Sonoma Mountain is perhaps one of the best known land marks in Sonoma, but most people only see if from a distance! Four million years ago, an east-facing slope of Sonoma Mountain blew open, sending molten rock and hot ash raining out over the upper valley. Remnants of the eruption are everywhere: large obsidian boulders, veins of ash, erratic variations in soil, extensive marine deposits, all characteristics of the ancient violence that shaped this hauntingly beautiful area. Sonoma Mountain itself rises to a peak of 2463 feet, and it’s here that wonder grapes grow in the unique terrior.
The Sonoma Mountain Appellation, with its eastern to northeastern exposures, rises high above the western edge of Sonoma Valley on the edge of Sonoma Mountain. Located above the typical morning and evening fog lines, the vines enjoy full morning sunlight and a lengthy growing season during which they can evenly develop and flourish. The region is steep and rustic and has a faraway feeling compared to the rest of the Valley.
The Sonoma MountainAVA is well known for it’s micro-climates that occur within the crevices and folds of the hillside terrain. Because of these diverse micro-climates, it is home to production for a wide range of varietals.
While best known for growing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in its well-drained soils, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon grapes also thrive in its diverse micro-climates. Well known Wine from this area include Benzinger Family Winery, Ravenswood and Van Der Kamp.
Overlooking the town of Kenwood, the Van der Kamp family has been making wine from this north-facing vineyard on Sonoma Mountain for more than four decades. The vineyard is farmed organically in key vineyard blocks, with some dry-farmed blocks. Few growers in the world give the kind of dedication that vineyard manager Ulysses Van der Kamp gives – and the results show. The Van der Kamps provide their own picking labor, calling on family and friends to pick the fruit so that no outside labor is brought in.
The vineyard sits at 1,400 feet, next to a full vegetable and herb garden and fruit orchard. It used to be that mountain fruit like this meant aggressive tannins but, through Ulysses’ tireless efforts, the viticulture here has worked to finesse the tannic structure of the wines.
If you want to know more about the Vineyards in Sonoma, or other Sonoma Appellations, call me!
The Carneros-SonomaAppellation is situated at the southern end of both Sonoma and Napa Counties and encompasses portions of both. Known for it’s summer fog, warm days and a long growing season that is helped by the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean. The Carneros wine region is an independent American Viticultural Area (AVA). This area influenced by the marine environment of San Pablo Bay, which runs along its southern edge, is generally cooler in summer and warmer in winter than other nearby wine regions. This consistent weather, allows the wines from this area avoid large spikes in differences between vintages.
Carneros became an official AVA in 1983, its unique characteristics based on climate and on its geographic features – the Pacific Ocean, the Coast Mountain Ranges and the San Francisco Bay – that affect the region’s terroir and put a distinctive stamp on its grapes. Some people think of this area as a “sub” Appellation, however it sits in the middle of Sonoma and Napa.
The massive rolling vineyards are planted in rich, though shallow, bay-influenced soils and grow right up to the edges of the bay wetlands. The refreshing environment of Carneros-Sonoma is perfect for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and, increasingly, Merlot and Syrah.
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards is one of the best known Wines from this area. They recently won awards at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Gloria Ferrer’s Executive Winemaker is Bob Iantosca. As a masterful winemaker, Bob is devoted to capturing the distinctive Carneros terroir in wines, and does this uniquely by handcrafting the wine to pair perfectly with food. Bob joined Gloria Ferrer’s Sonoma Carneros vineyards in 1984. Over the years, he has created more award-winning California sparkling wines than any other single winemaker.
Bob Iantosca has collaborated on the cultivation of the estate vineyards from 20 to 335 acres, experimented with some 20 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir selections and led the winery to expand its repertoire to include intensely flavorful cool-climate estate varietal wines.
There are close to 65,000 acres of grape production in Sonoma County covering 13 different AVA’s. The American Vintner Association classifies each area based upon the types of grapes grown in a specific area, the climate of that area and the soil (and about 12 to 15 other items!). Another way to think about the various AVA’s listings is this… If you look around San Francisco, for instance, you might find 15 to 20 “unique” areas (burrows) in the City. Each one catering to a different “hub” of businesses or a different type of homeowner. Historic Homes in one area, Start Up Techie Companies in another, a wonderful restaurant district further down the street. It’s the same way with the AVA system – each area is a thriving environment for a unique type of grape.
