October 2024 Newsletter

In This Issue…

Register Now for Lake County Pruning School
Lake County Winegrowers Host Press Tours
Lake County Wines Poured in Texas
AgVenture Tours Lake County Wine Industry
Lake County Wines in the News
Grape & Wine Marketplace
Weather & Climate Report
Affiliate Sponsor: PG&E
Affiliate Sponsor: Wine Industry Network

Registration for Lake County Pruning School Is Now Open

Registration for year three of Lake County Pruning School (LCPS) is now open for Lake County growers. This is the third year of the three-year multi-level grant-funded courses, so sign up now before the courses sell out!

LCPS is an immersive training program presented by Lake County Winegrape Commission and delivered by Simonit & Sirch. Vine Master Pruners Jacopo Miolo and Jett Johansson will share knowledge about grapevine sap flow and teach innovative pruning techniques to foster grapevine health, longevity, and sustainability of the vineyard.

In addition to the same Introductory and Intermediate courses that were offered last year, Lake County Pruning School also is offering a new Advanced course that builds on the principles learned in previous classes with an emphasis on techniques for head-trained vines.

Who Should Attend

LCPS is designed for vineyard owners, vineyard supervisors, and crew leaders, and experienced vineyard workers. Each class is limited to 15 participants, which enables more one-on-one learning and an opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques with others in the cohort. Classes are offered in English and in Spanish.

Eligibility Requirements for Introduction Course

A minimum of three years of pruning experience in commercial ag production is required to attend. A handful of spaces will be made available for commercial winemakers and university-level viticulture/enology students.

Eligibility Requirements for Intermediate Course

To be eligible to apply, applicant must have completed the Introduction to Simonit & Sirch’s Pruning Method and have at least five years of pruning experience in commercial ag production.

Eligibility Requirements for Advanced Course

To be eligible to apply, applicant must have completed the Introduction and Intermediate courses and have at least five years of pruning experience in commercial ag production.

Classes will begin in December. View Introduction Course dates, Intermediate Course dates, and Advanced Course dates.

Lake County Winegrowers Host Press Tours

LCWC hosted two press familiarization tours of the Lake County wine region in August. Layne Randolph (photo above) visited August 4, 5, and 6. She is a freelance writer for Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, Napa Valley Life Magazine, and others.

Tonya Pitts, Northern California Wine Reviewer for Wine Enthusiast, and her colleague Anthony Eyzaguirre (photo below) visited on August 17 and 18.

Thank you to all the winemakers, winegrape growers, and restaurants that hosted the writers and highlighted the exceptional experiences that Lake County has to offer.

Lake County Wines Poured at TEXSOM

The Lake County Winegrape Commission continued its outreach to sommeliers and buyers by sponsoring two tasting breaks during TEXSOM in Dallas.

At the August 2026 event, LCWC Board Chair Jonathan Walters of Brassfield Estate and LCWC President Debra Sommerfield poured several Lake County wines. They shared information about the wines and conversed with attendees about the Lake County winegrowing region. For more information, visit www.texsom.com.

TEXSOM is now accepting submissions for wine, mead, sake, cider, non-alcoholic beverages, and spirits for the 2025 TEXSOM Awards competition.

Early Submission Period

Now through December 23, 2024 by 5pm CST
Entries arrive at TEXSOM by December 31, 2024
Wine, Cider, Mead, Sake, Hybrids, and Non-Alcoholic
$95 + 4 bottles (750ml)

app.texsom.com | info@texsom.com

AgVenture Class Digs into Winegrape Industry

On September 13, community leaders participating in this year’s AgVenture class dug into the winegrape industry with special presentations, a tour of a commercial winery, a visit to a production vineyard, and a curated wine and food pairing.

Winemaker Fritz Meier kicked off the day with a behind-the-scenes tour of the long-time Kendall-Jackson winemaking facility in Lakeport. The group was able to watch as the morning’s last truckload delivered freshly harvested Lake County Sauvignon Blanc grapes for processing. Meier described the various stages of the process while leading the group from the loading dock, hopper, and de-stemmer through to the fermentation tanks, and on to the barrel room where he highlighted several of the company’s sustainability efforts, including an end-to-end barrel program of sustainable forestry, wine barrel reuse, and wine-to-spirits barrel re-purposing.

Another of the day’s highlights was a vineyard visit to Beckstoffer Vineyards’ Crimson Ridge in the heart of the Red Hills AVA where General Manager Pedro Rubio shared the workings of a commercial production vineyard and several of the many techniques the company uses to address changing weather patterns and conserve water, including fly-over vine-stress and soil-moisture monitoring, dual irrigation systems, and frost protection. Rubio also described Beckstoffer Vineyard’s vineyard research project identifying the most ideal rootstock and clone combinations for drought conditions.

The lineup of presenters for the day included Ami Gunasekara, Director of Science and Research at California Farm Bureau, who provided a fact-filled analysis of water sources, capture, and distribution in California; Greg Giusti, University of California Forests & Wildland Ecology Advisor Emeritus, who gave a lively talk about the ecology of Clear Lake and the impact of roadways on the lake’s nutrient load; and Rebecca Harper, Executive Director of the Lake County Farm Bureau, who explained the many water quality, regulatory, and reporting programs required of agricultural water users.

