Stags Leap District - Wine Region of the Day

The Stags Leap District received its AVA distinction in 1989 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 2,700 acres, Stags Leap is only 6 miles north of the city of Napa, California. The soil of this region includes loam and clay sediments from the Napa River and volcanic soil deposits from the gradual erosion of the Vaca Mountains. The heat of the sun reflects off neighboring hills onto the vines, causing warm daily temperatures in the vineyards. In the evenings, cool, marine air flows in from the San Pablo Bay through the Stags Leap District corridor. The cooling effect of this breeze means lower nighttime temperatures. This combination of warm days and cool nights allows the grapes to achieve an excellent balance of acid and sugar, and the result is a longer growing season. The majority of grapes grown in the region are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Northern Sonoma - Wine Region of the Day

---

Northern Sonoma received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Situated over 329,000 acres, Northern Sonoma is home to sub-appellations Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.  It is the second largest appellation within Sonoma County.  It contains myriad elevations, soil types and climates.  It was designated, in large part to allow the term, "Estate" to be applied to vintages from large producers like Gallo and Rodney Strong but is home to some small producers as well.  The primary grape produced in this area is Cabernet Sauvignon but Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel are grown here as well.

Fair Play - Wine Region of the Day

Fair Play received its designation as an AVA in 2001. Situated on 23,198 acres, Fair Play is a sub-appellation of the El Dorado AVA. Centered on the town of Placerville, Fair Play's growing regions sit at 2,000 to 3,000 feet above sea level. Soils in the region are largely loam based and well draining. The climate in Fair Play features warm days followed by cold nights. The altitude allows the vines extra hours of sunshine and warm temperatures during the day, but also allows them to cool down at night. This diurnal cycle keeps the grapes from ripening too quickly and allows for the wines to develop their balanced acidity and tannin structure. The region is known for its production of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

Central Coast - Wine Region of the Day

The Central Coast was designated as an AVA in 1985. Situated across 280 miles from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, the Central Coast is home to sub-appellations Arroyo Grande Valley, Arroyo Seco, Ballard Canyon, Ben Lomond Mountain, Carmel Valley, Chalone, Cienega Valley, Edna Valley, Hames Valley, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Lime Kiln Valley, Livermore Valley, Monterey, Mt. Harlan, Pacheco Pass, Paicines, Paso Robles, San Antonio Valley, San Benito, San Bernabe, San Francisco Bay, San Lucas, San Ysidro District, Santa Clara Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, and York Mountain. The Central Coast is so vast that it features a variety of soil types and microclimates across its sub-appellations. The most common vines planted across the Central Coast are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc.

Altus - Wine Region of the Day

The Altus viticultural area is located between the southern Boston Mountain and the Arkansas River Valley and around the town of the same name. The town was founded in 1870 along the Iron Mountain Railroad and soon German and Swiss settlers moved in and started making wine from the local fruit.

The first winery in the area was created by Johann Andreas Wiederkehr.  Soon after arriving he established his winery and worked to improve the quality of the grapes used and soon received a patent for his Campbell Early varietal. Today, the Wiederkehr Wine Cellars still makes wine more than 130 after having been designated bonded winery number 8 in the  United States.  The winery is located outside the town of Altus in the city of Wiederkehr Village.

During the same time period, the family of Jacob Post arrived in Altus and began making wine for his family and friends.  Mount Bethel Winery has been making wine in Altus almost as long as Wiederkehr family.  Soon after arriving in the 1870s the Post Familie Winery established a winery in the 1880s.  Unfortunately, the winery was forced to close when Prohibition began in 1918 in Arkansas.

Prohibition was hard on the Post family.  Jacob’s son Joseph was jailed for bootlegging, which his daughter-in-law Katherine ran the family restaurant (while still producing and selling wine on the side, or so they say...) Katherine’s sons, Eugene and James worked to re-establish Arkansas viticulture after the  Eugene went to the University of Arkansas and earned a degree in Chemistry which he used to reopen the Mount Bethel Winery.  James worked with the Arkansas Legislature to write the new laws for wine production after the “Noble Experiment” failed.  Later James and his son Matthew went on to buy the farm of Joseph Bachman, the foremost viticulturist in the state to create their own winery, Post Familie Vineyards.

The geology of the area is sedimentary with sandstones and shale that overlay older limestones and dolomites.  The soils of the region are mostly from the Linker series and consist of sandy, slightly acidic loams that are well drained and rich in silica.

The climate of Altus is mild in the winter with temperatures average temperatures being slightly below freezing.  The summers, on the other hand, are hot, averaging 90+ degrees in August.  The precipitation falls fairly regularly in the region with each month receiving about 4 inches of rain.

