2011

Petition to Establish

Big Valley District– Lake County

Prepared by Terry Dereniuk

November 7, 2011

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Petition to Establish Big Valley District– Lake County Viticultural Area

The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County viticulture area is located within the Clear Lake viticutural area in Lake County California. It lies on the southern shore of Clear Lake and covers an area of approximately 11,000 acres with approximately 1,800 acres planted to winegrapes. It is bounded by Clear Lake on the north, Lakeport on the northwest, Kelseyville and Mount Konocti on the east, and the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County and Mayacamas Mountains to the south and west. Differences in geology, soils, and climate distinguish the proposed viticultural area from surrounding region.

The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County is recognized as a significant agricultural area in Lake County with a long history of agriculture and viticulture. The area known as Big Valley is 8 miles long and 6 miles wide at its widest point covering approximately 38 square miles. The topography of the Big Valley is generally level land sitting at 1,360 feet above sea level. The Big Valley slopes gently north and drains into the numerous creeks that flow into Clear Lake. It lies almost entirely within the Kelseyville Area Plan with a small section overlapping into the Lakeport Area Plan. The Agriculture section of the Kelseyville Area Plan states “Big Valley, within the Kelseyville Planning Area, contains over 48% of the county’s agricultural land. The most predominate crops are pears, walnuts, and wine grapes.” See Appendix Exhibit 1 which is a map of prime agricultural soils taken from the Kelseyville Area Plan.

A number of wine grape varietals are grown in the proposed viticulture area with Sauvignon Blanc being the most well known. The Big Valley's elevation, soil, and moderate climate with bright sunny days and cool nights produces remarkable Sauvignon Blanc wine grapes which have established Lake County as one of the premier California regions for this varietal. Wine produced from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown at the Dancing Crow Vineyards in the proposed area is described in the following quote from Cartlidge and Browne Winery: “A brilliant light straw color, the wine’s aromas leap from the glass—ripe citrus, fresh lychee and stone fruits, along with a touch of the herbal/gooseberry character which is Sauvignon Blanc’s signature in so many of the famous areas of the world where it thrives.”1

This application does not include the surrounding bench lands and terraces found in old descriptions of the Big Valley because of the significant differences in soil, geology, and topography between the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County and these areas. As previously noted, the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County viticulture area lies entirely

11 Cartlidge&BrowneCurrent Releases, Sauvignon Blanc - 2009 Dancing Crow, www.cartlidgeandbrowne.com

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition within the Clear Lake AVA. The Clear Lake AVA petition cited elevation, watershed, and climate as the distinguishing features that resulted in approval of the area as an AVA. This petition will discuss the similarities and differences between the Big Valley District– Lake County and Clear Lake AVA areas in the Discussion of AVA within an AVA section of the petition.

History of Agriculture and Viticulture in the Big Valley

The area known as Big Valley was the first settlement in Lake County. Captain Salvador Vallejo set up headquarters for his cattle operation there in 1840. In 1847, two early pioneers, Andrew Kelsey and Charles Stone came to the area with 800 head of cattle that they had purchased from Vallejo and settled near present day Kelseyville. According to the History of Napa and Lake Counties, Stone and Kelsey built an adobe house with corrals for their stock just west of the town of Kelseyville and across the creek.2 Historical accounts indicate that Kelsey and Stone mistreated the Indians in the area. Stone and Kelsey were killed by the Indians in 1848, leading to a decade of unstable relations and no further attempts to settle the area. With the signing of a treaty between the Pomo Indians and the U S Government in 1851, Lake County was again opened for settlement.

Once Lake County was reopened for settlement, settlers began arriving and establishing their homes in the Big Valley area. Early references to the Big Valley note that the area was suitable for agriculture with rich soil and excellent climate. A description of the Big Valley was included in the History of Napa and Lake Counties. “Big Valley – This valley lies on the southwestern margin of Clear Lake, and extends from Lakeport, in a south-westerly direction, a distance of nine miles. In width it ranges from one to seven miles. Adobe, Kelsey, and Christie Creeks serve as avenues of escape for the watershed of the valley. The soil is very rich, and well adapted to agricultural purposes.”3 Further in the section on Topography in this same book, the following comment is made, “Big Valley is the garden spot of Lake County”.4 In the discussion of Products of the Big Valley Township, it is noted that “Small fruits and berries thrive here also, as do grapes. The future outlook for the grape-growing interest of this section is encouraging, truly, and the time is not far distant when it will be the chief industry of the whole of Lake County.” 5

