Wine Country

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Wine Country
Wine region
Domaine Carneros, Napa Valley, CA USA - panoramio (9) (cropped).jpg
Castello di Amorosa courtyard 2.JPG
Hop Kiln (Walters Ranch), May 2012.jpg
Via Sattui Winery - panoramio (cropped).jpg
Chateau Montelena Winery.gk.jpg
Autumn in Napa Valley vineyards.jpg
Top to bottom to right: Domaine Carneros in Los Carneros AVA ; Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley AVA ; the historic Walters Ranch Hop Kiln; V. Sattui Winery; Chateau Montelena in Calistoga AVA ; Inglenook in Rutherford AVA ; Napa Valley in autumn
Year established1812
Years of wine industry1812–present
CountryUnited States
Part of California wine
Sub-regions Wine Country AVAs
Climate region Mediterranean

Wine Country is a region of California, in the northern San Francisco Bay Area, known worldwide as a premier wine-growing region. [1] The region is famed for its wineries, its cuisine, [2] Michelin star restaurants, boutique hotels, luxury resorts, historic architecture, [3] and culture. [4] Viticulture and wine-making have been practiced in the region since the Spanish missionaries from Mission San Francisco Solano established the first vineyards in 1812.

Contents

There are over 1,700 wineries in the North Bay (according to Alcoholic Beverage Control of California), mostly located in the area's valleys, including Napa Valley in Napa County, and the Sonoma Valley, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Bennett Valley, and Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. Wine grapes are also grown at higher elevations, such as Atlas Peak and Mount Veeder AVAs. [5] Cities and towns associated with the Wine Country include Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Kenwood, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Guerneville, Windsor, Geyserville, and Cloverdale in Sonoma County; Napa, Yountville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Calistoga in Napa County; and Hopland and Ukiah in Mendocino County. Wine is also an important part of the economy in nearby Lake, Solano, and Yolo counties. [6]

Appellations

Hot air ballooning over Napa Valley Napa Valley, United States (Unsplash Az3kQbCND2o).jpg
Hot air ballooning over Napa Valley
Chateau and vineyards in Napa Vineyard and Chateau - Napa.jpg
Chateau and vineyards in Napa

Wine Country is generally regarded as the combined counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Solano, and western parts of Yolo County. These counties contain the following American Viticultural Areas (AVAs): [7]

The six-county North Coast AVA overlaps with the Wine Country as defined here and also includes Marin County. In addition, the names of the counties themselves are legal for use as appellation names. [8]

History

Buena Vista Winery, in Sonoma, is the oldest commercial winery in California, founded in 1857. Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma, CA (cropped).jpg
Buena Vista Winery, in Sonoma, is the oldest commercial winery in California, founded in 1857.

The earliest prehistory of the Wine Country involves habitation by several Native American tribes from approximately 8000 BC. [9] The principal tribes living in this region included the Pomo, Coast Miwok, Wappo and Patwin, whose early peoples practiced certain forms of agriculture, but probably not involving the cultivation of grapes. During the Mexican Colonial period and after, European settlers brought in more intensive agriculture to the Wine Country, including growing grapes and wine production. Some of the historical events that led to the establishment of California as a state transpired in the Wine Country. In particular, the town of Sonoma is known as the birthplace of American California. Agoston Haraszthy is credited as one of the forefathers of the California wine industry in Sonoma by his planting of grapes in the lower Arroyo Seco Creek watershed of Sonoma County. [10]

In 2017, many portions of California's Wine Country were heavily devastated by wildfires, including the October 2017 Northern California wildfires. [11]

Founded in 1880, the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology is the most famous and established school for research and education in winemaking in the Northern California region and the United States. It has contributed greatly to Northern California’s growth and establishment as a wine producing region. [12] [13] [14]

Ecology

Sonoma Mountain AVA vineyard in front of the Mayacamas Mountains Sonomamtnvineyard.jpg
Sonoma Mountain AVA vineyard in front of the Mayacamas Mountains

