Lake Country is a volcanic wine producing region in California named for a volcanic caldera lake centered on the Clear Lake Volcanic Field It features some of the youngest volcanic soils in California. The landscape is dominated by two volcanoes, both hosting vineyards: Cobb Mountain (elevation: 4724 feet, 1440 meters), and Mount Konocti (elevation: 4285 feet, 1306 meters).
The main factors influencing Lake County’s climate are Clear Lake, the elevation of the valley floors, the surrounding mountain ranges, and the proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
The soils are volcanic hillside soils, hillside soils formed on sandstone, and shale and terrace alluvial soils.
The higher elevation allows for more light and cleaner air with warm days and cool nights. A shorter growing season means less vegetation and fewer pests. Thanks to the favorable conditions, sustainable and organic farming is common in the area. 6,870 acres of vineyard (104 vineyards), amounting to 68% of the total vineyard acreage in Lake County, are certified sustainable. The wines produced here are age-worthy.
Three Lake Country Wines
Brassfield Estate Winery & Vineyards are located in the western section of High Valley at High Serenity Ranch on a truly distinctive and remarkable wine growing property. In 1973, Jerry Brassfield purchased the original 1,600 acres as a cattle ranch and wildlife preserve. Over the next three decades Jerry acquired additional contiguous properties. Today, the Brassfield Estate includes over 5,000 acres across both the eastern and the western sections of High Valley, as well as the Round Mountain Volcano.
Brassfield Estate Winery Grenache 2021 Night Valley Appellation made from 100% Grenache from the LaLoma vineyard, a high density, premier vineyard planted among the gently rolling hills of a raised bench between the valley floor and the ridge-line above. The elevation is slightly higher than the valley floor, ranging from 1800 ft to 2000 ft. There is a single block of Grenache planted at the higher elevation. The block is south facing and less then an acre in size and the soil is composed of ancient lakeshore. Grapes were harvested by hand in the early morning to maximize quality. To keep the fermentation healthy, there were twice-daily pumpovers in a concrete tank. The wine underwent a secondary malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity and enhance structure. The wine was aged in concrete for 6 months to have the fruit of the grape variety take center stage. This wine was fined and lightly filtered before bottling. This is an elegant light bodied wine red wine with hints of strawberry, red raspberry, cherry and a touch of rose petal. $45
The Rhone varietals of Wild Diamond Vineyards are bottled under the Dumb Luck Label. Wild Diamond Vineyards is located along an airflow path in Lake County, California. The vineyards are at 2,200 feet and the soil is complex volcanic red soil that naturally stresses the vines. The grapes have a longer growing season because of the altitude.
Dumb Luck Syrah 2018 Lake County made from 100% Syrah from a spur pruned block of clone 877 Syrah at 2,100 feet. Harvest is the first week of September and fermentation was a mix of 90% destemmed fruit and 10% whole cluster. Fermented to dryness at 28 days, it was pressed and inoculated with ML and aged for 9 months in 50% new French oak barrels 50% in once-used French oak barrels and then bottled. Alcohol 14.7.
The wine has hints of olives, clove, wild berries, boysenberry and a note of toasted vanilla bean $48
ClayShannon “The Barkley” Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are from the two appellations within Lake County: High Valley and Red Hills. Lake County mountain vineyard estate is situated at an altitude of 2,200 feet above sea level in the mountains of the North Coast of California. This rugged terrain is characterized by ancient volcanic soils, steep elevation and more recently warmer summers and cooler winters. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak, 25% of it new. Alcohol 14.5. Sustainably farmed and vegan, this is a complex wine with hints of cassia, blackberry, leather, toasted oak, boysenberry and vanilla. The wines are 100% organic. $45
Lake County is also carrying out an innovative Pruning School. Lake County Pruning School is an immersive training program organized by the Lake County Winegrape Commission aimed at providing grape growers with pruning insights. The first of its kind for a regional organization, the project began in 2022 and is delivered, in both English and Spanish.