stretch, the Sierra Pelona Valley is part of the high desert region in Northern Los Angeles County. The Valley ranges from 2,400 to 3,400 feet above sea level, and the soils are comprised mostly of alluvial clay. The region's desert climate features a large diurnal swing in temperature, sometimes up to 50 degrees. This diurnal swing extends the growing season but also makes the grapes vulnerable to damage from a late spring frost. The region is known for its Zinfandel production.

Suisun Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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The Suisun Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1982 and is located on 15,000 acres in Solano County, California. Suisun Valley features a range in elevations from 200 feet on the floor of the valley to over 2,000 feet up on Oak Hill. The region features varying soils depending on the location. In the valley, the soil is sandstone, deep and well draining. In the foothills, the soils are more volcanic in nature. The Suisun Valley receives daily sunshine but due to its proximity to Suisun Bay, it has foggy and cool nights with coastal breezes flowing through the valley during the day. The variety of soils, temperatures and growing elevations gives Suisun Valley great versatility in its varietals with more than twenty varieties of wine grapes being produced. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gamay, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, Syrah, Viognier, Riesling, and Zinfandel.

Rockpile - Wine Region of the Day

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The Rockpile AVA is located on 15,400 acres in Sonoma County, California. The AVA was established in 2002 and is located northwest of the town of Healdsburg. The name originates from a local mountain top named Rockpile Peak. The mountain has a steep elevation of over 800 feet above sea level. The steep slope of the Rockpile area is an average of 18 inches deep with small rocks and gravel mixed in the soil, which allows for excellent drainage. All of the elements of the soil combine to cause the vines to struggle mightily to produce, giving vines from Rockpile low yields and intense fruit flavors. The high elevation of the region means that the vines are above the fog line that creeps in from the Pacific Ocean and makes for a very moderate climate. The area is most well known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel.

Rockpile Ranch was founded in 1867 by Tennessee Carter Bishop who started as a sheep farm but later planted the first wine grapes in the area in 1872.  He was joined in the endeavor by S.P. Hallengren whose descendants continue to produce wine grapes in the appellation.

Napa Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Napa Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1981. Situated on 43,000 acres, Napa Valley is home to sub-appellations Los Carneros, Howell Mountain, Wild Horse Valley, Stags Leap District, Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak, Spring Mountain District, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Chiles Valley, Yountville, Diamond Mountain District, Coombsville, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, and Calistoga. The Napa Valley floor is flanked by the Mayacamas Mountain Range on the western and northern sides the Vaca Mountains on the eastern side. The floor of the main valley gradually rises from sea level at the southern end to 362 feet above sea level at the northern end in Calistoga at the foot of Mount Saint Helena. The Oakville and Rutherford AVAs lie within a geographical area known as the Rutherford Bench in the center of the valley floor. The soil at the southern end of the valley consists mainly of sediments deposited by earlier advances and retreats of San Pablo Bay while the soil at the northern end of the valley contains a large volume of volcanic lava and ash. Several microclimates exist within the area due to various weather and geographical influences in the different sub-appellations. The open southern end of the valley floor is cooler during the growing season due to the proximity of San Pablo Bay while the sheltered, closed northern end is often much warmer. The eastern side of the valley tends to be arid because winter storms tend to drop much more precipitation on the western mountains and hills. Napa Valley is known for its world-class production of Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Squaw Valley-Miramonte - Wine Region of the Day

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The Squaw Valley-Miramonte AVA is 44,690 acres located 40 miles east of Fresno, California in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The region is rural with rugged hills covered with boulders and oak woodlands with elevations between 1,600-3,500 feet above sea level.  The slopes of the vineyards range from 15% to 40% which requires virtually all work to be done by hand.  The elevation and slopes allow cool evening temperatures to drain into the valley below which helps grapes growing in the region to produce more sugar and higher anthocyanins (red wine pigments).  Grapes grown in the AVA include: Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmènere, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Syrah and Zinfandel.

Santa Margarita Ranch - Wine Region of the Day

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The Santa Margarita Ranch AVA is the most southern portion of the original Paso Robles appellation.  The Santa Margarita Ranch started as an agricultural satellite location for the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Mission, was responsible for producing wheat and wine grapes beginning in 1774.  The mission was then known as Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia.  It was later identified as a rancho or land grant.

