Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley are amazing regions to visit when you want to experience the glitter and glam of Californiaâs wine country. However, suppose youâre passionate about the grapes, the dirt, and the reality of wine growing. In that case, there are a few other places within the North Coast (the AVA â American Viticultural Area â that contains Napa and Sonoma) that you need to have on your radar as well. Not only do these regions have true grit, but they also produce incredible wines that can easily rival their star-studded neighbors.
Say hello to Mendocino and Lake County. These two regions produce wines in very different styles that easily rival the best of Napa and Sonoma.
- Mendocino is just north of Sonoma and produces wines in a similar style to Sonoma as well.
- Lake County is the region just north of Napa and produces wines in a similar style to Napa.
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Mendocino
Amazing driving roads, organic vineyards, and elegant wines
Mendocino AVAs: Producers label bottles from this region as Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Mendocino Ridge, Yorkville Highlands, Pine Mountain, Redwood Valley, or Potter Valley.
Best wines: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling wine.
Special feature: Many 100% organic vineyards.
Mendocino County stretches across several narrow valleys and extends to some of the most rugged, untouched California coastline (awesome for motorcycling adventurers!). The people whoâve made Mendocino their home include early Italian immigrant winemaking families and folks who picked up and left San Francisco for the tranquil life of off-the-grid-living in the countryside. There are just a couple of major towns to hit, including Hopland and Philo, with a small selection of B&Bs or cabin/home rentals (we found a bunch on AirBnB).
Mendocino Wine
Elegance and organic farming are key characteristics of Mendocino wine. The region contains one-third of the stateâs organic vineyards, which is quite a feat given the dank, cooler climate conditions that produce the valleyâs best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sparkling Wine: The regions of Anderson Valley (north along Hwy 128) and Mendocino Ridge produce some of the most exciting expressions of Pinot, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines coming out of Mendocino right now. These two cooler growing regions (in and around Philo) offer wines with big fruit. Additionally, as the acidity levels are high and alcohol levels are lower (usually around 13.5%), youâll find that this area has excellent aging potential.
- Others: While the majority of the region is planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Mendocino has several unique wine varieties that include older plantings inspired by its Italian-influenced heritage, including Barbera, Carignan, Dolcetto, Arneis, Cortese, and GewĂŒrztraminer.
Lake County
A gigantic lake, volcanic vineyards, and massive reds
Lake County AVAs: Producers label bottles from this region as Lake County, High Valley, Big Valley District, Kelsey Bench, Guenoc Valley, or Red Hills.
Best wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Petite Sirah.
Special feature: Volcanic soils produce âdustyâ wines.
Unlike most of Californiaâs lakes, Clear Lake is a natural lake (as in, not made by a dam). Studies of its sediments have shown that it is 480,000 years old. Itâs an active ancient lake next to an ancient volcano (Mount Konocti). The region surrounding the lake was once a hotspot hangout for celebrities in the late 1800s, including socialite and royal mistress Lillie Langtry, who purchased 4,200 acres in Guenoc to raise racehorses and grow wine grapes.
Unfortunately, the regionâs fame dissipated (people have blamed everything from the 1906 earthquake to prohibition to lake flies), and ranchers turned to planting pears and walnuts instead of grapes. More recently, investments have led to improvements in the region, including adding several wine tourist spots worth checking out (including Ceago Winery and Biodynamic Farm and Tallman Hotel).
Lake County Wine
The region here is a lot drier than Mendocino. Due to the high prevalence of volcanic soils and high-elevation vineyards, bolder wine varieties tend to perform better in Lake County. Keep your eyes peeled for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Petite Sirah. There have also been several locally loved Sauvignon Blanc wines, which are oak-aged and offer creamy, white peach, and pear notes.
The region shows significant potential but is still considered âbackwoodsâ by many wine aficionados. However, this makes travel and tastings very affordable, and the people are generally enthusiastic and generous.
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