2 History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, (Slocum, Bowen, & Co., Publishers 1881) page 161

3 Ibid., page 5

4 Ibid., page 158

5 Ibid., page 159

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Evidence of viticulture is contained in the book A Description of Lake County California published in 1888 in the section on Lakeport and Its Surroundings. In the section on “Big Valley” it was noted that “the orchards and vineyards bear abundantly in season.”6 By 1855, commercial pear orchards were planted in Big Valley. At the turn of the century, the first commercial walnut orchards were planted. Vineyards were planted in many areas of the County and in close proximity to Big Valley by the turn of the century, including the Staheli vineyard on Kelsey Creek, the vineyards of George A Buckingham in the area currently known as Buckingham Point,7 and the Dorn family on the low slopes of Mount Konocti above Soda Bay.8

Wine grapes disappeared with Prohibition until growers again started planting grapes in the mid 1960s. Fifth generation pear farmer Myron Holdenried was one of the first to plant grapes in Big Valley in recent times. The following is Myron’s account of the decision to plant grapes: “I had recently finished at UC Davis, and we were raising Angus Cattle and Bartlett pears. The cattle business was very weak at that time and several of us, Walt Lyon, Reid Dorn, Floyd Silva, and I were looking for alternative crops. The Extension Service including Russell Gripp and John Smith, Farm Advisors, were recommending that we look into viticulture. After visiting with John Parducci and others in Mendocino County and with the help of Amand Kasamatis in Davis, we planted vines in 1966.”

Kendall – Jackson Winery also started in the Big Valley District area. Although the winery operation has moved to Sonoma County, Kendall-Jackson still owns and farms the home ranch located on Matthews Road in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area. In an article published on the death of Jess Jackson in the Wine Spectator, the beginnings of Kendall Jackson in Lake County were described.

“In 1974, Jackson and his first wife, Jane Kendall Jackson, bought a farm in Lake County, north of Napa Valley, and began converting the pear and walnut orchards into vineyards. But by the early 1980s Jackson was having trouble selling his grapes and began making his own wine.

Jackson combined his name with his wife’s maiden name to create the Kendall-Jackson label. The winery’s initial success was quite by accident. While making the 1982 Chardonnay, the fermentation became stuck, which meant the yeast stopped converting sugar into alcohol, leaving the wine slightly sweet. Jackson brought in various winemakers to resolve the situation but to no avail.

6 A Description of Lake County California, (Published by Authority of the Board of Supervisors, 1888) page 33

7 History of Lake County, Henry Maudlin page 3369

8Maureen Bishop Sanderson, Maureen Carpenter, Images of America Lake County, (Arcadia Publishing, 2005) page 95

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Jackson decided to release the wine anyway, labeling it Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay. It was a hit with consumers.”9

Today, vineyards in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County are a primary crop in this prime agricultural area. The photograph below shows an aerial view of a portion of the proposed Big Valley-Lake County area today. The Big Valley District has some 43 wine grape growers, 6 wineries, and approximately 1,800 acres planted to wine grapes. Appendix exhibit 2 contains a map showing the location of vineyards and appendix exhibit 3 contains a listing of growers in the proposed area. The proposed boundary lines for this AVA bisect two vineyards. Letters confirming their understanding of the impact of the boundary lines from the affected growers are included as appendix exhibits 4 and 5.

9 Wine Spectator, Sonoma Vintner Jess Jackson Dies at 81, April 21, 2011, www.winespectator.com

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Name Evidence

The name Big Valley has been recognized in Lake County since the middle of the 19th century. The name appears in a variety of publications, and has both local and historical significance. Appendix Exhibits 6 – 13 contain examples of documents serving as evidence of the name Big Valley. References to Big Valley are found in historical publications, as a Division for Lake County in the 1870 Federal Census, as the name of a Pomo Indian tribe and reservation, on maps, as a road name, in telephone directory listings for local businesses, and current day internet sites.