The area is found between the La Panza and Santa Lucia Mountains in the Santa Margarita Valley with the Salina River running throughout.  The elevations in the appellation range from 900 feet at the riverbank to 1,400 feet at the highest point.  Santa Margarita Ranch receives moderate marine influences with ocean breezes coming through the Cuesta Pass but these are less than the air currents in the Templeton Gap AVA further downstream.  Santa Margarita Ranch averages 29 inches of precipitation per year, more than the majority of the Paso Robles sub-appellations as a result of these breezes and also because of the elevation of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

The majority of vineyards in the environs are found on the valley floor where cooler temperatures tend to pool.  There is a small aquifer in the area that is used for frost protection as well as irrigation.  The soils overlaying this basin consist of alluvial loams and gravels and some clays created from the surrounding Monterey shale, Santa Margarita sandstones and older Cretaceous rocks.  Grapes being produced in the region include: Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Zinfandel.

San Francisco Bay - Wine Region of the Day

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The San Francisco Bay received its AVA designation in 1999. Sitting on over 1,566,713 acres, San Francisco Bay is a large AVA containing the sub-appellations of Livermore Valley, Pacheco Pass, San Ysidro District, and Santa Clara Valley. A small number of wineries are located in and around the San Francisco Bay, including on Treasure Island and the Former Alameda Naval Air Station. Due to its size, there are multiple temperature zones contained within the AVA, ranging from cold, windy, and foggy, to hot and sunny. The region is known for producing Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

North Coast - Wine Region of the Day

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The North Coast received its designation as an AVA in 1981. North Coast is a super AVA encompassing grape-growing regions in six counties: Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano. This large appellation covers over 3,000,000 acres and includes some smaller sub-appellations that all share the common ecology trait of having its weather affected by the cool fog and breezes from the Pacific Ocean. The sub-appellations include: Alexander Valley, Anderson Valley, Atlas Peak, Bennett Valley, Benmore Valley, Big Valley Lake County, Calistoga, Chalk Hill, Chiles Valley, Clear Lake, Cole Ranch, Coombsville, Diamond Mountain District, Dos Rios, Dry Creek Valley, Eagle Peak - Mendocino County, Fort Ross-Seaview, Fountaingrove District, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Guenoc Valley, High Valley, Howell Mountain, Kelsey Bench-Lake County, Knights Valley, Los Carneros, McDowell Valley, Mendocino, Mendocino Ridge, Moon Mountain District Sonoma County, Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley, Northern Sonoma, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, Oakville, Petaluma Wind Gap, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale, Potter Valley, Red Hills Lake County, Redwood Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, Rutherford, Solano County Green Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma Valley, Spring Mountain District, St. Helena, Stags Leap District, Suisun Valley, Wild Horse Valley, Yorkville Highlands, and Yountville.

Saddle Rock - Malibu - Wine Region of the Day

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Saddle Rock - Malibu received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 2,100 acres, Saddle Rock-Malibu is located high in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles County. Located just 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Saddle Rock's growing region sits at an elevation of 2,000 feet above sea level. Saddle Rock - Malibu has sandy, rocky soil, which is well draining and forces the grapes to dig their roots deep into the ground in search of water. The region is washed in sunlight during the day, but its high elevation allows for cooling nighttime effects that lengthen the growing season, allowing the fruit to develop good acidity balance. The hot days of Saddle Rock-Malibu make the region ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel.

Clear Lake - Wine Region of the Day

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The Clear Lake AVA is located in Lake County, California and located on 5,000 acres. Half of the area contained within the boundaries of the AVA is the actual Clear Lake itself. The lake is the largest natural lake found entirely within the state of California and is considered to be the oldest in North America due to its unique geology.  The presence of the lake has a great influence on the temperature and climate of the region, resulting in less variance between daily and nightly temperatures than in neighboring AVAs. The Clear Lake AVA is quite cool for California, which is suitable for grape varietals that enjoy the cold, like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

 The first wine grapes were produced by European immigrants to Lake County.  Prior to Prohibition Lake County produced more wine grapes than Napa but was able to recover after repeal due to a lack of transportation infrastructure. Prior to Prohibition, the wine produced from this area was of high quality, Charles Hammond, of Upper Lake, won prizes for both red and white wines at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893.  His vineyard, Ma Tel, however was destroyed by raising water after the construction of the Cache Creek Dam in 1914.

