Lake County Rising

About Lake County…

Population 64,600 people

Area 850,800 acres

Pomo Native culture dates back at least 11,000 years

First wagon train arrives in 1850

County established in 1861

Clear Lake is at least 480,000 years old with a surface area of 44,000

acres

Average high temp. 92F in summer, average low 32F in winter

History of Lake County…

Long known as an agricultural community. First vineyards were planted

in the 1870’s.

Award-winning wines were being produced by 1900 – 3000 acres and 100

wineries - but Prohibition ended winemaking for a few decades.

Agriculture remained a cornerstone - many families are generational farmers.

Winegrapes were re-introduced in the 1960’s – from less than 100 acres in

1965 to over 8,400 today.

About Lake County…

One of four counties in the North Coast Appellation along with Napa,

Sonoma and Mendocino

7,900 bearing acres yielding 32,000 tons of grapes worth $35,600,000 in

2010

Seven Regions – Red Hills, High Valley, Big Valley, Kelseyville Bench, Upper Lake, Middletown & Guenoc

170 Growers

32 Wineries, 250+ Lake County designated labels

The Mountains of the North Coast

Intersection of the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountain Ranges

High Average vineyard elevations: 1,300’ to up to 3,000’

Purest Air in California

Mountain Climate

One of the Oldest Geological Lakes in North America

Largest Geothermal Field in North America

High Valley

High Valley

High Valley

High Valley

AVA established 2005. Valley begins at 1700 feet elevation with vineyards planted up to 2400 feet

A rare east-west transverse valley

977 acres planted

Noted for constant wind between mountains to the north, coastal inlet airflow and lake factors – one of the cooler AVAs

A few vines planted by the Slovenian Ogulin family date back to 1875

Red Hills

Red Hills

Red Hills: Obsidian Ridge Vineyard

Red Hills

Red Hills

AVA established 2004

1400-2600 feet planting elevation, most planting is over 2000 feet

3,250 acres – not all producing yet. AVA is 32,000 acres in size

Soils date from 600,000 – 20,000 years of age, one of the youngest soil regions in California

Massive obsidian content

Geologically “chaotic” region

Big Valley & Kelsey Bench

Big Valley & Kelsey Bench

Kelsey Bench & Big Valley

Two distinct AVAs, Kelsey Bench is composed of ulluvial terraces above the lake bed while Big Valley is part of the structural Clear Lake Basin flood plain

Big Valley is famous for its Sauvignon Blanc and cultivars that benefit from the temperature moderation of Clear Lake and the rich soil

Kelsey Bench is a transitional area between the Mayacamas and Clear Lake, its diverse soils and microclimates benefit Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Barbera

3288 acres planted between both AVAs, the largest grape growing area in Lake County

Middletown

Guenoc / Middletown

Guenoc Valley AVA was the first single winery AVA in the US, established 1981

350 acres planted, the property is 21,000 acres

The oldest known grapevines in California are in Guenoc’s Tephra Ridge Vineyard – Syrah from 1854

Famous for Petite Sirah

Lake County Geology & Soils

Lake County Geology & Soils

Lake County Geology & Soils

Intersection of Slip and Dive Faults

Just Over the North Coast Magma Pocket

Great Variety of Soils - Young Volcanics & Terraced Alluvials as well as Uplifted