The Big Valley is home to the Big Valley Band of the Pomo Indians. According to a letter to the Lake County Record Bee, Big Valley tribal members are descendants of the Xa-Ben-Na-Po Band of Pomo Indians that historically have inhabited the Clear Lake area for over 11,800 years.10 The Big Valley Band was given the property for Big Valley Rancheria that is located on the site that was initially established as a Catholic Mission. The Big Valley Rancheria is located within the geographic area of the proposed appellation and is shown on maps including the 2008 AAA Clear Lake Communities City Series map in Appendix Exhibit 9 and the USGS Lakeport Quadrangle map.

Numerous historical references to the Big Valley can be found in the History of Napa and Lake Counties published in 1881 and A Description of Lake County California published in 1888. Appendix Exhibit 6 contains a map of Lake County taken from the book A Description of Lake County California with Big Valley clearly identified as an area of the County. Big Valley was also listed as a Division for Lake County on the 1870 Federal Census which can be found on-line at www.census-online.com/links/CA/Lake. A page from this census is contained in Appendix Exhibit 7.

The name Big Valley has appeared on maps to identify the geographic location of the proposed appellation for well over a century. Examples of maps containing the name Big Valley include the 1927 map published by the Bureau of Chemistry & Soils of the U S Department of Agriculture, the 1989 soil survey map for Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (Kelseyville Quadrangle), Sheet No. 21 published by the U S Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, the USGS quadrangle maps for Kelseyville, CA, Lucerne, CA, and Highland Springs CA published by National Geographic Holdings, Inc, California’s Lake County Farm Trails Discovery Map printed in 2008 (Appendix Exhibit 8) and the 2008 AAA Clear Lake Communities City Series map (Appendix Exhibit 9). Local maps for the Big Valley area also show a road named Big Valley Road located near the town of Finley which lies within the

10 Anthony Jack, Pomo History, From a letter to the Lake County Record Bee , www.big-valley.net/history/ltr

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition boundaries of the proposed AVA. The photograph in Figure 1 was taken at the intersection of Big Valley Road and Merritt Road in Kelseyville, California.

Figure 1 Big Valley Road sign

Local telephone directories list a number of businesses with Big Valley as part of the business name. Appendix Exhibit 10 contains an example taken from the Business section of the November 2010 at&t The Real Yellow Pages for Lake & Mendocino Counties. Internet searches on Big Valley, Lake County California also result in a number of websites relating to this area including U.S Places.com (Appendix Exhibit 11), the Lake County Winegrape Commission (Appendix Exhibit 12), and Big Valley Properties, bigvalleyproperties.com (Appendix Exhibit 13).

Distinguishing Features

Geology

Geology is a distinguishing feature of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County appellation. In Jurassic times, Lake County was under water with the ocean shoreline east near the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Through a process called subduction, the Franciscan Complex was formed. These rocks are composed of chert, greywacke, shale, metasedimentary rocks, metavolcanic rocks of blueschist grade, and ultramafic rocks and are

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

found as outcroppings around Clear Lake and in the Big Valley.11 The rocks underlying the Big Valley basin are two distinctive units called the Franciscan Formation and the Great Valley 12 sequence. About 3 million years ago, the passage of the leading edge of the San Andreas Fault caused the beginning of the Coast Ranges and formation of structural basins including the Clear Lake Basin.13 The San Andreas Fault is the boundary between the North American Plate and Pacific Plate. The Big Valley District has three fault lines that are part of the San Andreas Fault system including the Big Valley Fault, the Adobe Creek Fault, and the Wight Way Fault. Movement along this fault line is strike-slip in nature, occurring in a northwest-southeast direction. John D. Sims, U.S. Geological Survey further described the formation of Clear Lake basin: “The Clear Lake basin may have formed as an extensional strike-slip basin of a type that is common within transform system.”14

The Kelseyville Area Plan refers to the faults that underlay the Big Valley noting that the Big Valley fault would be considered a major structural feature of the area. The Big Valley fault 15 moved 16 feet in the 1906 earthquake to uplift and dissect surrounding hills.

“Big Valley is a structural basin which was formed by vertical displacements along several northwest and northeast trending faults. The fault blocks under the northern part of the valley are downthrown relative to blocks under the south-central portion of the valley. The valley topography reflects these vertical displacements.

