Red Hills AVA
Dramatic high elevation volcanic hillsides producing intense mountain fruit with great color and structure.
| Topography | Located in the northern Mayacamas Mountains, the Red Hills of Lake County frame the southwest edge of Clear Lake. Comprised of dozens of volcanic hills ranging from 1,350 to over 3,700 feet above sea level, the appellation lies right over the North Coast Magna Pocket. As a result, the Red Hills are the latest formation of the volcanic and tectonic processes that created many of the famous hillside regions of the North Coast. |
| Elevation | Vineyard elevations range from 1,350 to 2,600 feet with the majority of the AVA’s acreage planted at or over 2,000 feet. Higher elevations and Lake County’s pure air allow for greater levels of UV light, as much as 10% more than neighboring sea level valleys. This UV triggers thicker grape skins, greater tannins, and intense wines with high phenolic content. |
| Soils | Volcanic origin from neighboring Mount Konocti, producing well-drained vineyards rich in black obsidian, quartz crystals and volcanic gravel content, and strikingly red in color. Three general soil types predominate: Glenview-Bottlerock- Arrowhead, Konocti-Benridge, and Collayomi-Aiken. |
| Acreage | 3,250 acres |
| Climate | With vineyards starting at 1,350 feet and reaching up to 2,600 feet above sea level, Red Hills of Lake County grapes are grown in mountain climate conditions. Upper level airflows from the Pacific Ocean combine with many local convections to moderate daytime highs. Low relative humidity and varied topography permit quick radiative cooling of ridgetop vineyards in the late afternoon and evenings. Both factors allow for good acid retention during ripening. Cold winters and dry summer conditions are an important factor in Lake County’s reduced pesticide and other application rates, one of the lowest in California. |
| Varietals | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Zinfandel. |
Calendar of Events
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCWC Board Meeting 4:00 pm LCWC Board Meeting @ LCWC Office Dec 3 @ 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm Agenda – LCWC Board Meeting, December 3, 2019 | Crop Insurance Webinar Series 10:00 am Crop Insurance Webinar Series Dec 4 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am  Crop Insurance 101 As the harvest season wraps up, it’s time to start planning for next year. An important part of your 2020 planning process is risk management of your most valuable asset – –[...] | |||||
| Crop Insurance Webinar Series 10:00 am Crop Insurance Webinar Series Dec 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am  Crop Insurance 102 Whether you are new to crop insurance or you’ve been purchasing it for many years, CAWG is committed to bringing you education on the most current industry topics. Our Crop 102 webinar[...] | UCCE Lake & Mendocino IPM Seminar 7:30 am UCCE Lake & Mendocino IPM Seminar @ UC Hopland Research and Extension Center Dec 13 @ 7:30 am – 5:00 pm 22nd Annual UCCE Lake & Mendocino IPM Seminar UC Hopland Research and Extension Center 4070 University Road, Hopland Rod Shippey Hall Friday, December 13, 2019 Doors open 7:30 am for Registration Seminar starts at[...] | |||||
| Crop Insurance Webinar Series 10:00 am Crop Insurance Webinar Series Dec 18 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am Whole Farm Revenue Protection Want to protect your crop against price and market losses? Maybe Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) is for you! Join CAWG on Wednesday, December 18th at 10:00 am to learn more[...] | ||||||
