28 Oct Lake County Winegrowers

Get to know one of our California Wine partners

Established in 1991, the Lake County Winegrape Commission (LCWC) has been instrumental in developing the Lake County region’s unwavering commitment to farming high-quality winegrapes.

A state agency with oversight by the California Department of Food & Agriculture, LCWC represents approximately 180 winegrape growers farming approximately 11,000 acres of vineyards in Lake County and works on behalf of those growers in the areas of marketing, research, and education.

Lake County’s terroir is higher, drier, shorter, and colder. Vineyards sit between 1,000 – 3,000 feet and are situated in the cleanest air basin in the state. Being “higher” largely puts the other three dynamics in play: drier, shorter, and colder. It also allows Lake County winegrapes to receive excellent UV exposure, triggering thicker skins, greater tannins, and intense wines with high phenolic content. The air is “drier” with consistently less humidity. This allows growers to use less sulfur and other moisture abatement techniques. This reduces operational costs in the vineyard and helps facilitate superior winegrape quality. The “shorter” growing season can also be an advantage. This dynamic limits the amount of extraneous vegetative growth that can contribute to increased pest pressure. Similarly, the “colder” winters kill off many overwintering pests. These factors lead to diminished use of pesticides and herbicides in the vineyard.

While other California North Coast wine regions have areas of volcanic soils, Lake County is more uniformly volcanic thanks to its more recent volcanism. The region is named for a volcanic caldera lake centered on the Clear Lake Volcanic Field and features some of the youngest volcanic soils in California. The landscape is dominated by two volcanoes, both hosting vineyards: Cobb Mountain (4,724 feet) and Mount Konocti (4,285 feet).

Mount Konocti and its surrounding volcanic field last erupted just 8,000 years ago, covering the region in ash and pyroclastic outflow. Local vineyards are littered with remnants of this eruption, including the black volcanic glass called obsidian, which ranges in size from tiny stones to pieces the size of a small car. The 300,000-year-old Mt. Konocti is officially listed as dormant, although sporadic volcanic-type earthquakes still occur.

Wine Pairings by Lake County Winegrowers

Certified sommelier and Lake County resident Stephanie Cruz-Green has chosen a selection of wines that pair beautifully with your preferred lamb dish. Learn more about how the various flavors of lamb compliment the fantastic wines of Lake County, California on the lamb wine pairings page.

You can also learn more about Lake County Winegrowers by visiting their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.