Diablo Grande - Wine Region of the Day

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Diablo Grande

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.

Tracy Hills - Wine Region of the Day

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Tracy Hills

Tracy Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 39,200 acres, Tracy Hills is located in both San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties between Tracy, Patterson and Vernalis, California. In the petition for its creation, the unique soils, microclimate, and slope were listed as distinguishing features. Initially, the proposed name for the region was Mt. Oso for the nearby Diablo Mountains peak, however, TTB felt that the petitioners didn’t meet the standard for name recognition.  The name, Tracy Hills was more readily substantiated.

The appellation is located between 100 and 500 feet in elevation and slope to the valley floor to the east. Hospital, Lone Tree, and Ingram Creeks drain out of the foothills to form an alluvial fan that creates the free-draining alluvial and colluvial soils. The Tracy Hills is located in the rain shadow of Mt. Oso which is located to the southwest of the region.  This means that they receive less rain, fog, hail or even dew.  Instead, the region is known for constant winds, sunny days, and sparse morning fog, with occasional early morning frost.

The Tracy Hills has several new wineries and a few old vineyards.  They are producing Cabernet Sauvignon,  Chardonnay, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nero d’Avola, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, and Syrah.

San Antonio Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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San Antonio Valley

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.

Clements Hills - Wine Region of the Day

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Clements Hills

Clements Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 85,400 acres, Clements Hills is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA in the southeast portion located in San Joaquin County.  It is nearly 40 miles from Sacramento and more than 10 from the city of Lodi.  The viticultural area is located in the northeastern portion of San Joaquin county south of the Borden Ranch appellation.  Nestled between the Calavaras River to the south, Liberty Road to the north, the eastern boundary of San Joaquin County and Elliott and Jack Tone Roads to the west, the region is a transition from the valleys to the west and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

It is centered around the town of Clements which was settled in 1857 by Thomas Clements.  Clements later donated 25 acres to establish the town as a railroad stop on the San Joaquin and Sierra Nevada Railroad which was ideal for the agricultural community that was growing.  The name Clements Hills has been in use since that time.

The soils in the appellation are varied but are alike in that they have low fertility and are a mixture of clays and loams.  The presence of the clays are sufficient to hold moisture in the soil. The region features an alluvial topsoil with varying lower levels comprised of granite and volcanic soils.

The climate is hot and muggy but gets some relief from coastal breezes that make their way through the hills. The climate of the area is generally warmer and wetter than the average in the Lodi region.  The increase in elevation to the east creates more precipitation and air drainage that moves away morning fogs and frost that would be caused by cool Pacific air coming up the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta.  The lack of fog also leads to more hours of sunshine to help the grapes achieve their maximum flavor.

This climate makes the region perfect for growing Italian and Spanish grape varieties such as Albarino, Grenache, Sangiovese and Tempranillo.

Ballard Canyon - Wine Region of the Day

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Ballard Canyon

Ballard Canyon received its designation as an AVA in 2013. Situated on 7,800 acres, Ballard Canyon is a sub-appellation of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA and is centered around the Santa Ynez Valley. The soils in the Ballard Canyon are made up of sand and clay loam with good drainage. Cool ocean breezes flow into the Santa Ynez Valley from the Pacific Ocean via a gap between the Santa Rita hills, but the hills surrounding Ballard Canyon protects the vineyards here from the harshness of the winds. Ballard Canyon has more gentle weather patterns than the windy, cool-climate in its neighboring Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Ballard Canyon is known for its production of Syrah, Grenache, Sangiovese, and Roussanne.

California Shenandoah Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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California Shenandoah Valley

California Shenandoah Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1982. Situated on 10,000 acres, California Shenandoah Valley is located in Amador and El Dorado Counties. The region is at the lowest elevation of all Sierra Foothills growing regions. The soil is largely made up of decomposed granite and sandy loam. This type of soil is well drained and infertile, which causes the vines to develop deep roots to find water. This feature helped many of the old vine Zinfandel grapes survive from before Prohibition when the region was heavily planted with vineyards. The climate is very dry and hot during the peak of growing season, resulting in a smaller production yield from the vines but a more heavily concentrated fruit. The region is famous for having some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California but also produces Barbera and Sangiovese.

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.

GV Cellars 2013 Sangiovese Solano County Green Valley - Wine of the Day

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GV Cellars 2013 Sangiovese Solano County Green Valley

GV Cellars 2013 Sangiovese Solano County Green Valley

$21.40

Two clones of Sangiovese, from two separate blocks on the GV Cellars Estate, come together to form this harmonious, food-friendly wine. Red fruits, mineralogy and balanced acidity make this wine the perfect compliment to pizza and other tomato sauce based foods.

Yountville - Wine Region of the Day

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Yountville

Yountville received its distinction as an AVA in 1999 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. The AVA is sitting on 8,000 acres, centered on the town Yountville, California. Volcanic soils on the eastern flank are similar to the neighboring Stags Leap District but also features centuries-old coastal deposits, and both sedimentary and alluvial soils exist to the west, interspersed with sandy and gravelly loam, as well as a little clay. No other area in all the Napa Valley has this particular geomorphic combination and pronounced soil differences. The climate of the region consists of cool marine air currents from San Pablo Bay to the south, allowing for cooler temperatures year round. These milder temperatures allow the grapes of the region plenty of time to develop unique flavor characteristics. The region currently produces Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

Diablo Grande - Wine Region of the Day

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Diablo Grande

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.

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.

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.

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.

San Pasqual Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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San Pasqual Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

San Pasqual Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1981. Situated on 9,000 acres, San Pasqual Valley is located in Northern San Diego County. The soils in San Pasqual are granite based and well draining. The climate in the valley is desert like with hot days and long exposure to sunlight. The Pacific Ocean sends cooling winds down the valley in the evening and extends the growing season. The region is known for its production of Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Viognier.

Cienega Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Cienega Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

The Cienega Valley 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, Carignane, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Grenache, Merlot, Negrette, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

GV Cellars 2013 Sangiovese Solano County Green Valley - Wine of the Day

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GV Cellars 2013 Sangiovese Solano County Green Valley

$21.40

Two clones of Sangiovese, from two separate blocks on the GV Cellars Estate, come together to form this harmonious, food-friendly wine. Red fruits, mineralogy and balanced acidity make this wine the perfect compliment to pizza and other tomato sauce based foods.

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.

California Shenandoah Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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CALIFORNIA SHENANDOAH VALLEY

Photo of the California Shenandoah Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

California Shenandoah Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1982. Situated on 10,000 acres, California Shenandoah Valley is located in Amador and El Dorado Counties. The region is at the lowest elevation of all Sierra Foothills growing regions. The soil is largely made up of decomposed granite and sandy loam. This type of soil is well drained and infertile, which causes the vines to develop deep roots to find water. This feature helped many of the old vine Zinfandel grapes survive from before Prohibition when the region was heavily planted with vineyards. The climate is very dry and hot during the peak of growing season, resulting in a smaller production yield from the vines but a more heavily concentrated fruit. The region is famous for having some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California but also produces Barbera and Sangiovese.