A diversity of aquatic and terrestrial organisms populate the Wine Country and its riparian zones. Winter-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tsawytscha), Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are the most prominent fishes. Researchers have studied anadromous fish-movements extensively in Sonoma Creek and in the Napa River as well as in the Laguna de Santa Rosa - not only in the mainstems, but in many of the tributaries. These investigations have demonstrated a historical decline in spawning and habitat value for these species, primarily due to sedimentation [15] and secondarily to removal of riparian vegetation since the 19th century. [16]

Beringer Vineyards is Napa Valley's oldest continuously operating winery. Beringer Brothers-Los Hermanos Winery, 2000 Main St., St. Helena, CA 10-16-2011 2-18-03 PM.JPG
Beringer Vineyards is Napa Valley's oldest continuously operating winery.

A variety of salamanders, snakes and frogs are also present in the Wine Country. The federally listed as threatened California red-legged frog is present in the northern reach draining the south slopes of Annadel State Park. [17] Several endangered species (mostly associated with the Napa Sonoma Marsh) present include Ridgway's rail (Rallus obsoletus), California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis), California brown pelican (Pelicanus occudentalis), California freshwater shrimp ( Syncaris pacifica ), salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris ), Suisun shrew (Sorex ornatus sinuosus), Sacramento splittail (Pogonichtys macrolepidotus). The above are endangered species with the exception of the splittail, steelhead and black rail, which are federally designated as threatened. [18]

Charles Krug Winery, est. 1861, is a National Historic Landmark. Charles Krug Winery, 2800 St. Helena Hwy., St. Helena, CA 10-16-2011 3-23-11 PM (cropped).JPG
Charles Krug Winery, est. 1861, is a National Historic Landmark.

Upland ecosystems drained include mixed California oak woodland, chaparral and savannah woodland. [19] In these upland reaches one finds plentiful black-tailed deer, coyote, skunk, raccoon, opossum, wild turkey, turkey vulture, red-tailed hawk and occasionally bobcat and mountain lion. Prominent higher elevation trees include: Coast live oak, Garry oak, Pacific madrone, California buckeye, Douglas fir, whereas valley oak is prevalent on the Wine Country valley floors. [20]

Tourism

The Wine Country has undergone a boom in tourism. In 1975 there were only 25 Napa Valley wineries; [21] today there are well over 800 wineries in Napa and Sonoma Counties. [22] Tourists come to the region not only for wine tasting, but also for hiking, bicycling, hot air ballooning, and historic sites, as well as the extensive culinary choices.

Numerous notable chefs and restaurateurs are present in the Wine Country, including Thomas Keller, John Ash, and Sondra Bernstein. [23] Besides the obvious winery attractions, the Wine Country is known for the Sonoma County coastline along the Pacific Ocean, the Russian River valley, redwoods, hot spring baths, petrified forests and other natural areas.

Greystone Cellars, 2555 Main St., St. Helena, CA 10-16-2011 2-58-32 PM.JPG
The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone is a prestigious Napa culinary school.

The Wine Country tourism boom has its downside, exemplified by traffic congestion on State Route 29, particularly on summer weekends, when the number of tourists often exceeds the carrying capacity of the road. The Napa Valley is also experiencing pressures for increased urbanization and roadway upgrades. [24] There have also been issues related to regulating home sharing. After a boom in residents renting rooms in private homes, the city government of Napa was forced to require any Napa Airbnb properties to register. [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Napa County, California</span> County in California, United States

Napa County is a county north of San Pablo Bay located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 138,019. The county seat is the City of Napa. Napa County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Parts of the county's territory were given to Lake County in 1861.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoma Valley</span> Valley in the North Bay region of California famous for winemaking

Sonoma Valley is a valley located in southeastern Sonoma County, California, in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Known as the birthplace of the California wine industry, the valley is home to some of the earliest vineyards and wineries in the state, some of which survived the phylloxera epidemic of the 1870s and the impact of prohibition in the early 20th century. Today, the valley's wines are promoted by the U.S. federal government's Sonoma Valley and Carneros AVAs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Valley AVA</span> Wine region in California