Class members also heard about the marketing value of federally recognized appellations – American Viticultural Areas, or AVAs – from LCWC President Debra Sommerfield. Each year, LCWC hosts lunch for the class, which this year included an informative wine-and-food pairing by Marlana Gould of Brassfield Estate and seasonal lunch with local ingredients by Rosey Cooks.

The day wrapped as Angie Shannon of Shannon Family of Wines, Kendall Fults of Fults Family Vineyards, and Jonathan Walters of Brassfield Estate shared insights into wine consumer trends and marketing techniques and challenges in a panel discussion moderated by local winegrower Terry Dereniuk.

AgVenture’s 2024 class members are Lake County Undersheriff Lucas Bingham, Lakeport Superintendent of Schools Matt Bullard, Lake County News Reporter Lingzi Chen, Lake County Latinos United’s Marilu Garcia, Lake County Administrative Officer/Housing Lisa Judd, County Supervisorial Candidate Helen Owen, State Senator Mike McGuire’s District Representative Rhiannon Philippi, Lake County Agricultural Biologist Michael Sobieraj, Sutter Health Lakeside CEO Timothy Stephens, Lakeport Police Chief Dale Stoebe, Lake County Water Resources Director Pawan Upadhyay, Lake County Deputy Community Development Administrator Shannon Walker-Smith, The Bloom Editor Trudy Wakefield.

About AgVenture

Launched in 2010, AgVenture is an innovative agricultural educational program designed for non-farming community members and others who wish to understand the vital contributions of agriculture to Lake County’s quality of life. The program’s steering committee includes Katy Evans, Rebecca Harper, Colleen Rentsch, Toni Scully, Bonnie Sears, Debra Sommerfield, Katherine VanDerWall, and Sharron Zoller.

AgVenture is made possible with funding from individual donors and program sponsors like Bella Vista Farming Company, which provides van transport for program tours.

In the News

Five Amazing Alternative Regions

Editor’s note: Full article was featured in Food & Wine Magazine’s September edition.

“Post-Prohibition, it took decades for Lake County, which lies north-west of Napa Valley, to resurface in the public’s wine awareness. (Little-known fact: Wine giant Kendall-Jackson actually got its start here, as Chateau du Lac, in 1982; founder Jess Jackson moved the business to Sonoma in 1993.) The real growth spurt kicked off in the late 1990s, as vintners started to realize the region’s potential for Cabernet Sauvignon in particular. Among them was Clay Shannon, whose black-curranty 2021 Shannon Ridge High Elevation Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from sustainably farmed vines, paints a vivid picture of Lake County Cabernet character.”

3 Wines to Make Back to School Season a Little Less Chaotic

Editor’s note: Full article was featured in Food & Wine Magazine’s September edition.

2022 Clay Shannon El Coyote Chardonnay

“Made with organic grapes from the Shannon family’s 1,000-acre Lake County estate, in Lake County, California, this lemon-creamy Chardonnay is rich enough to satisfy old-school Chard lovers yet has enough zip for those who lean towards crisp and zesty options.

The wine goes spectacularly well with a lobster, chicken, and chorizo paella cooked on a grill, particularly when I tasted it by the water in Maine. That’s a bit of a production, admittedly, but it would be equally good with some Spanish chorizo and manchego cheese, either after work or for a dinner party with friends.”

Read full article.

Wine County Women Podcast

Michelle Mandro, host of the Wine Country Women podcast, recently interviewed Angie Shannon of Shannon Family of Wines. They discussed Lake County’s natural beauty, organic farming, and big dreams for the future.

Listen here.

Top Autumn 2024 Wine Gifts to Impress Your Business Clients This Season

Editor’s note: Full article was featured on Home Business Magazine.

“Brassfield Estate Vineyards & Winery is situated at the pinnacle of the High Valley AVA in Lake County, reaching altitudes that place it among the top 1% of vineyards globally. The estate’s winemaking is rooted in traditional hand-crafted techniques, ensuring that each wine embodies both power and finesse. Brassfield Estate is dedicated to precision and sustainable farming, cultivating 17 varietals with meticulous care from vine to bottle.

The Brassfield Perspective Syrah 2017 is a vibrant, fruit-forward wine with enticing aromas of ripe Bing cherry and blueberry that continue seamlessly on the palate. Its bright, fresh character makes it perfect for summer, while the silky, cocoa-like tannins add a luxurious touch. The Perspective Vineyard, perched at 3,000 feet above sea level, commands breathtaking views of Clearlake and Mt. Konocti. This vineyard is not only visually stunning but also uniquely planted with six Syrah clones and employs a rare Roman trellising system, reminiscent of the Côte-Rôtie region in the Rhone Valley. Hand-harvested and aged for 30 months in a mix of French and Hungarian oak, this Syrah showcases both the power and finesse that Brassfield Estate is known for.”

Read full article.

Lake County in California’s North Coast Wine Region

Editor’s note: Full article was featured on Crushed Grape Chronicles.

