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.

Leona Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Leona Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

Leona Valley received its designation as an AVA in 2008. Located on 8,751 acres, Leona Valley is located in North Eastern Los Angeles County. Leona Valley features well draining nutrient rich alluvial soils. The Leona Valley is a high desert climate with hot days and cool evenings. The grapes receive daily sun during the height of the growing season, and the 2,700-foot elevation of the vineyards ensures a cool evening and a longer growing season. The region is known for its production of Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Malbec.

The valley was named for rancher, Miguel Leonis, a Basque shepard from France who bought a previously existing adobe in Calabasas, California which was eventually expanded into a Monterey style building with a Queen Anne veranda. Leonis eventually controlled most of the western portion of the San Fernando Valley and was considered the robber baron of the region.  The adobe is considered to be one the most haunted places in California with sitings of Miguel, his common-law wife, Espiritu Chujilla, a Chumash indian, who was forced to fight her husband's relatives in court when her 'husband' referred to her as his "faithful housekeeper" in his will.

El Dorado - Wine Region of the Day

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EL DORADO

Photo of the El Dorado wine region by David Toomey for Qorkz. 

El Dorado received its designation as an AVA in 1983. Situated on 410,115 acres, El Dorado is located in the Sierra Nevada Foothills in El Dorado County. Vineyards sit at a variety of elevations between 1,200 and 3,500 feet. There are three basic soil types determining the characteristics of the region: fine-grained volcanic rock decomposed granite and fine-grained shale. Each soil offers good drainage and the nutrients needed to encourage vines producing rich, deeply flavored grapes. El Dorado's mountain vineyards are perched at elevations high above the valley, where cooling breezes off the Sierra Nevada cool the vines. The high elevations mean the grapes receive more direct sunlight, thus ripening fully without retaining excess herbaceous characters or acidity that is out of balance with the fruit flavors. The region is known for its production of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Rhône varietals such as Syrah.

Ben Lomond Mountain - Wine Region of the Day

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 Ben Lomond Mountain

Photo of Ben Lomond Mountain by David Toomey for Qorkz.

Photo of Ben Lomond Mountain by David Toomey for Qorkz.

Ben Lomond Mountain received its designation as an AVA in 1987. Situated on 9,000 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ben Lomond is located between the cities of San Jose and Santa Cruz. The soil consists of eroded grants, limestone, and sandstone and is well draining. The vineyards on Ben Lomond Mountain sit at an elevation of 1800 feet above sea level. This high elevation allows for the vines to sit above the fog line and receive longer exposure to the sun. The mountain is cooled by Pacific Ocean breezes from Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay, allowing the grapes a longer ripening time. This longer time on the vine allows the grapes time to develop stronger tannin structure, balanced acidity, and bright flavors. The region produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

November 13th - This Date in Wine History

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Fatty Arbuckle

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Louis VII of France married Adela of Champagne in 1160.
  • Wine, a silent film starring Fatty Arbuckle was released in 1913. 
  • Portugal's Casa do Douro was created in 1932.
  • Washington and Oregon's Columbia Valley AVA was designated in 1984.