The Alexander Valley is a Californian American Viticultural Area (AVA) just north of Healdsburg in Sonoma County. It is home to many wineries and vineyards, as well as the city of Cloverdale. It is the largest and most fully planted wine region in Sonoma. Highway 101 runs through the valley, and the Russian River flows down the valley, surrounded by vineyards on both sides. From the higher elevations of the valley rim, there is a view as far south as Taylor Mountain and Sonoma Mountain. The region was named for Cyrus Alexander, owner of a part of the Rancho Sotoyome Mexican land grant, in 1847. Granted AVA status in 1984, the boundaries of the appellation are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Section 9.53.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Napa Valley AVA</span> Wine region

Napa Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Napa County, California. The area was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on February 27, 1981, after a 1978 petition submitted by the Napa Valley Vintners and the Napa Valley Grape Growers Association. Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennett Valley</span>

Bennett Valley is a northwest- to southeast-trending valley in Sonoma County, California, US, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) wide in its northwestern portion, where the southeast extremity of Santa Rosa, California is located. The axis of the valley floor slopes 40 feet (12 m) per mile from the pinched central portion of the valley, where knolls divide the northwestern from the southeastern segment of the valley. Bennett Valley is drained by Matanzas Creek which is incised into the valley floor; an unnamed stream and Spring Creek drain into Matanzas Creek from the east side of Bennett Valley below the Matanzas Creek Reservoir. A flood-control reservoir on Matanzas Creek in the central portion of the valley collects water from the drainage of the upper portion of the valley. Precipitation in the valley varies from approximately 35 to 40 inches per year. The latter amount falls on Taylor Mountain, located immediately above Bennett Valley, in an outlier spur of the Sonoma Mountains sometimes called the Los Gullicos Range. Rainfall occurs primarily during winters, separated by warm dry summers. Bennett Valley is accessed chiefly via Bennett Valley Road, which traverses the valley floor to connect southeast Santa Rosa with Warm Springs Road in Glen Ellen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suisun Valley AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California

The Suisun Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Solano County, California, located just east of the Napa Valley wine region in the Coast Range. It was established as a wine appellation on 27 December 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendocino County wine</span>

Mendocino County wine is an appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Mendocino County, California. The region is part of the larger North Coast AVA and one of California's largest and most climatically diverse wine growing regions. Mendocino County is one of the northernmost commercial wine grape regions in the state with two distinct climate zones separated by the Mendocino Range. As of 2024, twelve American Viticultural Areas (AVA) have been designated within Mendocino County. Mendocino is one of the leading wine growing regions for organically produced wine grapes. Nearly 25% of the cultivation in Mendocino County is grown organically. In 2004, the residents of the county voted to become the first GMO-free county in the United States in an initiative that was supported by many of the county's largest wineries. The county's widespread focus on organic viticulture has inspired journalists to describe it as "California's organic wine Mecca".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoma County wine</span> Wine made in Sonoma County, California

Sonoma County wine refers to the viticulture and winemaking in Sonoma County, California, United States. County names in the United States automatically qualify as legal appellations of origin for wine produced from grapes grown in that county and do not require registration with the United States Department of the Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Bay AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S.

San Francisco Bay is a multi-county American Viticultural Area (AVA) which is centered and surrounds the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was established on January 19, 1999 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after evaluating the petition submitted by a consortium of nearly 75 growers and vintners led by Wente Bros. to establish the viticultural area known as "San Francisco Bay." It lies within the larger Central Coast viticultural area and includes San Francisco and counties encompassing the areas known as “South” and “East Bay.” This consists of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Mateo as well as portions of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. “North Bay” counties of Sonoma, Napa and Marin were excluded for they reside within the North Coast viticultural area with its distinct properties. ATF also concluded the established Santa Cruz Mountains viticultural area exhibits features and characteristics unique to its boundaries when compared to the surrounding areas, therefore, it was excluded from the "San Francisco Bay" viticultural area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Coast AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California

The North Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the state of California that encompasses grape-growing regions in six counties located north of San Francisco: Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano. This large appellation covers over 3,000,000 acres (5,000 sq mi) and includes a number of smaller sub-appellations that all share the common ecology trait of weather affected by the fog and breezes off the Pacific Ocean.

