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.

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars 'La Belle Endormie' (Sleeping Beauty) Bordeaux Blend - Wine of the Day

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2012 Oak Cliff Cellars 'La Belle Endormie' (Sleeping Beauty) Bordeaux Blend

$55

This traditional Bordeaux style red blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is still a young, but already complex wine: raspberry, cranberry, a little blackberry, minerals, pencil shavings, vanilla, coffee and toffee with great structure, full bodied, very long finish. But like most Bordeaux style wines, waken it gently from its sleep and decant a little while before serving.

These classic Bordeaux grapes come from the Wild Diamond Vineyard in southern Lake County and have been co-fermented in making this premium wine. The Wild Diamond Vineyard is in southern Lake County (just north of Napa Valley) at an elevation of 2,200 ft., meaning warmer, longer growing days with cool Pacific breezes at night and an overall shorter growing season resulting in fully ripe fruit. The red, volcanic soil of this vineyard contributes both to the depth of color and rich flavor profile of grapes from the Wild Diamond Vineyard.

Edna Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Edna Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

Edna Valley received designation as an AVA in 1982. Sitting on 22,400 acres, Edna Valley is in San Luis Obispo County. Edna Valley features Lopez Lake to the south and Islay Hill to the north. The valley is shadowed by volcanic mountains and is characterized by black humus and clay-rich soils. The valley is cooled by breezes from the Pacific Ocean and morning fog.  It also receives ample daytime sunshine. This combination allows for a slow ripening of the fruit during an extended growing season. The longer hang time gives the Chardonnays of Edna Valley their bright fruit flavors and well-balanced acidity. In addition to Chardonnay , Edna Valley is also known for producing of Pinot Noir .

Red Hills Lake County - Wine Region of the Day

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Red Hills Lake County by David Toomey for Qorkz.

The Red Hills Lake County AVA is located on 31,250 acres in Lake County, California. The wine region is southwest of Clear Lake, at the foot of Mount Konocti, which is an active volcano. True to its name, Red Hills consists of rolling hills between elevations of 1,400 feet and 3,000 feet. The Red Hills receive an average of between 25 inches and 40 inches of rainfall each year. The volcanic soils of the region give the vines their signature minerality. In particular, the soils are known to be strewn with volcanic glass called obsidian which was created when Mount Konocti erupted and lava flowed into Clear Lake cooling it instantly.  The region is known for its red wines, specifically Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel.

Calistoga - Wine Region of the Day

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Calistoga by David Toomey for Qorkz.

Calistoga received its AVA status in 2010 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA located on in the northern portion of the Napa Valley. Calistoga's soil is almost exclusively volcanic, providing a consistency throughout the region. The daily high temperatures up to 100 degrees and cool nightly breezes from the Russian River cause the highest diurnal temperature variation in the Napa Valley. This temperature fluctuation along with the volcanic soil creates wines with big bright flavors and deep complexity and well-balanced acid. The region is known for its Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Zinfandel.

Sonoma Mountain - Wine Region of the Day

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SONOMA MOUNTAIN

Photo of Sonoma Mountain by David Toomey for Qorkz

The Sonoma Mountain AVA is located in Sonoma County, California. It is centered on the Sonoma Mountains. The appellation is included in the Sonoma Valley AVA, but due to its unique elevation, it was granted status as its own AVA in 1985. The area is known for its high elevation benches and its diverse micro-climates. The region's soil is volcanic and well draining. Due to the high elevations, the region sits above the fog and receives plenty of sunlight. The combination of the terroir and the climate make this region perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is the region's signature wine.