Few districts have more of the character of old California than Sonoma County.  Grapes and wine have been integral to its history. As early as 1812, Russian colonists planted and cultivated grapes at Ft. Ross on the Coast. But it was the Spanish Franciscan Fathers who laid the foundation for our wine industry in 1823 when Padre Jose Altimera planted several thousand grape vines at their northernmost mission, San Francisco Solano in Sonoma. In 1834, political upheaval brought an appropriation of all missions by the Mexican government. During this period of disarray, cuttings from the Sonoma Mission vineyards were carried throughout the northern California area to start new vineyards.  By the time of the “Bear Flag Revolt” and the subsequent annexation of California by the United States in 1854, the vineyards of General Mariano Vallejo, the military Governor of Mexican California, were producing an annual income of $20,000. Other areas in the county were developing at this time: Rocky Mountain trapper Cyrus Alexander in northern Sonoma first planted grapes in what would become Alexander Valley; the county’s first “feminine vineyardist“, Senora Maria de Carrillo, had 2,000 vines in what would be Santa Rosa; Captain Nicholas Carrigan, probably the first American settler, had vineyards in the Valley of the Moon, and later in 1852, his neighbor William Hill, planted the first non-mission grapes in the county.

As our home Appellation, we usually feature this area around September.  Because we have some great news to share with you, it seemed more prudent to showcase Livermore in May.  At long last Debra and I finally have our Winery space and tasting room, right in the heart of Livermore Valley.  More on this subject later in the newsletter, first I just want to take a minute to talk about the history of the Livermore Valley. 

For June this year, we find ourselves back visiting Amador.  It really goes to show you just how much the regions are growing.  Each wine featured this month comes from a Winery we have never been to before, or even existed the last time we were here.  In fact, One Wind comes from a winery that opened the day before we got there!  Who knew!  Before I get into our travels this month, here is a bit of history on Amador County. California's nascent wine industry took flight during the Gold Rush of the 1850s, amid the rugged western foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range. As fortune seekers, many of them European, flocked to the Sierras to prospect for gold, small wineries arose to help slake their thirst. Within a few decades, there were more wineries in the area known as the Mother Lode than in any other region of California. Some of the vineyards planted during that era survive to this day.

Although this regions wine heritage dates back more that 200 years, it is just now in recent history that Edna Valley and it’s surrounding areas are gaining the respect they deserve. Located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, right along highway 101, makes it easily accessible from most points in California. With one of California’s longest growing seasons, the small but fertile Edna Valley offers wines having the complex flavors associated with California’s great cool-climate regions. Located in the southern corner of San Luis Obispo County, the Valley is most famous for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production.

The New Napa? 

That’s what we keep hearing from visitors all over.  Is Paso the next Napa?  Well if this trip was any indication, LWC would have to enter a vote of “yes, definitely.”  New wineries are cropping up all over, the quality of wine continues to increase to world class level and beyond, and it’s not just the small few who are gaining recognition, it’s the entire region.  Paso Robles was named for its local oak trees, El Paso de Robles: The Pass of the Oaks. The name was shortened to Paso Robles when California gained its independence from Mexico in the mid 1800s.  Today, Paso Robles is home to more than 170 wineries and 26,000 Vineyard acres focusing on premium wine production. The distinct microclimates and diverse soils, combined with warm days and cool nights, make growing conditions ideal for producing more than 40 wine varietals from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, to Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne, to Zinfandel, the area’s heritage wine variety.

Harvest is Here!

Yes it is!  It is September, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared it 2008 California Wine Month for the fourth consecutive year. In the proclamation, the Governor lauds the state’s wine community as one of the largest and most successful wine producing regions in the world. California’s wineries and winegrape growers produce $19 billion in retail sales in the U.S.  As the state’s leading advocate, Governor Schwarzenegger has also given his support to the historic partnership between the Wine Institute and the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC). In a national TV campaign, the Governor, First Lady Maria Shriver and wine and culinary personalities are all featured promoting California as the “Capital of Culinary Travel.”   As our home Appellation we are featuring Livermore as this months stop.