Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/992999
{ SOMMjournal.com } 41 • The county has had the cleanest air in California for more than 20 years. • More than 200 North Coast wineries use Lake County grapes. • Most of Lake County's 9,500 vineyard acres are planted higher than 1,300 feet above sea level along the valley floors and slopes of one of the three mountain ranges that rim the region: the Mayacamas to the west; the Vaca Mountains to the southeast; and the Mendocino Range to the north. • Due to the elevation and the clean air, Lake County fruit receives up to 10 percent more ultraviolet exposure than neighboring sea-level valleys. Increased UV produces grapes with thicker skins, which results in intense wines with phenolically-ripe tannins. • The cold winters and dry growing conditions decrease incidents of disease, which reduces the need for chemical pesticides and fungicides. Lake County has one of the lowest rates of pesticide use in California. • Soils in the region's seven recognized AVAs run the gamut from serpentine (not ideal for vines) to volcanic, sandstone, and alluvial. • Clear Lake covers more than half the total acreage of the overarching Clear Lake AVA. The lake's moderating climatic influence contributes to quality winegrowing throughout the region. • The combination of diverse soils, elevation, and climatic conditions means 50 different grape varieties thrive somewhere in the county. Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvi - gnon are the most widely planted in the region. When Bath explains further why he's such a fan of Lake County—and what wine buyers can use as key takeaways—he cites the varietal purity of the wines; their balance, exhibited by their "abundant fruit, but not at the expense of acidity"; and "great value." He's also impressed by the "thoughtful winemaking" of the local producers, explaining that they're "not overdoing the winemaking so that the wines speak of being from 'somewhere' rather than from 'someone.'" "There's a lack of ego and open-mindedness here. Producers believe in the region, but they're not egotistical about it," he adds. "They're also open to feed - back and experimentation." As for which of the AVAs might be the ones to watch, Bath says people should "keep an eye on the Red Hills and High Valley appellations." Although Lake County's first vineyards were planted in 1854, its vineyard plantings today are miniscule compared to Napa and Sonoma: Lake County's 9,500 acres to Napa's 45,000 and Sonoma's 65,000. "There's plenty of room to grow," Bath says. He's also excited about the new website, which he sees as a superb resource for both consumers interested in wine tourism and members of the wine trade looking to expand their knowledge. "The region is getting more attention now and there's so much to talk about from a terroir standpoint," he continues. "A great website is the perfect venue for communicating all of that and hopefully serving as an inspiration to visit this incredible region." A barn on the property of Rooster Vineyard displays a "quilt" painting that's part of the Lake County Quilt Trail, the first of its kind in California. Winemaker Matt Hughes pours at a recent SOMM Camp event in Lake County. The event was presented by the Lake County Winegrape Commission in collaboration with The SOMM Journal. For more information, visit lakecountywines.org.