Mendocino is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Mendocino County, California within the vast 3,251,042 acres (5,080 sq mi) multi-county North Coast appellation. Mendocino AVA was established on June 15, 1984 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing a petition submitted by Mr. James A. Beckman, Vice-President of Guild Wineries and Distilleries, on behalf of 113 local viticulture industry members within the County, proposing a viticultural area named "Mendocino." The 283,300 acres (443 sq mi) viticultural area encompasses eight valleys including Anderson Valley, Potter Valley, Redwood Valley, Capella Valley, Ukiah Valley, Knights (McNab) Valley, Sanel Valley, and McDowell Valley where approximately 35,000 acres (55 sq mi) or 13 percent of the area is suitable for grape production. As of 2024, eight smaller sub-AVAs are nested within the Mendocino appellation that largely encompasses Mendocino County. The “Mendocino” name is synonymous with excellent wines, i.e., Carignan, Charbono, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel, that are sourced from the Mediterranean climate grapes cultivated in the area which for many years has been known as the “Mendocino” vintage. Anderson Valley, because of its cooler climate, is known for its Pinot noir and sparkling wine production. Many wineries in the adjacent Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties source Mendocino grapes to blend into vintages labeled with their appellations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Mountain District AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California, United States

The Spring Mountain District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Napa Valley AVA in California. Spring Mountain District AVA was officially established as an American Viticulture Area in 1993. Encompassed within its bounds are about 8,600 acres (3,480 ha), of which about 1,000 acres (400 ha) are planted to vineyards. Given the small crop yields on hillsides, the region represents less than 2% of Napa Valley wine. Currently the region has just over 30 winegrowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California wine</span> Wine made from grapes grown in California, United States

California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted Vitis vinifera vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. In the 1770s, Spanish missionaries continued the practice under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra who planted California's first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Napa County wine</span> Appelation that designates wine in Napa County, CA

Napa County wine refers to the viticulture and winemaking in Napa County, California, United States. County names in the United States automatically qualify as legal appellations of origin for wine produced from grapes grown in that county and do not require registration with the United States Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). TTB was created in January 2003, when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or ATF, was extensively reorganized under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake County wine</span> Appelation designating wine from Lake County, California

Lake County wine designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Lake County, California. The region is located north of Napa County and east of Mendocino County. Although each region within Lake County has unique viticultural attributes, many are influenced by Clear Lake, the largest inland body of water in California.

Benmore Valley is an American Viticultural Area located in southwestern Lake County, California. The valley is named for Benjamin Moore, a local 19th century cattle rustler. The valley is a high depression in the mountains of southwestern Lake County, and is much cooler than surrounding areas.

Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) straddling the borders of Mendocino and Sonoma County, California. It was established on October 27, 2011 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Sara Schorske of Compliance Service of America on her and on behalf of local wine industry members proposing the 4,570 acres (7 sq mi) northern California viticultural area known as "Pine Mountain-Mayacmas." The area lies approximately 90 miles (145 km) north of San Francisco and five miles (8 km) north-northeast of Cloverdale, surrounding much of Pine Mountain, which rises to the east of Hwy 101 and the Russian River, to the north of that river's Big Sulphur Creek tributary, and to the immediate west of the Mayacmas Mountains. Approximately two-thirds of the proposed viticultural area lies in the southernmost portion of Mendocino County, with the remaining one-third located in the northern portion of Sonoma County. It is located at the top of Pine Mountain, at the Northern end of the Mayacamas Range, which separates the Napa and Sonoma growing regions. The AVA rises between 1,600 and 2,600 ft (488–792 m) making the area one of the most elevated grape growing regions in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moon Mountain District Sonoma County</span> American Viticultural Area in California