“Lake County sits around Clear Lake, California’s largest natural freshwater lake. When you are here, you are not far from Calistoga (it is just 35 miles away through some winding roads.)

Clear Lake is a “volcanic caldera lake,” so it should come as no surprise that the soils here are volcanic. Cobb Mountain and Mount Konocti sit over a magma chamber that “powers the world’s largest complex of geothermal energy production in the world at The Geysers.” (as per the Lake County Winegrowers).

We are accustomed to ancient volcanic soils, but these are some of the youngest volcanic soils in California. Mount Konocti is a dormant volcano that erupted 11,000 years ago. I know, that sounds like quite a while, but comparatively it is not so long.

You will find black obsidian in many vineyards, which is a type of volcanic glass.

This is also a high altitude region. The lowest of the AVAs starts at 973 feet (in the Guenoc Valley) and the Clear Lake AVA spans 1,309 feet to 4,299 feet above sea level!”

Read full article.

What’s white, dry and aromatic? This wildly delicious wine category

Editor’s note: Full article was featured on The Press Democrat.

Mauritson 2022 Muscat Blanc, Big Valley District

“With fruit sourced from the Mauritson Family’s organic vineyards in Lake County, this Muscat Blanc offers bergamot, orange rind, jasmine blossom, dried rose and undertones of freshly minced ginger.”

Read full article (possible paywall).

The Volcanic Wine of Lake County

Editor’s note: Full article was featured on Charles Scicolone on Wine.

“Lake Country (sic) is a volcanic wine producing region in California named for a volcanic caldera lake centered on the Clear Lake Volcanic Field It features some of the youngest volcanic soils in California. The landscape is dominated by two volcanoes, both hosting vineyards: Cobb Mountain (elevation: 4724 feet, 1440 meters), and Mount Konocti (elevation: 4285 feet, 1306 meters).

The main factors influencing Lake County’s climate are Clear Lake, the elevation of the valley floors, the surrounding mountain ranges, and the proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

The soils are volcanic hillside soils, hillside soils formed on sandstone, and shale and terrace alluvial soils.

The higher elevation allows for more light and cleaner air with warm days and cool nights. A shorter growing season means less vegetation and fewer pests. Thanks to the favorable conditions, sustainable and organic farming is common in the area. 6,870 acres of vineyard (104 vineyards), amounting to 68% of the total vineyard acreage in Lake County, are certified sustainable. The wines produced here are age-worthy.”

Read full article.

Congratulations to these Lake County wines, which Wine Enthusiast recently reviewed:

Bodkin NV Bubbly Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, 93 Points
Brassfield Estate 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, High Valley, 93 Points
Brassfield Estate 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, High Valley, 93 Points
Brassfield Estate 2023 Pinot Gris, High Valley, 93 Points
Brassfield Estate 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, High Valley, 94 Points
Chacewater 2022 Petite Sirah, Lake County, 91 Points
Clay Shannon 2023 Rose High Valley, 92 points
Covenent 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, 91 Points
Domaine Helena 2023 Rose, Lake County, 92 Points
Hidden Vines 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Hills Lake County, 93 Points
Kazi Cellars 2021 Fore Family Vineyard Grenache, Lake County, 92 Points
Kendall-Jackson 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills Lake County, 93 Points
Mother Vine – Shannon Family of Wines 2023 Rose, Lake County, 92 Points
Myka Cellars 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, 92 Points
No Name Road 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Hills Lake County, 92 Points
The Meeker Vineyard 2021 Hone #4 Tonnage Red, Lake County, 94 Points
William Lane 2022 Nero d’Avola, High Valley, 93 Points
Windstorm 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Hills Lake County, 90 Points

Wine Enthusiast Companies Launches the Wine Enthusiast Ratings Platform

Wine Enthusiast Companies, a media and commerce company that stands as the leading source of innovation and information around wine, has officially launched the Wine Enthusiast Ratings Platform which brings two major upgrades to the long-standing tasting and review program: 1) every wine and spirit submission is guaranteed to be reviewed if the SKU is imported in the U.S., and 2) all regions across the globe are now welcome to submit wines and spirits to be blind tasted and rated.

Marketplace

In the market for bulk wine? Visit the Marketplace page of the LCWC website for an up-to-date list of Lake County bulk wine, grapes, and vines available for sale.

LCWC recently distributed this buyer guide and printed lists of available grapes and bulk wine for sale. Please feel free to download and share the file.

Weather & Climate

View September Report from Dr. Gregory Jones.

Affiliate Sponsor: Pacific Gas & Electric

Affiliate Sponsor: Wine Industry Network

Registration is open for the 12^th Annual North Coast Wine Industry Trade Show & Conference (WIN Expo), at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

WIN Expo is the largest trade show and conference focused exclusively on the Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma wine regions with nearly 300 exhibitors featuring the latest products and services, an outdoor large equipment showcase, trial tastings on the tradeshow floor, and a robust educational conference.

Lake County Winegrowers are invited to join the North Coast wine industry to celebrate a fruitful harvest, reconnect with colleagues, make new connections, and prepare for success in 2025!