The major faults currently mapped in the planning area include the Big Valley, Adobe Creek, Wight Way, West Margin, and an unnamed fault which may be an extension of the Big Valley fault. The map in Appendix Exhibit 14 shows the location of these fault lines. Vertical displacements along these faults range from about 160 to 330 feet. The vertical offset along the Big Valley fault may be as much as 800 to 1000 feet which would make it the major structural feature under Big Valley. The southeast extension of the Big Valley fault may lie in eastern Kelseyville not far from "Gas Hill". The southeastern portion of the Big Valley fault is considered to be active and is probably an offshoot of the Collayomi fault zone.”16

11 John D. Sims, Late Quaternary climate, tectonism, and sedimentation in Clear Lake, northern California Coastal Ranges, page 3

10 Kelseyville Area Plan, (Prepared by the Lake County Community Development Department, 1989) page 3-1

13 Dean A. Enderlin, P.G., Clear Lake Geology, Field Trip Guide for Teachers, (LAKE Science Collaborative, Lake County CA, May 2007) page 3

14 John D. Sims, Late Quaternary climate, tectonism, and sedimentation in Clear Lake, northern California Coastal Ranges, page 1

15 Dana Eker, Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist, (2005, revised 2007), page 102

16 Kelseyville Area Plan, (Prepared by the Lake County Community Development Department, 1989) page 4-2 8

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

The shape of Clear Lake changed over the last half million years. Based on work done by Michael Rhymer and John Sims, it is estimated that between 460,000 and 475,000 years ago, the Big Valley was part of the lakebed of Clear Lake. In the book Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist, Dana Eker also describes this period of time and its cause. “Holocene Epoch, 250 – 125 ka, Water is restricted in Clear Lake by the Blue Lake landslide of Franciscan soils, reversing the flow, the Big Valley was submerged until water eroded the sill built by Cache Creek dacite lava in 340 – 260 ka.”17 The photograph in Figure 2 showing the lakebed covering the Big Valley area was taken at the Lake County Museum in Lakeport California.

Figure 2 Clear Lake completely covered the Big Valley

The formation of Mount Konocti caused the lakebed to shrink and the landmass known as the Big Valley to rise above water level. Appendix Exhibit 15 shows the map pictured above and a second map showing the shrinking of the lakebed taken from the book Images of America, Lake County by Marcia Bishop Sanderson and Maureen Garcia Carpenter. This geologic history resulted in the soils that cover the Big Valley today.

Lake County has significant geothermic resources. The Geysers, an area of geothermal steam fields located southwest of the Big Valley District area are a major producer of electricity. Warm mineral springs located in the Cobb Mountain area and Highland Springs at the southwest edge of the proposed Big Valley District – Lake County area were developed into resort areas in the 1800’s drawing visitors from the greater Bay Area. The underlying faults were the source of

17 Dana Eker, Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist, (2005, revised 2007) Appendix, Events in Geologic Time in Relation to Lake County 9

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

this warm water. According to the Kelseyville Area Plan, “An investigation by the California Division of Mines and Geology indicates that segments of the major faults underlying the valley provide ascending pathways for heated water from depth to flow into moderately shallow 18 permeable aquifers.”

The Big Valley area also has a methane gas well located in downtown Kelseyville on a knoll known as Gas Hill. The Kelseyville Area Plan describes the history of the well as follows. “In 1868, a well was hand-dug into a small knoll in eastern Kelseyville. The driller complained of "feeling queer". A doctor lit a match to test for the presence of gas and almost singed every hair off of his head and chin. The gas (methane) was present in such large quantities that anyone boring a hole about 3 feet to 16 feet deep anywhere on the knoll found gas to burn…. Anderson (1890) reported that in 1888 a well was drilled to a depth of 157 feet into the knoll when a large volume of warm water and gas was struck and forcibly ejected into the air to a height of 39 feet. 19 The eruptions continued producing 6,000 gal/hr at a temperature of 75oF.”

Importance to Viticulture

Geology is defined as: “a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as 20 recorded in rocks: b : a study of the solid matter of a celestial body (as the moon)“ by Webster . This website further defines agricultural geology as: “the branch of geology that deals with the character and origin of soils, the occurrence of mineral fertilizers, and the behavior of underground water”. The geology of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County provides an understanding of the events and forces that created the soils of the area and the topography of the Valley. The deep fertile soils of the area were created in the lakebed environment when Clear Lake covered the Big Valley. The topography of this area is a flat basin surrounded on three sides by uplifted terraces that rise to mountainous terrains and Clear Lake on the fourth side. This topography accounts for the winds and air movement, and rainfall in the area. Both climate and soils are of critical importance to successful wine grape production and account for the unique flavors that these grapes produce when made into wine.