Sonoma County is interesting, because of the large number of AVA’s in the county, which can be attributed to the huge difference in landscape from the Coast to the Mountains. Sonoma County vineyards typically produce 30 million gallons of wine from the nearly 300 wineries there. Of the 13 AVA’s in the county, the largest production area is the Sonoma Coast with 27,000 acres of vineyards. The Sonoma Valley AVA, by comparison is small 14,000 vineyard acres, however it does have the most ( 55 ) wineries.
It’s important to note that Sonoma Valley IS ACTUALLY an AVA… a bottle labeled Sonoma County, might not be from this unique corner of the county. The Valley is shaped almost identically to the Napa Valley appellation to the east. It runs from south (at the ocean) 17 miles to the north. Mountains stretch from the west to the east across various growing regions. You will find well-draining rocky (and in some instances volcanic) soils along the mountain sides – perfect for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel.
The Sonoma Valley appellation is bordered by the Sonoma Mountains on the west and the Mayacamas Mountains on the east. Warm days and breeze-cooled nights during the growing season create perfect conditions for grape growers. The ocean winds in the southern sections of the valley are attributed with slowing the ripening process… this is important, as it is considered a factor in prolonging the hang time and it is thought to help promote the natural balance in the wines. The grapes that produce the award winning wine from this area include the red wine favorites: Zinfindel, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah – and the white wine favorite: Chardonnay.
Trying to compare the grapes, vineyards and potential of this area to other great Wine Production areas of the world? The Sonoma Valley appellation can be compared, based upon the number of days during the growing season that the temperature will be a consistent above 50 degrees F (the Winkler Scale). Based upon the growing times, Sonoma Valley would be classified as a Region II, and therefore similar to Alto-Adige in Northern Italy, the Northern Rhône region of France, Yountville of Napa Valley and the Clare Valley of Australia. Region II is similar to Bordeaux in France. Accordingly, the Carneros AVA and the Sonoma Mountain AVA both compare at cooler classifications, at Region I and low Region II, respectively. The cost of ownership for a vineyard here, when you look at the global comparison and potential, is quite reasonable!
Interested in a vineyard for sale in Sonoma Valley, or Napa Valley? I work with buyers everyday who are looking for the right property to meet their ROI / EBIT and individual needs. Please call me for more information!
Understanding the history of the land, and the climate, and the types of grapes, and production that comes from a particular area is just part of what I try and explain when I meet with a new client. Most of the folks I work with, even if they are ready to make a 3 or 4 million dollar investment, need some education about why they would purchase a property in one part of Sonoma or Napa as opposed to another. They need to understand what types of grapes are there, and what the production is likely to mean for them, and their ROI. In this (admittedly long) post, I want to introduce you to tiny Bennett Valley Appellation.
Located just outside Santa Rosa California the beautiful Bennett Valley Appellation is perfectly situated between once volcanic mountain ranges of Taylor Mountain to the west, Sonoma Mountain to the south, and Bennett Peak to the east. Not only does the valley have an ancient volcanic origin, it also has several fault lines running through the area. This particular AVA is less than 10 years old making it one of the youngest AVA’s – and since it has less than 700 acres of vineyards planted, it is also one of the smallest AVA’s in California.
Bennett Valley AVA is positioned exactly where you would want grapes to grow, on hillside slopes of the Mountains, in well-drained volcanic soils. This Appellation has a higher elevation than the Sonoma Valley floor. Most growers feel, however, that it’s special because of a cooler weather pattern during the grape growing season that works to make this an ideal grape-growing environment for the production of ultra-premium wines.. That’s one of the reasons Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and other cool-climate grapes thrive here.
In 1862, Isaac DeTurk planted 30 acres of vines in Bennett Valley, and later founded Belle Mount Winery. Along with grapes, apples, wheat, and oats were important agricultural products. Phylloxera hit the region particularly hard during the 1890s, followed by Prohibition in 1918. This effectively ended widespread winemaking for a few decades. Matanzas Creek was established in 1975, when they planted their first 20 acres of vineyards.