In addition to the Wiederkehr, Mount Bethel and Post Familie cellars, there are two other wineries in the appellation. Chateau Aux-Arc, named for the bend in the Arkansas River that gave the larger region, Ozark, it’s name was established in 1998.  The Neumeier Winery, located in Wiederkehr Village specializes in dry Muscadine wines.

August 16th - This Date in Wine History

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.

• Hugo Gernsbacher, Luxembourgish-American inventor, writer, editor and publisher and father of Science Fiction was born in 1884.  He is the son of a winemaker.
• Fess Parker, film and tv actor and winemaker was born in 1924.
• The Bagnoli di Sopra or Bagnoli DOC designation was established in 1995.  It is located in the Veneto region.
• The French have a saying, “À la Saint-Roch, grande chaleur prépare vin de couleur,” or (loosely) “Hot weather on St. Roch’s day, gives wine good color."

Diablo Grande - Wine Region of the Day

---

Diablo Grande received its designation as an AVA in 1998. Situated across 30,000 acres, Diablo Grande is located in Stanislaus County. The soils of Diablo Grande are mostly clay and sand and are very well draining. The climate is hot and dry but receives high winds that blow across Stanislaus County. The hot temperatures make for a short growing season and high yields of fruit. The region is known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, and Syrah.

Saddle Rock - Malibu - Wine Region of the Day

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 night time 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.

Oakville - Wine Region of the Day

---

Oakville was designated as an AVA in 1993 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 5,700 acres centered on the town of Oakville, it is probably Napa Valley's most famous appellation. The soil in Oakville is well-drained gravel soil deposits from the nearby Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. The region goes from sea level in the valley to 600 feet in elevation at the base of the Vaca Mountains. Oakville has a warmer climate than much of the Napa Valley, with mild amounts of wind and fog from San Pablo Bay. The conditions in the region are ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and many of America's greatest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon have vineyards in the AVA. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot are also grown here.

Benmore Valley

Not all wine region stories end happily and Benmore Valley is one of those.  Established in 1991 this Lake County location was named for Benjamin Logan Moore a cattle rustler from the 19th century.  Moore would raid local ranchos and drive the cattle to the high mountain valley where they could graze and he could watch for pursuit.  Unfortunately for him, news of his nefarious deeds made continued life in Benmore Valley impossible so he, as they said in his day, took a French leave.  He is said to have gone to South America where no more was ever heard of him.

This is not an auspicious beginning to the story of this appellation.  In truth, “valley” is not really an apt name for the location.  It is really more like a mountain depression.   The rocks bedrocks are part of the Franciscan Assemblage which was formed before the existence of the San Andreas fault and uplifted as a result the subduction of the Farallon plate.  Benmore Creek runs through the valley floor and there are three small man-made lakes that received permits in 1990.

The soils on the floor of the valley are mostly Manzanita Loams with low slopes. The soils are very deep and made up of alluvial deposits from mixed rocks.  While the soils are well drained the permeability of the soils are very slow that makes irrigation necessary and difficult.  Up the walls of the hillsides, the soils are amix of Maymen-Etsel-Snook, Maymen-Etsel-Mayacama and Maymen-Etsel-Speaker series.  These soils are found on significantly steeper terrain are shallow with high amounts of runoff.

The climate of the appellation is cooler than the surrounding area with an average temperature of 55℉ as opposed to 58℉ and 56℉ for Ukiah and Lakeport respectively.  The other climate issue is frost.  The surrounding lowlands typically experience their last frost of the season in March, but the Benmore Valley often have freezing into May.  Because of this issue, the growing season is short and they grapes often fail to achieve peak flavor.

The transition of the valley to a vineyard was undertaken by the Trione family of Trione Winery and formerly of Geyser Peak.  The vineyard was used primarily for growing Chardonnay and the grapes went to Geyser Peaks as well as Kendall Jackson and Korbel. 

After several years of fighting the elements in the valley, the Triones sold the property in 2006.  All but ten acres of vines were pulled out and the property is being used as a rental property.  When asked if the family viewed the valley ashaving viticultural potential, a family spokesmen replied, “Because of the temperatures and the temperature changes, it is still expensive to farm."

Sadly, Benmore Valley has become a ghost of a viticultural area.