Marine Layers

Red Volcanics Extremely Well-Drained with Gravel and Volcanic Rocks Including

Obsidian

Extensive Gravel Deposits in Big Valley & Upper Lake

Volcanics Fuel Largest Geothermal Field in North America

Climate & Sunlight

Elevation + Pure Air = Potential Solar Maximum

Higher Levels of UV – 5-10% From Sea Level

Low Relative Humidity – Greater Diurnal Swings

Shorter Growing Season – But Same Sunlight

Low Chemical Use – High, Dry With Cold Winters

UV Light & Winegrapes

UV Light & Winegrapes

Thicker skins resulting from the grape defending the integrity of

its seed

Higher levels of anthocyanins, polyphenols & resveratrol

Higher levels of tannin and

structure with lower levels of bitter monomeric tannins

Lower levels of pyrazines due to

break down by UV light

Smaller berries and more open clusters

Lake County Pure

Purity of practice

Low pesticide & herbicide use per acre due to climate

5% of acreage organic & heading to 15% the second

highest in the state

Lake County growers taking a leading role in sustainable

practices

Lake County – nearly 9,000 acres planted, average cost per acre: below $20,000. $1,200 average price per ton of grapes – 3rd

highest in California.

Napa County – 45,000 acres planted, average cost per acre: $150,000. $3,000 price per ton of grapes.

Sonoma County – 60,000 acres planted, average cost per acre: $80,000. $1,900 average price per ton of grapes.

Amador County – 3,800 acres planted, average cost per acre:$35,000. $1,100 average price per ton of grapes.

The Cost

“Lake County is Poised”

-Jim Laube, Wine Spectator

“How do you get From Napa Valley to Lake County? Just follow the Mayacamas and the smart money.”

-San Francisco Chronicle

“Lake County: Future Promise”

-Decanter Magazine

The Reviews Are In…

Steele Wines – Stymie MerlotVineyards The grapes used to craft the Steele Stymie Merlot were

grown by Floyd and Jolene Silva until we purchased their property in 2005. Known for quality fruit we've named this vineyard Steele Stymie bench Vineyard which located on a gravelly bench overlooking the Big Valley area of Lake County. An ideal location for growing Merlot vines.

Winemaking: We use our typical Merlot warm fermentation on this wine. The wine was aged for 30 months in a hand-selected lot of French and American oak barrels. Because of the quality of the

grapes, we chose to craft a rich, generous style of Merlot from this exceptional fruit. Total production of this wine is just 250 6-bottle

cases.Tasting Notes: Stymie Bench Vineyard typically yields a Merlot with a

rich, deep red color and firm body, exhibiting aromas of chocolate, jammy fruit, tobacco and pepper. The palate reveals a rich, well-

structured wine with layers of ripe red currants, anise, chocolate-covered cherries, a peppery mid-palate, and just a hint of coffee. This

high-quality fruit produces an excellent, long-lasting finish and smooth tannins. It’s a perfect “special occasion” wine and pairs well

with big hearty foods. Exceptional with any full-flavored dish, such as any preparation of lamb or beef, steaks, grilled venison chops or

ragout. You will be missing out if you don’t try this Merlot with chocolate.

Derenoncourt 2007 - Red Hills Vineyard

2,200 feet above the valley floor, in the shadow of an ancient volcano, lies a plot of Cabernet vines whose roots grow deep into the obsidian-rich soil and whose pristine fruit is the source of what many have called the greatest wine ever to come out of Lake County. Stéphane Derenoncourt fell in love with Andy Beckstoffer’s Red Hills Vineyard when he first laid eyes on it – its black, rocky soils, mountainside landscape, and striking microclimate, all bursting with promise. This romance gave birth to the 2006 Derenoncourt Red Hills Cabernet, whose critical acclaim has placed it at the vanguard of a renaissance in Lake County winemaking. And with the 2007 vintage, Stéphane has truly hit his stride, buttressed by optimum growing conditions, an ideal harvest, and another year of experience working the vineyard. The wine possesses startling aromatic intensity, as a lush and vibrant bouquet of jasmine, currants and baked earth erupt from the glass, laced with delicate scents of lavender, gray smoke and fennel seed. Smooth, creamy tannins build in power and depth on the palate, coating the tongue with waves of cool, black fruit, savory graphite and underbrush flavors, and luscious acidity. Finishing with a sustained essence of tobacco leaf, black olives and bing cherries, this wine brings out the best in Lake County’s exciting terroir. 464 cases produced.