After prohibition, the Valley was mostly forgotten. John Taylor arrived in 1953, and bought 2,000 acres in the valley, planting some of his land with Zinfandel and Mission grapes. But John was a dairy farmer at heart and most of the land was dominated by his dairy production and cattle. Purchasing over 100 acres of that dairy land at a liquidation sale in 1971, Sandra MacIver went on to change history as she and her husband established Matanzas Creek Winery. During the late 1980′s, early 1990′s the MacIver’s spent countless hours running tests on various handcrafted methods for their wines. And in 1993, they released JOURNEY which was Crafted from the finest one percent of 700 Chardonnay barrels. The two hundred cases sold out upon release, even at the $70 a bottle retail price. Critics still measure other California wines to JOURNEY, as it is hailed by many as the finest Chardonnay ever produced in America.
That sort of prestige caught the attention of many winemakers, and most people attribute legendary founder of Kendall Jackson, Jess Jackson (who died earlier this year) with “creating” the Bennett Valley AVA in 2003. He wanted to distinguish Matanzas Creek Winery products from other Sonoma Valley wines.
In addition to wonderful grapes, Matanzas Creek Winery is also home to an acre of lavender which blooms annually to produce over 2 million stems of lavender! Because of this, one of our favorite Wine Country Events is the “Days of Wine and Lavender” at the Estate each June. The lavender harvest fits beautifully into the wine making cycle, as the flowers usually reach their zenith in June, well before the busy grape harvest. The staff makes use of all parts of the lavender in it’s production of unique bath and body products, wonderfully sached home products – and culinary delights! Lavender in Lamb and Chicken? If you haven’t tried it – you should!
But there’s more to Bennett Valley AVA than Matanzas Winery! You’ll also find Alta Ridge Vineyards, Annadel Winery, Argot Wines. Barbed Oak Vineyard, Bennett Valley Cellars, Bevan Cellars, Flanagan Family Vineyards, Frostwatch Vineyard & Winery, Grey Stack Cellars, Jemrose Vineyards, Mackie Family Wines, Nelson Estates Wines, Sable Ridge Vineyards, Silver Pines Vineyards Westerhold Family Vineyards. Here’s an interactive map to the various vineyards and wineries in Bennett Valley AVA.
If you are considering a vineyard as a second home, or a new business, it’s important to understand that the County of Sonoma is somewhat restrictive to “cookie cutter” neighborhoods. Custom Homes are typically built on land parcels ranging from five to 40 acres. There’s a property currently listed on Bennett Road with 55 acres, that’s just waiting to be planted! If you have questions about vineyards and wineries for sale in Sonoma and Bennett Valley – please call Mark Stornetta at 707-815-8749. I’m uniquely qualified to help you make an investment if you want to purchase a vineyard in Sonoma, or a winery in Napa. I understand the history and the challenges of owning a vineyard home… and I understand ROI and EBIT, and can show you the formulas I use. Our office has several beautiful Bennett Valley AVA Properties for sale.
As discussed, each area within Wine Country has it’s own unique history, climate and vine history which makes it’s AVA different from the next. Because the US AVA rules require that at least 85% of the grapes contributing to the wine come from the listed AVA.
The Napa Valley is itself an appellation, and it has been since it received its own AVA designation in 1983. It is California’s first recognized AVA and the second in the United States. Within the Napa Valley appellation exists 15 sub-appellations. Many of these sub-appellations are created because of the microclimates that exist due to the various coastal weather patterns and the geographical influences of the higher (lower) influences.
Atlas Peak AVA
Climate: Cool, mountain-influenced, with temperatures about 10 to 15°F cooler than the Valley floor in summer. Above the fog line, there is a low diurnal change, with summer temperatures rarely above 90°F (32.2°C).
Elevation: 760 to 2600 ft (231m to 792m).
Rainfall: 38 inches (96cm) annually.
Soils: Volcanic in origin, with basaltic red color, shallow with limited water retention, so irrigation is often essential.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon: Bright berry and cherry fruit, and more acidity than wines from Stags Leap District. Chardonnay: Crisp, floral, aromatic, with distinctive pear-mineral flavors and bright acidity.