Boundary Discussion - Geology

North – Clear Lake sits to the north of the proposed area. This is one of the oldest fresh water lakes in California. The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area was once part of the lakebed of Clear Lake.

18 Kelseyville Area Plan, (Prepared by the Lake County Community Development Department, 1989) page 3-3

19 Ibid., pages 3-4 & 3-5

20 Merriam – Webster, An Encyclopedia Britannica Company, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geology

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

East – The geology of the lands beyond the eastern boundary is dominated by Mount Konocti, a dormant volcano. This mountain is part of the Clear Lake Volcanics formed in the middle Pliocene Epoch.21 Geologists differ on when this volcano was last active with estimates by Michael Rhymer (1981) of 250,000 to 400,000 years ago, and estimates by Richerson (2001) of 300,000 to 600,000 years ago.

The Clear Lake Volcanics is recognized as having a distinctly different underlying geology from the Big Valley District area. The Kelseyville Area Plan describes the geology of this area east of the boundary with the following comments. “The Clear Lake volcanic rocks form the eastern and southeastern portions of the planning area. Several volcanic features in addition to Mt. Konocti can be seen on the southeast skyline. Benson Ridge and Camel Back Ridge are flows from the vents associated with Mt. Konocti and Mt. Hannah…. These rocks are as old as 1 to 2 million years and as young as 8,000 to 10,000 years. They range in composition from basalt to rhyolite, all of which were extruded onto the ground surface. Basalt and andesite occur as flows, cinder cones, and maar deposits (broad, low-relief crater formed by shallow explosive eruptions). Dacite occurs as rubbly to massive domes and thick flows. Rhyolite is seen in domes, large flows, and as fragmented pumice-rich tuffs and agglomerate (disrupted solid crust or plug of lava), which were deposited through air-fall or mud 22 flows.”

South – The lands to the southeast of the proposed area are the uplifted hills, terraces, and benches of the Kelseyville Formation. The Kelseyville Formation is an ancient formation that defines the gently sloping topography and underlies much of the area of the Kelsey Bench. The Lake County area has been investigated by a number of geologists including Becker in 1888, Anderson in 1936, Brice in 1953, the Lake County Flood Control and Water Conservation District in 1967, and M J Rhymer in 1978 and 1981. The Kelseyville Formation is middle Pleistocene in age and contains stratified deposits in an environment referred to as representing lacustrine and flood plain environments (Lake County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, 1967). The Formation is sandwiched between the rocks of the Franciscan assemblage, serpentine, and flows of the Clear Lake volcanic field below and the Quaternary terrace deposits above. According to studies conducted by M J Rhymer and others, the Formation has a thickness of about 500 meters and consists primarily of sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, and lesser amounts of conglomerate.

West – The area west of the proposed area is comprised of additional uplifted hills and terraces which rise to the higher Mayacamas Mountains. The Kelseyville Area Plan describes the geology of this area with the following comments: “Rocks of the Franciscan Formation bound the valley on the southwest and are mostly outside of the planning area. However several outcrops of this

21 Dana Eker, Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist, (2005, revised 2007) Appendix, Events in Geologic Time in Relation to Lake County

22 Kelseyville Area Plan, (Prepared by the Lake County Community Development Department, 1989) pages 3-1 & 3-2

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

formation show up and include mostly hard sandstones called graywackes. This is especially true 23 of the Highland Springs area and the bench lands above upper Adobe Creek.”