Lime Kiln Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Lime Kiln Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1982 but has been home to vineyards since 1895. Situated on 2,300 acres, Lime Kiln Valley is located in San Benito County. The soil of the region consists of fine limestone and dolomite base, with top layers of sand and gravel loam above. Lime Kiln Valley has a mild diurnal cycle; the region has bright sunny days and moderate evenings. The region is best known for its production of Zinfandel but is also home to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir as well a virtually extinct Bordeaux varietal, Gros Verdot.

Happy Canyon Santa Barbara - Wine Region of the Day

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Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara received its designation as an AVA in 2009. Sitting on 23,940 acres, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara is located on the eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. The soil is a mixture of loam and clay loam and is known for imparting a mineralogy to the grapes. The soil is considered infertile, causing the vines to grow smaller in size and focus their efforts on the fruit. The mornings climate often features low lying fog that gives way to afternoon sun. The daytime temperatures oven break 90 degrees during the peak of the growing season. The region is known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Syrah.

El Pomar District - Wine Region of the Day

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Another of the Paso Robles sub-appellations, the El Pomar is located in the center part of its parent.  The name, "El Pomar" means "The Orchard" and is a reference to the orchards that were initially planted in the area when it was settled in the 1880s.  The District consists of alluvial fans and old river terraces that have mixed sediments from the Monterey (marine shale), Paso Robles (non-marine mudstone and conglomerate) and Simmler (red sandstone) formations.  The temperatures are moderate and are considered ideal for Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, however there are many Rhone grapes like Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah as well.  El Pomar receives only 15 inches of rain per year but this amount is supplemented with marine breezes and fogs.

Borden Ranch - Wine Region of the Day

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Borden Ranch received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Sitting on 70,000 acres, Borden Ranch is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA and is located in Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. The soils in Borden Ranch is alluvial with cobbles, clay pan, and clay loam. The terrain of Borden Ranch varies from around 50 to 500 feet above sea level, and the region is spot by the Dry Creek River. The climate features long sunny days with cooling breezes off the river. Borden Ranch, like much of Lodi, is populated by vineyards producing grapes to be sold outside the region. The varietals that are produced here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

Malibu-Newton Canyon - Wine Region of the Day

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Malibu - Newton Canyon received its designation as an AVA in 1996. Situated on 850 acres, Malibu - Newton Canyon is centered around Newton Canyon in Los Angeles County. Located in the hills just miles away from the Malibu Coast, the vineyards in Newton Canyon sit on an elevation of 2,800 feet. Soils in the Canyon are silty loam with large rocks and stones on the surface. The region receives daily sunshine and is protected from the cooling elements of the Pacific Ocean by the Canyon walls. The well-draining soils and hot temperatures of Newton Canyon make it ideal for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rutherford - Wine Region of the Day

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Rutherford gained AVA status in 1993, and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 6,650 acres and centered on the town of Rutherford, the region is one of the most famous Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions in California. The well-drained soil of this area is composition of gravel, loam and sand with volcanic deposits. Warm summer days give way to cool evenings. An average day has a diurnal cycle of as much as 12 degrees. This fluctuation allows the fruit to ripen at a steady pace and develop good balance. The vast majority of the grapes grown here are Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are also productions of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

Mendocino - Wine Region of the Day

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Mendocino received its designation as an AVA in 1984. Situated on 3,878 square miles, Mendocino contains sub-appellations Anderson Valley, Cole Ranch, Covelo, Dos Rios, Eagle Peak Mendocino County, McDowell Valley, Mendocino Ridge, Potter Valley, Redwood Valley, and the Yorkville Highlands. Given Mendocino's large size, the region features many micro-climates and soil types spread throughout the sub-appellations. Mendocino is committed to growing organic vines and is the nation's leader in producing non-GMO wines.

Bennett Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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The Bennett Valley AVA is located in Sonoma County, California and was granted AVA status in 2003. The Bennet Valley currently has under 700 acres planted with vineyards, giving the area small production yields annually compared to neighboring AVAs. Surrounded by the Sonoma Mountains and located south of Santa Rosa, Bennet Valley receives cool coastal fog and breezes that sweep into the area from the Pacific Ocean. The AVA features well-draining beach-land soils, which force the vines to create deep roots in search of water. The soils and temperature of the region make it particularly well-suited for growing cool climate varietals, such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Even though the region is not ideally suited for warmer climate varietals, the Bennet Valley has shown quite a bit of diversity in its ability to produce high-quality Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Merlot, and Syrah.