Calistoga AVA
Climate: Warm to hot, depending upon time of year; lower humidity; summer temperatures peak to 90°F (32.2°C) and fall to low 50s°F (11°C), the result of marine air from the northwest; cool afternoon and evening breezes
Elevation: 300 to 1200 ft (92 to 370m)
Rainfall: 38 to 60 inches (96.5 to 150cm) annually
Soils: Almost completely of volcanic origin, soils range from rocky, stony loam on the hillsides, to gravelly or cobbly loams on the alluvial fans, to heavier clay-silt soils in the valley center areas
Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah
Chiles Valley District AVA
Climate: Fairly warmer summer days (mid-80°F plus/28.8 to 31°C), but due to higher elevation and summer fog at night, quite chilly at night (below 50°F/10°C). With colder winters and spring, as well as strong winds, harvest comes later than on valley floor at Oakville.
Elevation: 800 to 1300 ft. (242 to 394m).
Rainfall: 35 inches (88cm) annually.
Soils: On the valley floor, primarily alluvial soils with silty-clay composition of marine origin, with good fertility. Hillsides show more clay-loam and stony-clay composition, mostly marine in origin, with some volcanic outcropping, and less fertility.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc: Cabernets usually reveal a lush yet firm texture with good acidity, firm tannin and distinctive cherry-blackberry flavors. Merlot typically has vibrant black cherry flavors mixed with a touch of cocoa.
Diamond Mountain District AVA
Climate: Moderately warm temperatures with lower maximum temperatures and higher minimum temperatures than north Napa Valley floor, due to topography and altitude. Significantly cooler than valley floor near Calistoga, 50 to 95°F in growing season (10 to 32°C).
Elevation: 400 to 2200 ft. (130 to 530m)
Rainfall: 40 to 55 inches (135cm) annually.
Soils: Residual uplifted soils of volcanic origin, often reddish and very fine-grained, even gritty in texture, composed of both weathered sedimentary and volcanic origin.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc: firmly structured, rich and fairly tannic when young, with strong blackcurrant, mineral, and cedary flavors. Less supple and fleshy than valley or benchland wines, with good aging potential. Chardonnay: Full-bodied, yet revealing mineral, green apple-peach aromas with fairly firm acidity; less richly textured than valley floor wines.
Climate: Similar to the facing Spring Mountain AVA, however slightly warmer and dryer overall due to strong afternoon sun influence. Fairly cool nights in both ranges and higher elevations help maintain good acidity.
Elevation: 600 to 2200 ft (184 to 675m).
Rainfall: 40 to 50 inches (125cm) annually.
Soils: Predominantly volcanic, shallow and infertile. Drainage is high, fertility low.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel: Powerful, firm, blackberry-currant flavors and often richly tannic, with excellent acidity for aging. Chardonnay, Viognier: Sinewy, firm and not as fruity as those of the valley floor, revealing more citrus and stone fruit flavors.
Los Carneros AVA
Climate: Cool, with prevailing marine winds from the San Pablo Bay and through the Petaluma Gap to the west. High temperatures during summer rarely exceed 80°F (27°C) with less diurnal range variation.
Elevation: 15 to 400 ft. (4.6 to124 m)
Rainfall: Lowest in Napa Valley: 18 to 24 inches (7.2 to 9.6cm) annually.
Soils: Clay dominated, very shallow in general, with more loam and hillside alluvials in the northern section. Yields typically are restrained by the hard claypan subsoil, which prevents deep-rooting.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Chardonnay: minerally pear-apple and spice flavors. Merlot: sinewy and lightly herbal, with fine tannins and sleek structure. Pinot Noir: ripe cherry-cinnamon spice flavors with earthy notes.
Mount Veeder AVA
Climate: Cool to moderate, with most vineyards above the fog-line, meaning warmer nights and cooler days and less diurnal range than the valley floor. Typical mid-summer high temperatures about 85°F (30°C).
Elevation: 600 to 2100 ft. (183 to 650m).
Rainfall: 35 inches (87.5cm) annually.
Soils: Sedimentary based, former seabed, shallow and generally well drained, as well as more acidic, with low fertility. Most have a sandy or sandy-loam texture.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Ageability is a hallmark of Mt. Veeder wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel: Low yields give red wines a firm, tannic structure with strong earth-berry aromas and rich, but powerful flavors. Chardonnay: minerally, appley, even citrus flavors with good acidity.
Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA
Climate: Moderate to cool: marine air and fog can remain until mid-morning. Late afternoon breezes frequently occur, maintaining slightly cooler temperatures than upper valley. Mid-summer temperatures may reach 92° F (33.3°C) and drop to around 50°F (10°C) at night.
Elevation: sea level to 800 feet (244m)
Rainfall: 36 inches (90cm) annually.
Soils: The valley’s largest alluvial fan formed by Dry Creek creates the defining feature of the district. The northwest area is composed of volcanically derived soils, with stony or gravelly consistency. South and east areas are transitional from gravel to silty clay loam.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon benefit from a longer growing season with slightly cooler temperature, though crop size is typically less than in other AVAs. Elegant style is the common note with fruit flavors of cassis, tobacco and spice typical to Bordeaux-style reds. Chardonnay showcases flavors of crisp apple, mineral notes and tropical fruit with fine acidity.
Oakville AVA
Climate: Moderately warm, with temperatures commonly in the mid-90°F (34-35.5°C) range in high summer, but also still strongly affected by night and early morning fog which helps keep acidity levels good. East side of the AVA receives more of warmer afternoon sun.
Elevation: 75 to 500 ft (23 to 150m).
Rainfall: 35 inches (87.5cm) annually.
Soils: Primarily sedimentary gravelly alluvial loams on the western side, with more volcanic but heavier soils on the eastern side. Low to moderate fertility and fairly deep, with average water retention.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot: Ripe currant and mint flavors, rich texture and full, firm structure tempered by rich fruit. Sauvignon Blanc: Full, steely, yet very fleshy.
Rutherford AVA
Climate: Moderately warm, still marginally influenced by early morning fog. Western bench area is cooler, with less late afternoon sun, tempered by afternoon marine winds. (This AVA averages a bit warmer than Oakville and Stags Leap District). Usual summer peak temperatures are mid-90°F (34-35.5°C) with good diurnal range.
Elevation: 100 to 500 ft. (33 to 150m).
Rainfall: 38 inches (95cm) annually.
Soils: Western benchland is sedimentary, gravelly-sandy and alluvial, with good water retention and moderate fertility. The eastern side has more volcanic soils, moderately deep and more fertile.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel: Quite intense cherry and mineral, almost earthy aromas. Flavors are full, ripe, and notably currant with firm, but supple tannins for extended aging.
Spring Mountain District AVA
Climate: Similar to Mt. Veeder AVA, with cool weather prevailing and smaller diurnal changes. Fairly cool nights and higher elevations help maintain good acidity.
Elevation: 600 to 2200 ft (184 to 675m).
Rainfall: 40 to 50 inches (125cm) annually.
Soils: Primarily sedimentary; weathered sandstone/shale, loamy and friable in texture. Drainage is high, fertility low.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel: Powerful, firm, blackberry-currant flavors and often richly tannic, with excellent acidity for aging. Chardonnay, Viognier: Sinewy, firm and not as fruity as those of the valley floor, revealing more citrus and stone fruit flavors.
St. Helena AVA
Climate: Warm, due to greater protection from western hills, with less fog or wind incursions. The narrowing of the valley floor provides more heat reflection off the hillsides. Mid-summer temperature peak is often in the mid- to high-90°F range (34 to 35°C).
Elevation: 150 to 600 ft. (46 to 185m).
Rainfall: 38 to 40 inches (95 to 100cm) annually.
Soils: South and west borders are more sedimentary, gravel-clay soils, with lower fertility and moderate water retention. Further north and to the east soils are prevalently volcanic in origin and are deeper and more fertile.
Principal varieties and characteristics: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot: deep, ripe, often jammy flavors, with firm tannins for structure, and appealing aromas of currant and black fruit. Rhone varieties (Syrah, Viognier): Fleshy, supple and slightly earthy. Zinfandel: Blackberry-like, well-structured.
