Lake County AVA

Winegrowing in Lake County dates to the 1870s, when European American settlers established vineyards that earned international recognition by 1900. Prohibition dismantled the industry, and growers did not return in earnest until the 1960s and 1970s. Lower Lake Winery completed its first crush in 1977, becoming the first commercial winery in the county since Prohibition. The establishment of Guenoc Valley AVA on November 19, 1981, as the nation's sixth AVA and the first ever granted to a single-winery property, announced Lake County's ambitions to the broader wine world. Clear Lake AVA followed in 1984. In the early 1980s, Jess Jackson founded Chateau Du Lac in Lakeport, the operation that would eventually become the foundation for the Kendall-Jackson brand before moving to Sonoma County in 1993. A slow resurgence in the late 1990s and 2000s brought new wineries, new AVA designations, and major vineyard investment from figures such as Andy Beckstoffer, whose involvement in petitioning for the Red Hills AVA in 2004 accelerated the region's premium identity.

• First vineyards planted by European American settlers in the 1870s; internationally recognized wines being produced by 1900, according to the Lake County Winegrape Commission
• Guenoc Valley AVA established November 19, 1981, as the nation's sixth AVA and the first single-winery appellation in U.S. history; Clear Lake AVA followed in 1984
• Jess Jackson founded Chateau Du Lac in Lakeport in the early 1980s, the predecessor to Kendall-Jackson, which later moved its main operations to Windsor, Sonoma County, in 1993
• Red Hills Lake County AVA established July 12, 2004, with Andy Beckstoffer instrumental in the petition; High Valley AVA followed on July 1, 2005; Long Valley-Lake County became the ninth sub-AVA on August 4, 2023

Lake County's dramatic landscape is built on volcanic geology and shaped by high elevation. Mount Konocti, at approximately 4,285 feet, is a dormant volcano within the Clear Lake Volcanic Field that last erupted about 11,000 years ago, covering the region in ash and pyroclastic outflow. Vineyards are still littered with remnants of these eruptions, including pieces of obsidian, the black volcanic glass that serves as a symbol of the region. The resulting soils are among the youngest and most mineral-rich in California. Two AVAs stand out for their dominant volcanic character: Red Hills Lake County, where iron-oxide-rich deep-red soils on the slopes of Mount Konocti inspired the appellation's name, and High Valley, where a cinder cone called Round Mountain filled the valley floor with volcanic debris. Elevations from 1,370 feet near Clear Lake to 2,640 feet on mountain slopes create significant diurnal temperature variation. Clear Lake itself provides a moderating influence, making the Clear Lake AVA one of California's cooler wine-growing regions despite warm summer days.

• Mount Konocti (approximately 4,285 feet) is a dormant volcano classified as High Threat Potential by the USGS; last erupted around 11,000 years ago, creating the region's signature volcanic soils rich in obsidian and iron oxide
• Red Hills Lake County AVA sits on Mount Konocti's slopes; iron oxide-rich soils give the hills their distinctive red color and are believed by local growers to contribute to the firm tannin structure of wines from the area
• High Valley AVA (1,800 to 3,000 feet) was formed when a cinder cone blocked drainage and filled the valley with volcanic debris; soils here combine iron-rich volcanic material with alluvial deposits on the valley floor
• Clear Lake, California's largest inland body of fresh water, moderates temperatures and contributes to the Clear Lake AVA being one of the coolest wine-growing regions in the state

Lake County has built its modern reputation primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, with growing recognition for Petite Sirah. Cabernet Sauvignon, the most planted variety at 47% of acreage, thrives across Red Hills, High Valley, and Kelsey Bench AVAs, developing concentrated fruit alongside the volcanic minerality and firm tannin structure that distinguish the region. Sauvignon Blanc excels on flatter, water-retaining soils in the Big Valley and Clear Lake AVAs, producing wines of crisp acidity and distinctive herbal character. Petite Sirah, while representing only 7% of plantings, has been a signature variety at Guenoc Valley, where the Langtry Farms estate considers it its leading red grape. The region also produces Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay, and an expanding range of Bordeaux varieties, particularly in Red Hills. The county's high-elevation, low-rainfall conditions result in naturally restrained yields, concentrated flavors, and lower pesticide pressure than almost any other wine region in California.

• Cabernet Sauvignon (47% of plantings): Volcanic hillside sites in Red Hills and High Valley produce structured wines with dark cherry and plum fruit, iron-rich minerality, and firm tannins suited to medium-to-long aging
• Sauvignon Blanc (21% of plantings): Excels on flatter, alluvial valley soils; produces wines with crisp acidity, grapefruit and stone fruit character, and distinctive herbaceous notes without tropical overripeness
• Petite Sirah (7% of plantings): A signature grape in Guenoc Valley; produces deeply colored wines with concentrated black fruit, pepper spice, and dense tannins with strong aging potential
• Regional signature: High elevation, volcanic soils, and dry-farming techniques combine to produce concentrated flavors and higher natural acidity; Lake County is among the lowest pesticide-use regions in California