Sta. Rita Hills - Wine Region of the Day

---

Sta. Rita Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2001, under the name Santa Rita Hills. In 2005, after a name dispute with the Chilean producer Vina Santa Rita, the region changed its name to Sta. Rita Hills. The region is situated on 30,720 acres in Santa Barbara County. Soil types within the Sta. Rita Hills are notoriously varied between mixed loams, Diatomaceous Earth, and shale. The valley's proximity to the Pacific Ocean along with its east to west running hills allow fog and wind off the Pacific to settle over the grapes and creates a cool growing climate. The cool climate has made the Sta. Rita Hills an excellent area for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Dunnigan Hills Wine Region of the Day

---

Dunnigan Hills received its designation as an AVA in 1993. Situated across 89,000 acres, Dunnigan Hills is located in the northwest portion of Yolo County. The terrain of Dunnigan Hills features rolling hills with elevations between 200 and 500 feet above sea level. The soils of the region vary from gravelly loams and sandy loams over sandstone to silt. The climate of the region is recognized for its warm days and cool nights, offering a diurnal temperature swing of up to twenty degrees. This change between day and nighttime temperatures allow for a longer growing season and allow the fruit time to develop their tannin structure and acidity. The region is known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Viognier.

Mendocino Ridge - Wine Region of the Day

---

The Mendocino Ridge AVA is located on 262,400 acres within the coastal zone of Mendocino County, California. Mendocino Ridge's boundaries begin at the coastal ridges adjacent to the Pacific Ocean that reach inland toward the Anderson Valley. Mendocino Ridge is limited by elevation, reserved only for vineyards at or above 1200 feet. There are 2,000 acres of vineyards perched above thick fog moving inland from the Pacific Ocean blanketing the coast and the valleys between the ridge tops, allowing the vines to grow above the blanket of fog. The area is known its production of Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

The early wine producers in this viticultural area were Italian immigrants who planted Alicante-Bouscet, Carignan, Malvasia, Muscat, Palomino and Zinfandel. The first winery in the area, and indeed all of Mendocino County, was Antonio Ciapusci who planted his land in 1878. Many of these vineyards were replanted with other crops during Prohibition but several have survived including the Ciapusci, Perli, Gianoli and Zeni vineyards.

Trinity Lakes - Wine Region of the Day

---

Trinity Lakes received its designation as an AVA in 2005. Situated on 96,000 acres, Trinity Lakes is located in Trinity County and is centered around Trinity Lake. The vineyards are found in the rocky benches that surround Trinity Lake. The soil is rocky and porous with excellent drainage forcing the vines to struggle and put all of their efforts into producing the fruit that results in a deeply concentrated flavor in the grapes. The vineyards are planted between 1,200 and 2,500 feet, allowing for longer exposure to sunlight but still subject to the cool winds that sweep through the region. This large diurnal temperature swing allows for a longer growing season and allows the wines to develop a well-balanced acidity and tannin structure. The region is known for its production of cool climate varietals, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling.

San Antonio Valley - Wine Region of the Day

---

The San Antonio Valley received its designation as an AVA in 2006. The San Antonio Valley is located in Monterey County and is bordered to the west by the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Unlike many of the wine regions in the United States, there is a long history of viticulture in the San Antonio Valley.   It was home to the Mission San Antonio de Padua that was founded in 1771 by Father Junipero Serra.  Franciscan Missions in Alta California could not rely on supplies from Spain and were required to be self-sufficient.  This meant making flour for bread and grapes for wine.  The Mission is still in operation as a parish church and visitors can see the original wine pressing vats and wine cellar.

The valley is located in the southern part of Monterey County and is located between the Santa Lucia Mountains near the Salinas Valley and includes San Antonio Lake and Fort Hunter Liggett Military Reservation.  The terrain contains gently rolling hills which form a basin or bowl shape.

The climate is typically warm and dry but benefits from the cooling breezes of nearby Lake San Antonio and the Pacific Ocean.  The region averages approximately 3,000 GDD on the Winkler Index indicating that it is the prime climate for Bordeaux and Rhone varietals.  The cool marine air that is so common for Monterey County is mostly absent. The region tends to be hotter and drier during the growing season but cooler during the spring and autumn.

Soil composition is also unique in San Antonio Valley.  Nearby Hames Valley is primarily composed of soils from the Lockwood series that are alluvial fans and terraces of siliceous shale.  San Antonio Valley has a more varied soil profile with 40 different types being represented.  The soil is primarily gravelly loam and clay that are mostly alluvial but with more gravel, sand and clays in the mix.

The region is known for its production of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals but is becoming home to Spanish and Portuguese grapes as well.  You can find Albarino, Barbera, Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  Chardonnay, Dolcetto,  Grenache,  Malbec,  Marsanne,  Merlot,  Mourvedre,  Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Grigio, Primativo, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesca, Touriga Nacional, Zinfandel being produced in San Antonio Valley.

