June 15th - This Date in Wine History

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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.

  • Lisa del Giocondo was born in 1479. She was the daughter of a Chianti vineyard owner and later married Florentine silk merchant.  She was the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous painting, The Mona Lisa.
  • Arkansas was admitted to the union in 1836.  It is home to the Altus, Arkansas Mountain and Ozark Mountain viticultural areas.
  • California's Mendocino AVA was designated in 1984.
  • California's Monterey AVA was designated in 1984.
  • It is the feast day of Saint Germaine of Pibrac (France).  She was known to sleep on a pallet vine cuttings from her infancy until the time she died at the age of 22.

San Bernabe - Wine Region of the Day

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San Bernabe received its designation as an AVA in 2004. Sitting on 24,796 acres, the region is a sub-appellation of the Monterey AVA. The most centrally located of all of the AVAs located in Monterey, San Bernabe is located between the Salinas River and the Santa Lucia Mountains. The soil of the region is a sandy loam and has excellent drainage. There are varying climates within the region, but it mostly has long sunny days and cool nights that allow for a well balanced but robust grape. The region grows over fifteen different varietals but is mostly known for producing Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

Central Coast - Wine Region of the Day

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Central Coast

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.

July 14th - This Date in Wine History

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Fete de la Federation

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.

  • Visitador General José de Gálvez sent the expedition of Junípero Serra and Gaspar de Portolà to found a mission at San Diego and presidio at Monterey in 1769. Fra. Serra planted to first vitis vinifera in Northern California as a result.
  • The Fête de la Fédération was a celebration of the unity of France after the revolution was occurred in 1790.  The day began with a mass and ended with a feast, fireworks, wine and running nude through the streets to show their freedom.
  • The Priestley Riots began in 1791 after a banquet to celebrate the French Revolution ran amuck.  Rioters fueled with wine from the banquet and liquor looted from destroyed buildings made their way to the house and church of Joseph Priestley who was driven from the city of Birmingham.
  • Have a glass of Champagne and shout, "Vive, La France!" It is Bastille Day today.  Remember, today, in 1789 the Bourgeois Militia of Paris stormed the infamous Bastille prison in Paris and released the prisoners.  All 7 of them.  They consisted of 4 forgers, 2 lunatics and a deviant aristocrat (he was arrested for incest).

Hames Valley

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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.

Santa Lucia Highlands - Wine Region of the Day

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The Santa Lucia Highlands received their designation as an AVA in 1990. Sitting on 22,000 acres in the Santa Lucia Mountains, the region is a sub-appellation of the Monterey AVA. The soil is a gravelly sandy loam, and the terrain consists of terraces around 2,000 feet in elevation. The high elevation grants the vines access to the daylong sun that is cooled down by breezes off the Pacific Ocean. The region is best known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.

San Bernabe - Wine Region of the Day

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San Bernabe

San Bernabe received its designation as an AVA in 2004. Sitting on 24,796 acres, the region is a sub-appellation of the Monterey AVA. The most centrally located of all of the AVAs located in Monterey, San Bernabe is located between the Salinas River and the Santa Lucia Mountains. The soil of the region is a sandy loam and has excellent drainage. There are varying climates within the region, but it mostly has long sunny days and cool nights that allow for a well balanced but robust grape. The region grows over fifteen different varietals but is mostly known for producing Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

Santa Clara Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Santa Clara Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1989. Situated over 332,800 acres, Santa Clara Valley is a larger AVA containing sub-appellations San Ysidro and Pacheco Pass. The soil in the area is made up of gravelly loam, clay, and sandstone. The climate in Santa Clara Valley is moderate to warm with daily temperatures in the high 80s during the peak of growing season. Winds blow in and cool the valley from the San Francisco Bay to the north and the Pacific Ocean via Monterey to the south. The region is known for Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Monterey - Wine Region of the Day

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Photo of Monterey by David Toomey for Qorkz.

The Monterey region received its AVA designation in 1984. Monterey is a larger region and contains the sub-appelations of Arroyo Seco, Hames Valley, San Bernabe, San Lucas, and the Santa Lucia Highlands. The region covers over 100 miles and spans from Monterey Bay to Paso Robles. The majority of the production in Monterey is Chardonnay, but Pinot Noir Merlot, and Riesling are also produced here.

Carmel Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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CARMEL VALLEY

Photo of the Carmel Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

The Carmel Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1982. Sitting on 19,200 acres in the larger Central Coast, the region is located in Monterey County, centered around Carmel Valley Village. The soil of the region is primarily gravely sand loam. There are only 300 acres planted with vines, and those vines sit at an elevation above 1,000 feet on hillside terraces. Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the Valley is cooler with coastal breezes and fog, but the elevated growing regions protect the vines from the cooler weather. Carmel Valley is best known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Syrah.

Chalone - Wine Region of the Day

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CHALONE

Photo of the Chalone wine region by David Toomey for Qorkz

Chalone received its designation as an AVA in 1982. Sitting on 8,640 acres, the region is located in the Gabilian Mountains situated in both Montereyand San Benito counties. Chalone features limestone and decomposed granite soil. With sunny days and cool evenings, the region has a large diurnal temperature swing allowing the grapes a longer time to ripen and balance their acidity. Chalone is known for its distinctive mineral flavor that it imparts on its vines. With only 300 acres under vine, the majority of the production is Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Hames Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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HAMES VALLEY

Photo of the Hames Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

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.

Monterey - Wine Region of the Day

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MONTEREY

 Monterey viticultural area by David Toomey for Qorkz

The Monterey region received its AVA designation in 1984. Monterey is a larger region and contains the sub-appelations of Arroyo Seco, Hames Valley, San Bernabe, San Lucas, and the Santa Lucia Highlands. The region covers over 100 miles and spans from Monterey Bay to Paso Robles. The majority of the production in Monterey is Chardonnay, but Pinot Noir Merlot, and Riesling are also produced here.