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]
Wine region | |
Type | American Viticultural Area |
---|---|
Year established | 2013[1] |
Country | United States |
Part of | Lake County, Clear Lake AVA |
Other regions in Lake County, Clear Lake AVA | Clear 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 conditions | Clay and still loam[2] |
Total area | 11,000 acres (4,452 ha)[3] |
Size of planted vineyards | 1,800 acres (728 ha)[3] |
No. of vineyards | 43[4] |
Varietals produced | Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Viognier, Zinfandel[4] |
No. of wineries | 6[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
edit- ^ "§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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Dereniuk, Terry (October 12, 2013). "Big Valley District and Kelsey Bench AVAs Approved". Lake County Winegrape Growers. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "Big Valley District AVA". Lake County Winegrape Growers. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "Big Valley District Wine". Wine-Searcher. Retrieved May 10, 2020.