Stags Leap District AVA
Climate: Moderately warm, with afternoon marine winds acting as an ‘air-conditioner’ to cool the warmer air radiating off the bare rocks of Stags Leap itself and the surrounding hillsides. This AVA is often up to 10°F warmer than in Yountville AVA. Mid-summer temperatures can reach 100°F (37.7°C), but more regularly are in mid-90° range (32-34°C).
Elevation: 66 to 400 ft. (20 to 123m).
Rainfall: 30 inches (75cm) annually.
Soils: Volcanic gravel-loams on the floor of the valley, with rocky hillsides, and low to moderate fertility due to hard clay bedrock subsoils 2 to 6 feet down.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese: Distinguished by lush, velvety textures and fine perfumed cherry and red berry flavors, supported by soft tannins. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc: Round and ripe, especially Sauvignon Blanc, yet retain excellent citrus and apple flavors.
Wild Horse Valley AVA
Climate: A warmer area well to the east of Napa Valley proper, but still moderated by both altitude and prevailing winds coming off Suisun Bay to the southeast.
Elevation: Wild Horse Valley 400 to 1500 ft. (123 to 460m).
Rainfall: 35 inches (94cm) annually.
Soils: Volcanic in origin, with basaltic red color, shallow with limited water retention, so irrigation is often essential.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese: Bright berry and cherry fruit, and more acidity than wines from Stags Leap District. Chardonnay: Crisp, floral, aromatic, with distinctive pear-mineral flavors and bright acidity.
Yountville
Climate: Moderate, with definite cool marine influence and fog contributing to cool summer mornings and the marine breeze keeping afternoons more comfortable than further up valley. Mid-summer peak temperatures may reach 90°F (32.2°C), with noticeable diurnal fluctuation to the mid-50°F range (13°C).
Elevation: 20 to 200 ft (6 to 61m).
Rainfall: 32 inches (80cm) annually.
Soils: Principally gravelly silt loams, sedimentary in origin, and gravelly alluvial soils with rock, moderately fertile.
Principal varieties & characteristics: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot: Yountville favors Cabernet and Merlot with ripe, violety aromas and rich, but supple flavors and firm tannins.
An American Viticultural Area, or AVA for short, is a region designated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as a grape-growing area. The area, is literally, a tract of land that is established as being of significance in terms of history, geography and climate. It must be deemed “different” from the land nearby and the production in those other AVA’s. In a word, you must prove what makes that area special.
The US system says that a wine cannot be labeled as originating from a particular AVA unless 85% of the grapes used in the wine come directly from that particular tract of land. The US system is loosely based upon the French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) – which is really the “benchmark” for “Wine Appellations” around the world. The biggest difference is that in countries like France, The Appellation will literally put restraints on the production allowed during a particular season, the harvest times, and what types of grapes are acceptable for the region. The vineyard must meet these 7 categories for the French to allow the wine to be labeled from a certain area:
(1) the land-acceptable vineyard acreage is precisely defined based on centuries of recorded usage and issues such as the land’s soil, configuration, and altitude
(2) the grape varieties-the grape varieties are defined for each geographic area and based on historical data, clarifying which varieties perform well in particular soils and climates
(3) viticultural practices-this category considers such things as the number of vines per hectare pruning techniques, and fertilization methods
(4) permissible yield-because large yields decrease the grapes’ quality, and one way to improve caliber is to restrict the crop, maximum yields are established for each AC
(5) alcohol content-all ACs must guarantee a minimum alcohol level, which means that the grapes must reach a certain ripeness (sugar content), which in turn ensures flavor, although in some areas it’s legal to add sugar (chaptalize) to reach the required alcohol level
(6) winemaking practices-each AC has regulations regarding wine making procedures, usually based on historical practices that produced favorable results
(7) official tasting-since 1979 tasting panels sample all wines that apply for AC status. Wines that meet all seven of these criteria are entitled to use the phrase Appellation Contrôlée on their labels;
In the US, our system doesn’t require that you grow a certain variety of grapes, or that you limit production to only handcrafted wines to qualify. With our AVA system, if you purchase a wine that says Howell Mountain AVA, or Bennett Valley Appellation, they must have 85% of the grapes from the area, simple as that.
