Big Valley District-Lake County AVA

Big Valley District-Lake County is an American Viticultural Area located in Lake County, California. There were 6 wineries within the viticultural area, as well as 43 commercially-producing vineyards covering approximately 1,800 acres (728 ha) when officially established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in October 2013 alongside the adjacent Kelsey Bench AVA.[2]

Big Valley District-Lake County AVA
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2013[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofLake County, Clear Lake AVA
Other regions in Lake County, Clear Lake AVAClear Lake AVA, Guenoc Valley AVA, High Valley AVA, Kelsey Bench-Lake County AVA, Long Valley-Lake County AVA, Red Hills Lake County AVA, Upper Lake Valley AVA
Soil conditionsClay and still loam[2]
Total area11,000 acres (4,452 ha)[3]
Size of planted vineyards1,800 acres (728 ha)[3]
No. of vineyards43[4]
Varietals producedCabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Viognier, Zinfandel[4]
No. of wineries6[5]

Big Valley District is in a large valley near Clear Lake, the Mayacamas mountain range, and the Mount Konocti volcano. The AVA is in the less hilly area near Kelseyville; the hillier areas are part of the Kelsey Bench. Big Valley is a structural basin that is part of the larger Clear Lake basin.[2][3]

Sauvignon blanc makes up the majority of the region's plantings in addition to Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "§9.232 Big Valley District-Lake County" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved May 10, 2020.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c "Proposed Establishment of the Big Valley District-Lake County and Kelsey Bench-Lake County Viticultural Areas, and Modification of the Red Hills Lake County Viticultural Area" (27 CFR 9, 78 FR 20544). Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. June 4, 2013. pp. 20544–20557. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Dereniuk, Terry (October 12, 2013). "Big Valley District and Kelsey Bench AVAs Approved". Lake County Winegrape Growers. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Big Valley District AVA". Lake County Winegrape Growers. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Big Valley District Wine". Wine-Searcher. Retrieved May 10, 2020.

39°00′12″N 122°52′32″W / 39.0032°N 122.8756°W / 39.0032; -122.8756