Tag: County
History of the Mendocino County Wine Industry
Posted onBackground of the Mendocino County Wine Market
The history of wine production in Mendocino go back to the mid 19th century. The first Europeans to work out in the area were Russian seekers as well as trappers. They made their living selling seal as well as otter pelts.
The Gold Thrill triggered the population of the San Francisco Bay Location to increase significantly. The local lumber sector took off with the rise popular for developing materials.
The initial grapes were expanded during 1850s by failed gold miners. The wine created during this age had a mostly regional customer base because of the isolation of the area.
In 1851, the Anderson Valley was uncovered by crash. Italian immigrants planted vineyards on the bright hills of the valley during the ensuing generation.
Even when the railways were expanded north, Mendocino’s Wine Market continued to be reasonably unidentified in the national as well as global markets. Regardless of the area’s obscurity, there were over 5000 acres of wineries and a number of wineries during the late-ninteenth century.
Phylloxera and also Prohibition
The Majority Of The Golden State Wine Country was hurt by the spread of the Phylloxera Louse in the late 19th century. In spite of the damage, the separated area fared much better compared to other parts of the state. The industry recoiled after the usage of Phylloxera resistent rootstocks. In the 1910s, there were close to 6000 acres of wineries in Mendocino Region.
Prohibition was practically a death penalty for the region’s wine sector. With a couple of separated exemptions, almost all was lost. A few Zinfandel wineries in the Mendocino Ridge made it through and also are thankfully still to life today. Nonetheless, every one of the vineyards were shut during Restriction.
The Parducci Family is attributed as being the guardians of the wine sector during the taking place difficult years. In the 1960s they owned and also ran the only vineyard in the region. It lies near the Redwood Valley.
The Renaissance
The sector started to come alive with the rest of the California wine market throughout the 1960s and also 1970s. In 1968, the Fetzer family members established a vineyard near the McDowell Valley. Ultimately the Parducci Family had some business. Substantial financial investment entered into growing vineyards, yet very little wine was really produced in Mendocino. The majority of the region’s grapes were marketed to non-resident wineries and also made use of in faceless blends.
The good news is, this has changed. There are currently many top notch vineyards in the county. In recent times, the area has obtained a reputation for creating several varietals remarkably well. The practice of delivery grapes to other regions for production minimized as the big AVA’s renown raised. It currently includes over 15,000 acres of grown vineyards.
Sonoma County Wine Country
Posted on
France has historically been the top of the heap when it comes to wine production. Northern California has certainly given France a run for its money in the last 40 plus years. The Sonoma County wine region is one area that doesn’t get as much attention as it should, but it has a ton to offer.
Sonoma County is located above San Francisco and sits close to Napa Valley. Although located above San Francisco, the best way to access the area is through the Oakland airport. Regardless, an hour or two later in a rental car will deliver you to an absolutely beautiful set of valleys that are lined with wineries. This means vineyard after vineyard, a site to behold for both the eyes and palette.
Sonoma County is roughly a square in size with 50 miles per side. There are 260 wineries in the County. Over the roughly one million acres in the county, sixty thousand of them are planted with vines. There are 13 different American Viticulture Areas [AVA] in the county. Of these, Chardonnay is the dominant choice with over 15,000 acres planted. Cabernet Sauvignon comes in a somewhat distant second with over 10,000 acres planted. Overall, Sonoma Country produces between five and seven percent of the total wine tonnage in California every year.
On a personal front, I can tell you Sonoma County has much to offer in both the quality of wine produced and the general culture of the area. Napa Valley is the undisputed media darling of Northern California, but this also makes it a hectic place when it comes to tastings and such. Sonoma County is the opposite. Unlike Napa, you can head over to a quality winery like Stag’s Leap and talk personally with the vintner [makes the wine] and viticulturist [grows the grapes]. It is a quaint and friendly experience that reminds you of years past when California was a hidden secret when it came to wine production. For better or worse, those days are long gone.
Sonoma County is often overshadowed by Napa. If you are considering a trip to the area, try Sonoma County for a relaxed, education experience in fine wines at fine wineries.
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