Kelsey Bench-Lake County is an American Viticultural Area located in Lake County, California. The area was home to some 900 acres (360 ha) of vines across 27 vineyards when it was officially established as an AVA by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in October 2013.[1] Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Riesling are the principal white grape varieties within Kelsey Bench and its neighbor the Big Valley District AVA. Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Franc varieties make up the majority of red grape plantings in the area.[6]
| 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 | Big Valley District-Lake County AVA, Clear Lake AVA, Guenoc Valley AVA, High Valley AVA, Long Valley-Lake County AVA, Red Hills Lake County AVA, Upper Lake Valley AVA[2] |
| Soil conditions | Manzanita-Wappo-Forbesville, Phipps-Bally (alluvium), Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa (sandstone, shale, and siltstone)[3] |
| Total area | 9,119 acres (3,690 ha)[4] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 900 acres (364 ha)[5][6] |
| No. of vineyards | 27[5] |
| Varietals produced | Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Merlot, Nebbiolo,[7] Riesling , Sauvignon blanc, Trousseau,[8] Zinfandel[4][6] |
The name “Kelsey Bench” is a combination of Andrew Kelsey's surname, the first European American settler in the area, and "bench", a geological term used to describe the terraces that rise above the lower elevations of the valley to the north. The AVA boundaries cover a series of tectonically uplifted terraces in the southern half of a valley on the banks of Clear Lake. The Mayacamas mountains in the south and west separate the area from the southern end of Mendocino County, and the Mount Konocti volcano lies to the east. The Red Hills Lake County AVA is on the southeastern border of Kelsey Bench and when the appellation was formalized, the Red Hills boundaries were modified slightly to meet the Kelsey Bench boundaries.[5]
Kelsey Bench shares both the valley and the TTB's AVA ruling with the Big Valley District AVA to the north. The region's growers submitted the two petitions together, drawing a line between the valley floor and the higher elevations in the south.[9] The higher elevations of Kelsey Bench mean that the climate here is warmer than in Big Valley District, although not so warm as Red Hills Lake County in the east. Cold air from the mountains drains off the benches into the valley below, extending the growing season by lessening the risk of frost in the early spring and fall. Vines are stressed by the strong winds that buffet the area, and photosynthesis, therefore ripening, is slowed as a result. This gives the grapes ample time to develop rich fruit complexity alongside vital acidity, leading to well-balanced wines. Kelsey Bench has predominantly rich, red, volcanic soils.[5]
The first vineyards in the area were planted in the late 19th century. Swiss-born John J. Staheli was among the first winegrowers in the area, where in 1905 he acquired a 25-acre vineyard the previous owner, William Johnson, had planted primarily with Zinfandel. Staheli erected a winery on site in 1910 which operated for a couple of years.[10] Part of that vineyard eventually became in 1965 the property of Arden "Burt" Harlan, who married Staheli's niece.[11][12] In the same area, the Old Stake 1901 Vineyard, planted in 1901 and registered with the Historic Vineyard Society, features vines of Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Zinfandel, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Roussanne and Perlette.[13]
Rosa d'Oro and Smiling Dogs Ranch are the only bonded wineries located within the boundaries of the AVA.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "§9.233 Kelsey Bench-Lake County" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations.
- ^ "Lake County Appellations". Lake County Winegrape Growers.
- ^ "Notice No.134: 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". Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. 2013.
- ^ a b "Kelsey Bench AVA", Lake County Winegrape Growers
- ^ a b c d "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 "Kelsey Bench Wine", Wine-Searcher
- ^ "About the vineyard", Prima Materia
- ^ Asimov, Eric (6 September 2012). "It Takes One Grape to Reimagine California Wine". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "Big Valley District and Kelsey Bench AVAs Approved". Lake County Winegrape Growers. October 12, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ Mauldin, Henry, Mauldin Files, vol. 44, p. 8271
- ^ Mauldin, Henry, Mauldin Files, vol. 51, p. 9824
- ^ "Our History", Brian Arden
- ^ "Old Stake 1901 Vineyard". Historic Vineyard Society.