Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley

Located near a series of ancient lakes near the banks of the Columbia River, the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley is an unusual region.  The lakes were formed when Lake Missoula, a prehistoric lake at the base of Cordilleran ice sheet burst through an ice dam creating a deluge that tore through the Columbia Valley.  Much of the rock was eroded creating benches on the banks of the  river while eddies  helped carve the rock deeper to create the Ancient Lakes and steep canyons called coulees in the area throughout.  The viticultural area is located between Beezely and Frenchmen Hills bounded on the west by the Columbia River and to the west by a range line to the east.  The soils and rocks in this area were washed away leaving hardpan and loess over basalt.

The climate is considered cold semi-arid meaning that it has warm to hot summers with cold winters.  The area is dry because it is located in the rain shadow of both the Olympic and Cascade Ranges and receives less than eight inches of rain per year.  

Created in 2012, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley is known for it's white wines.  In particular, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris which are prized for their bright acidity and minerality.

Cienega Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Cienega Valley

The Cienega Valley in San Benito County, California received its designation as an AVA in 1982. Located at an elevation of 1,100 feet above sea level, the soil of the region is divided by the San Andreas fault. Soil to the east of the fault consists of granite and sandstone, but to the west, the soil consists of granite and limestone. The Cienega Valley has warm, sunny days and cool nights, allowing the grapes to develop bright flavors and even tannins while retaining acidity levels. The region is known for its production of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Grenache, Merlot, Negrette, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

April 1st - This Day in Wine History

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Pinot Gris

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.

  • Mike Grgich, Croatian American winemaker was born in 1923.
  • .The first issue of the Wine Spectator was released in 1976.
  • The Alsace Pinot gris AOC was named in 2007. It was previously called 'Tokay Pinot Gris’ as the grape was thought to have been brought to Alsace by Lazarus von Schwendi after a campaign against the Turks in the 16th Century.

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.

Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Map of Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley by Gretchen Miller Neuman for Qorkz.

Located near a series of ancient lakes near the banks of the Columbia River, the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley is an unusual region.  The lakes were formed when Lake Missoula, a prehistoric lake at the base of Cordilleran ice sheet burst through an ice dam creating a deluge that tore through the Columbia Valley.  Much of the rock was eroded creating benches on the banks of the  river while eddies  helped carve the rock deeper to create the Ancient Lakes and steep canyons called coulees in the area throughout.  The viticultural area is located between Beezely and Frenchmen Hills bounded on the west by the Columbia River and to the west by a range line to the east.  The soils and rocks in this area were washed away leaving hardpan and loess over basalt.

The climate is considered cold semi-arid meaning that it has warm to hot summers with cold winters.  The area is dry because it is located in the rain shadow of both the Olympic and Cascade Ranges and receives less than eight inches of rain per year.  

Created in 2012, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley is known for it's white wines.  In particular, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris which are prized for their bright acidity and minerality.

South Coast - Wine Region of the Day

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SOUTH COAST

Image of the South Coast Wine Region by David Toomey for Qorkz. 

The South Coast received its designation as an AVA in 1985. Situated over 2,237,503 acres, the South Coast includes sub-appellations Cucamonga Valley, Malibu-Newton Canyon, Ramona Valley, Saddle Rock-Malibu, San Pasqual Valley, and Temecula Valley. There is an array of soil types and microclimates across the South Coast, allowing the region to show its diversity in the production of many different varietals. The region produces Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Trebbiano, Viognier, and Zinfandel.

Anderson Valley - This Date in Wine History

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ANDERSON VALLEY

Photo of the Anderson Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz. 

The Anderson Valley AVA is located in Mendocino County, California and cuts laterally through the coastal range. The west end of the Valley is only 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, taking advantage of the cooling maritime effects. The eastern end of the Valley features a more moderate inland temperature. The foggy mornings give way to sunny and warm days only to return to cold nights, which allow the grapes slowly reach their maturation and develop the deep complex flavors characteristic of wines from this region. The soils of the AVA vary from sandy to gravelly loam and are very well draining, allowing the vines to develop a deep root structure and ensuring the vines do not become waterlogged. Elevation ranges from zero to 2,500 feet above sea level with an annual rainfall of 35 to 80 inches. While the Anderson Valley has an average annual temperature of 53 degrees, there is a wide diurnal cycle that can reach 50 degrees between the day and night temperatures. The mix of sun, fog, well-draining soil, maritime winds and a long growing season make the Anderson Valley one of the most famous and successful Pinot Noir growing regions in the United States. Aside from Pinot Noir, there are also producers of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Syrah in the Valley.