Lake County counted approximately 20 bonded wineries as of May 2024, a figure that understates the region's footprint because several prominent labels, including Obsidian Ridge, Fore Family Vineyards, and Dancing Crow Vineyards, make wine from Lake County fruit at facilities in neighboring counties. Langtry Farms Vineyard and Winery, the sole producer in Guenoc Valley AVA, operates on the historic Lillie Langtry estate that was established in 1888. The estate was sold to Foley Family Wines in 2012 and subsequently transferred to Langtry Farms LLC in 2021, which rebranded toward super-premium and ultra-premium wines under the Langtry name. Shannon Family of Wines, led by Clay Shannon who established the operation in 1996, farms over 2,000 acres of high-elevation vineyards across multiple Lake County AVAs with a commitment to organic and regenerative practices. Brassfield Estate Winery produces 100% estate-grown wines in the High Valley AVA, with a valley floor sitting at 1,800 feet. Beckstoffer Vineyards holds a major 4,172-acre plot in Red Hills, predominantly planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, and has been instrumental in elevating the sub-AVA's premium profile.

• Langtry Farms Vineyard and Winery: Sole producer in Guenoc Valley AVA; estate established 1888 by Lillie Langtry; current ownership by Langtry Farms LLC since 2021 following Foley Family Wines' tenure from 2012
• Shannon Family of Wines: Clay Shannon established this operation in 1996; farms over 2,000 acres across multiple Lake County AVAs, with half of the acreage under certified organic and regenerative management
• Brassfield Estate Winery: 100% estate-grown wines from the High Valley AVA; valley floor sits at 1,800 feet, with hillside vineyards at higher elevations on volcanic soils
• Beckstoffer Vineyards: Holds a 4,172-acre plot in Red Hills primarily planted to Cabernet Sauvignon; launched a 2016 program offering free fruit to winemakers who would feature the Red Hills appellation on their labels

Lake County contains nine federally recognized American Viticultural Areas as of 2025, ranging from the historic single-estate Guenoc Valley to the newly minted Long Valley-Lake County, established August 4, 2023. Guenoc Valley (1981) remains unique in the national AVA system as the only appellation granted to a single winery, a distinction still held by Langtry Farms. Clear Lake AVA (1984) is the largest and most commercially significant designation, with several smaller zones nested within it, including Red Hills Lake County, Big Valley District, High Valley, and Kelsey Bench. Red Hills Lake County AVA, established July 12, 2004, and expanded by 679 acres in March 2024, is the county's most prestigious sub-designation, demanding premium prices for Cabernet Sauvignon. Upper Lake Valley AVA, established June 3, 2022, was the eighth Lake County AVA. Benmore Valley (1991), in the southwestern mountains, is de facto inactive with no current commercial viticulture. Two additional proposals, Mount St. Helena-Lake County AVA and Collayomi Valley AVA, were pending TTB approval as of April 2025.

• Guenoc Valley AVA (November 19, 1981): The nation's first single-winery AVA designation; valley floor elevation 900 to 1,000 feet; alluvial and serpentine soils; Langtry Farms is still the only winery
• Clear Lake AVA (1984): Primary commercial designation; the lake's moderating influence makes this one of California's cooler growing regions; four sub-AVAs sit within its boundaries
• Red Hills Lake County AVA (July 12, 2004; expanded March 2024): Iron-oxide-rich volcanic soils on the slopes of Mount Konocti; elevations 1,400 to 3,000 feet; Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant and most lucrative variety
• Long Valley-Lake County AVA (August 4, 2023): The ninth and newest Lake County sub-AVA; five commercial vineyards and three wineries; noted for wind-driven natural acidity and volcanic soils suited to Sauvignon Blanc

Lake County offers an authentic, uncrowded wine country experience with tasting fees significantly lower than neighboring Napa Valley and direct access to winemakers at family-owned estates. Lakeport, the county seat, serves as a practical base with tasting rooms, restaurants, and lodging. Clear Lake's shoreline provides hiking, water sports, and lakeside dining that integrate naturally with winery visits. Mount Konocti County Park, a 1,520-acre public park that opened September 24, 2011, after Lake County purchased the mountain land in 2009, offers docent-led hikes with views across the volcanic landscape that shapes the region's wines. The Lake County Winegrape Commission and Lake County Wine Alliance organize events including barrel tastings and harvest celebrations. Sustainability is a strong theme across the region, with 70% of growers participating in the California Association of Winegrape Growers' sustainable practices program.

• Approximately 20 bonded wineries as of May 2024, plus additional labels producing Lake County AVA wines at facilities in neighboring counties; tasting fees are substantially lower than Napa Valley counterparts
• Mount Konocti County Park (1,520 acres, opened 2011) offers public hiking with docent-led tours explaining the volcanic geology that underpins the region's wine character
• Seventy percent of Lake County growers have participated in the California Association of Winegrape Growers' Code of Sustainable Winegrape Practices; the region is among the lowest pesticide-use wine regions in California
• Lake County's location north of Napa and east of Mendocino provides easy day-trip access from San Francisco while offering a quieter, less commercialized wine tourism experience