If you are considering a vineyard as a second home, or a new business, it’s important to understand that the Counties of Sonoma and Napa are now somewhat restrictive to “cookie cutter” neighborhoods. Custom Homes are typically built on land parcels ranging from five to 40 acres. If you have questions about vineyards and wineries for sale in Sonoma or Napa Valley, or if you want more information about the AVA’s – please call Mark Stornetta at 707-815-8749. I’m uniquely qualified to help you make an investment if you want to purchase a vineyard in Sonoma, or a winery in Napa. I understand the history and the challenges of owning a vineyard home… and I understand ROI and EBIT, and can show you the formulas I use.
I recently toured a wonderful piece of land in the Howell Mountain Appellation with a friend. For the right owner and the right management team, it could be a profitable investment. But as we were walking the land and talking about it’s history, I was struck by the fact that understanding the history of the land, and the climate, and the types of grapes planted there, the age of the plants, and the quality of the production that comes from a particular area is just part of what I try and explain when I meet with a new client. Most of the folks I work with, even if they are ready to make a 3 or 4 million dollar investment, need some education about WHERE they purchase a vineyard in one part of Napa or Sonoma. When purchasing a land for a vineyard, or an existing home with a winery or vineyard as part of the deal – all of these things come to a point to determine the value. So, I want to introduce you to the “clouds” of the Howell Mountain Appellation.
The Howell Mountain AVA is blessed with regular, strong, “fogs” that look like the clouds are hanging on the Mountains. Overlooking the St. Helena, Howell Mountain is located in the Vaca Mountains on the northeast side of Napa Valley around the town of Angwin. Because of the vineyards are planted between 1,400 feet and 2,200 feet above the Napa Valley floor, they also benefit from the cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean. The moist air, cool mornings and warmer afternoons, and great drainage, make this a great location to grow grapes.
There are currently 45 Vineyards listed as part of the over 14,000 acres that make up the Howell Mountain Vitner’s and Growers Association. Howell Mountain was the first subappellation in Napa Valley to earn AVA status (in 1984). This area is well known for producing outstanding Zinfindels.
In the “boom” of California wine production of the 1880′s Jean Adolph Brun and Jean V. Chaix planted the first acres of vineyards in the mostly forested mountains. Pioneers, who traveled straight up the mountain roads, Brun, a native of Bordeaux, believed the poor volcanic soils and mountain climate would be ideal for growing vines.
He and his partner Jean Chaix planted 20 acres of Bordeaux varieties on the vineyard they named Nouveau Medoc, making wine that would win the first of many awards in the 19th century granted to Howell Mountain Like most of the Napa and Sonoma Valley AVA’s, the operation sold out to others and was closed during Prohibition. Ladera Vineyards purchased and renovated the winery, and now calls this historical land home.
Other award winning winegrowers who moved to the area were Charles Drug, W.A.C. Smith, Frederick Hess, and W.S. Keyes who started Liparita Vineyards and then built another stone winery, known as La Jota today. At the end of the decade, there were more than 600 acres of wine grapes planted.
A review from Food and Wine Magazine says:
Dunn Vineyards, with its powerful, tannic Cabernets, first brought attention to Howell Mountain in 1979. Beringer Vineyards is also a significant presence and renowned for its Bancroft Ranch Merlot and its three single-vineyard Howell Mountain Cabs. Other top Cabs include those of Cornerstone Cellars, Lokoya (which makes several mountain appellation wines), Robert Craig, O’Shaughnessy Estate and Howell Mountain Vineyards. Ladera Vineyards is a promising newcomer. The best Zins, brambly and elegant, come from Howell Mountain Vineyards, a partnership between the owners of Beatty Ranch and Black Sears Vineyard; the peppery Black Sears bottling is the star.
If you are considering a trip up the mountains to visit the vineyards in the Howell Mountain AVA, consider coming for the Harvest Celebration in November!
Many of my buyers are looking for vineyards that can create a great ROI. That means identifying properties in areas, like Howell Mountain AVA that have potential, great history, and yet are not branded. What are we doing to identify winery properties without brands and have the potential to produce $100/btl wines? We are networking throughout the Napa Valley to source potential wineries that may be for sale. These properties are not easy to find, so we ask for your patience. If you are interested in purchasing a Premium Winery in the Sonoma/Napa Region call Mark Stornetta.