Moon Mountain District Sonoma County is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Sonoma Valley and North Coast viticultural areas, just north of the city of Sonoma. This mountainous region on the very eastern edge of Sonoma County has a historic reputation for producing rich, intensely-flavored wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varietals since the 1880s. The District was established on November 1, 2013, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Its designation covers 17,663 acres (28 sq mi) of land stretching north-south along the western slopes of the Mayacamas mountains between Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Los Carneros viticultural area with the Napa Valley’s Mount Veeder viticultural area outlining the eastern slopes. Its name is derived from Moon Mountain Road, which traverses through the area and itself a reference to Sonoma, which means 'valley of the moon' in the local Native American dialect. A clear view to San Francisco 50 miles (80 km) south is not uncommon from Moon Mountain District vineyards.

Upper Lake Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Lake County, California, established in June 2022 and encompassing 17,360 acres (70.3 km2). The appellation lies between 1,326 feet (404 m) and 2,820 feet (860 m) in a series of valleys north of the unincorporated towns of Upper Lake and south of the Mendocino National Forest, and a stretch of Clear Lake's north shore which extends from Upper Lake in the west to the unincorporated community of Nice to the east. The Elk Mountain Valley AVA designation was originally suggested, but after consultation with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), it was abandoned in 2018 for the more encompassing Upper Lake Valley appellation.

References

  1. ↑ Elkjer, Thom (2002). Fodor's Escape to the Wine Country: California's Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino. Fodor's. ISBN   978-0-679-00918-4.
  2. ↑ Michael Chiarello, Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking: Wine Country Recipes for Family and Friends, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, California.
  3. ↑ Whitesides, Mary (2004). Wine Country: Architecture and Interiors. Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith.
  4. ↑ Molly Chappellet, Gardens of the Wine Country, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, California.
  5. ↑ Appelation America.com
  6. ↑ "Yolo County". Vinorandum. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  7. ↑ "Title 27, Part 9: American Viticultural Areas". Code of Federal Regulations.
  8. ↑ "Title 27, Section 4.25(a)". Code of Federal Regulations.
  9. ↑ Stewart, Suzanne B., Time before Time: Prehistory and Archaeology in the Lake Sonoma Area. Sacramento, CA: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1985.
  10. ↑ Charles Sullivan, Zinfandel: A History of a Grape and Its Wine, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press, 2003.
  11. ↑ Fuller, Thomas; Perez-Pena, Richard; Bromwich, Jonah Engel (October 10, 2017). "Wildfires Burn Out of Control Across Northern California; 17 Are Dead". The New York Times . Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  12. ↑ "UC Davis Marks 140 Years of Service to the Wine Industry". www.winebusiness.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  13. ↑ "Exploring UC Davis Viticulture and Enology | ART & WINE MAGAZINE" (in German). 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  14. ↑ Murphy, Linda (December 5, 2004). "Wine School Wars / Two of the best enology programs in the country are right here, but which makes a better winemaker, Davis or Fresno?". SF Gate.
  15. ↑ Sonoma Creek Watershed Limiting Factors Analysis, Sonoma Ecology Center, with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, December 2004.
  16. ↑ Bland, Alastair (November 18, 2019). "Wine Moguls Destroy Land And Pay Small Fines As Cost Of Business, Say Activists". NPR News. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  17. ↑ San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program Fifth Year Report Archived 2007-06-21 at the Wayback Machine pg 19
  18. ↑ "Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  19. ↑ California's woodlands
  20. ↑ Wildlife:The Importance of Hardwood Habitat for Wildlife in California, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1987
  21. ↑ "Napa Valley Wine Tasting Tours". Wine Country Tour Shuttle. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Fodor's California Wine Country Online". 2006.
  23. ↑ Bernstein, Sondra (2004). The Girl & the Fig Cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from the Acclaimed California Wine Country Restaurant. Simon & Schuster. ISBN   0-7432-5521-6.
  24. ↑ "Trancas Road/California State Route 29 Intersection Improvements". NapaTraffic.info. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
  25. ↑ Yune, Howard (September 4, 2015). "Napa planners support Airbnb-type home rental ordinance". Napa Valley Register.
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