Hames Valley

The Hames Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1994 and is situated on 10,240 acres in Monterey County in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. The Hames Valley soil is shale and loam. The regions has the largest diurnal temperature swing of any AVA in Monterey County. The grapes are exposed to a great deal of sunlight during the day, and receive some of the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean breezes in the evenings. The region is best known for producing Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Carmel Valley - Wine Region of the Day

---

Upriver from the other Carmel, the one on the ocean that once had Clint Eastwood as a mayor is Carmel Valley.  Located in Monterey County,, southeast of that more famous Carmel is found in the Santa Lucia Range north of the Ventana Wilderness. The appellation was created in 1982 after a petition from David Armanasco of Durney Vineyard (now Heller Estate).  The Carmel River which runs through the valley was discovered in 1603 by Sebastian Vizcaino and was cited as the justification for using the name “Carmel”. 

The area has been home to viticulture since the late 1960s when Durney Vineyard was established. The defining qualities cited by the petitioner includes soil and climate.  The climate of the valley is characterized by Growing Degree Days of 2317  placing it in the Amerine-Winkler scale as a  Region I, cool climate growing area.  Most of the surrounding regions are warmer using the same scale.  The exception is the nearby Salinas Valley with 2148 GDD which is also a Region I growing area.  While slightly cooler than Carmel Valley it is lower in elevation allowing for more fog from the oceanfront to enter the valley.  Another result of that higher elevation is a higher level of rainfall.

Soil is the other defining characteristic of the AVA.  The petition for the AVA lists ten separate soil types in the area which to the uninformed may seem less that definitive.  The soils are largely loams which are mixtures of sand, silt and clay.  The soils also have another factor that separates them from soils in the other nearby appellations.  They are all found on hillsides with slopes (in a mathematical sense) over 30% making them quite steep.  As a result runoff and erosion potentials are high and the soils are well to excessively well drained. There are only 300 acres planted with vines, and those vines sit at an elevation above 1,000 feet on hillside terraces.

In a little over thirty years, Carmel Valley has grown from one winery to twelve, not including those wineries that source fruit from the region. Carmel Valley is best known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Syrah.

Inwood Valley - Wine Region of the Day

---

Inwood Valley is located in Shasta County in Northern California in the shadow of Mount Lassen which is approximately 15 miles to the east.  The closest major city is Redding and the closest town is Shingletown.  Given its proximity to an active volcano, it is no surprise that igneous rocks are prominent in the area.  Mt. Lassen, the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range, last erupted over the period 1915-1917 and that ejecta flowed to the east.  However, the geology of Inwood Valley includes lava and pyroclastic materials from earlier eruptions that have since become to be known as the Tuscan Formation which overlays older, Cretaceous rocks referred to as the Chico Formation.  The valley runs east-west with elevations around 2,000 ft above sea level and are part of transitional zone between the valley floor such as in Redding and the higher mountains to the west.  The Inwood Valley is located between 1,000 - 3,000 feet above sea level where the the slopes are gentler for easier cultivation. 

Geography also effects the climate allowing the flow of cool breezes down the mountainsides and niches where the sun does not overheat slowly maturing grapes.  The area is considered to have a Mediterranean climate, suitable for Bordeaux and Rhône varietals.  The climbing elevation in the region also assures increased precipitation, with the majority falling during the cool season and the geology of the region allows for ground water to be readily accessed.  

 Modern viticulture began in the area began in the late 1970s.  Well before Prohibition, Agoston Hraszathy, in his 1862 book, Grape Culture, Wines and Wine-making with Notes Upon Agriculture and Horticulture indicates that wine grapes were being produced all over California from “San Diego up to Shasta, have given magnificent results”.   One of those early settlers in the Inwood Valley, Elijah Boots planted the first vineyards in 1864. While Mission grapes were initially cultivated, the local wineries now grow Chardonnay, Merlot and Viognier.

St. Helena - Wine Region of the Day

St. Helena AVA gained status as an AVA in 1993 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. The AVA is situated on 9,000 acres and is centered on the town of St. Helena, California. St. Helena is Napa Valley's northernmost AVA and sits between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. The soils of the region are sedimentary, gravel-clay soils, with lower fertility and moderate water retention The location, means the region is isolated from the cool ocean breezes and fog that is prevalent in the southern valleys. These conditions make for bright sunny days with radiating heat off the mountains and full-bodied wines that are fruit forward and jammy. The featured wines of the region are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Zinfandel.

Mount Veeder - Wine Region of the Day

---

Mount Veeder received its designation as an AVA in 1993 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Located on 15,000 acres in the Mayacamas Mountains, the steep mountain face gives the vines the benefits of more direct sunlight and better drainage. Mount Veeder has high elevation and volcanic soil that imparts the region's distinctive flavor characteristics of eucalyptus, herbs, and florals. Given its proximity to the Los Carneros region, Mount Veeder benefits from the cool fog and ocean breezes off the San Pablo Bay. The cool and moderate climate on Mount Veeder extends the growing season and produced fruit that is well rounded and balanced in its acidity. The region is known for producing Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Viognier, and Zinfandel.