Soils

Erica Lundquist, Ph.D., Consulting Soil Scientist was consulted in preparing this petition. Dr. Lundquist provided the following general overview of the Big Valley District– Lake County soils. “Soils of the proposed Big Valley District AVA are characteristically very deep, nearly level, and brown to dark brown in color. They formed on both lacustrine and alluvial materials. Major soil series that are suitable for viticulture in the proposed Big Valley District AVA are Cole clay loam, Clear Lake clay, and Still loam, which make up approximately 74% of the proposed AVA area (Table 1). Less extensive viticultural soils are Talmage and Lupoyoma. Cole clay loam and its variants formed on alluvial materials in floodplains. Clear Lake clay and Clear Lake clay variant formed in lacustrine materials. Although both of these soil series formed under poorly drained conditions, drainage has improved due to stream channel entrenchment in most areas. Clear Lake clay is a high shrink-swell clay soil that forms deep cracks when it dries during summer months. Relative to soils such as Cole and Still, vine vigor is usually reduced in Clear Lake, possibly due to root pruning when cracks form. The third major soil series in the proposed Big Valley District AVA, Still loam, formed in alluvial material and is found on alluvial plains. It is a deep and well-drained soil and frequently contains gravelly layers. Talmage very gravelly sandy loam is a somewhat excessively drained soil that formed on alluvial fans and floodplains. Lupoyoma silt loam is a moderately well drained soil that formed on alluvium in floodplains.

Also included in the AVA are areas unsuited to viticulture such as river wash in creek beds (3% of the total area), and very poorly drained soils along the lake shore (10% of the total area). In addition, there are other soils of very limited extent found in the proposed AVA.

23 Ibid, page 3-1

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Table 1 Soils of the Big Valley District– Lake County Proposed AVA

Soil Series or Grouping Acres % of AVA Area Suitable for Viticulture?

Cole clay loam & variants 3954 35% Yes

Clear Lake clay 2312 20% Yes

Still loam 2091 19% Yes

Talmage very gravelly sandy loam 248 2% Yes

Lupoyoma silt loam 159 1% Yes

River wash* 380 3% No

Shoreline soils** 1045 10% No

Other soils Variable

*Includes areas classified as river wash and xerofluvents. **Includes Fluvaquentic Haploquolls and Landlow variant silty clay loam.”24

Importance to Viticulture

“The soil composition of vineyards is one of the most important viticultural consideration when planting grape vines. The soil supports the root structure of the vine and influences the drainage levels and amount of minerals and nutrients that the vine is exposed to.”25 The soils of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area are classified as prime agricultural soils in the Kelseyville Area Plan. Soil fertility and the ability of the grape vines to take up nutrients and water from the soil play a key role in the ability to grow wine grapes as well as other crops. The soils of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County are classified as deep soils with a soil pH that ranges between slightly acidic to mildly alkaline. The chart below taken from a presentation by Dr. Toby O’Geen, Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California at Davis depicts the impact of pH ranges on plants ability to take up the nutrients that are needed for vigor and growth. Approximately 65% of the soils of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area fall within the optimal ranges of 6.0 – 7.5 for nutrient uptake by plants.

24 Email from Dr. Erica Lundquist, February 17, 2011

25 Wikipedia, www.en.wikipedia.com/wiki/List_of_vineyard_soil_types

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

A second important characteristic of these soils is the depth of the soils available for rooting. These soils are described in the Lake County Soils Survey as deep soils. According to the book General Viticulture, “Varieties of Vitis Vinifera are deep-rooted plants that fully explore the soil to 6 to 10 feet or more if root penetration is not obstructed by hardpan, impervious clay substratum, toxic concentration of salts, or a free water table26”. While deep soil is important, this same book goes on to note, “The quality of fruit is better, although yields are usually lower, on soils of lower fertility or soils limited in depth by hardpan, rocks, or clay substrata27”. Soils in the proposed Big Valley District, although classified as deep soils, also include these limiting factors in many areas.

26 A J Winkler, James A Cook, W M Kliewer, Lloyd A Lider, General Viticulture University of California Press, 1962, p 71

27 .Ibid, p 71

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Boundary Discussion – Soils

North – The northern boundary of this area is Clear Lake, the largest natural fresh water lake in California. Information on the soils of the lakebed of Clear Lake are not available.

East – The eastern boundary runs along the edge of Clear Lake State Park and the base of Mount Konocti. Cole Creek was selected as the starting point for this boundary line as it is a natural stream that borders Clear Lake State Park. Proceeding in a southerly direction, the topography east of the boundary line changes as it skirts the foot of Mount Konocti which is part of the Clear Lake Volcanics region. Soils to the east of the boundary line in this area are volcanic soils of the Konocti – Benridge series more closely related to the soils of the Red Hills – Lake County AVA. The parent material of these soils formed in material derived mainly from andesite, basalt, dacite, and pyroclastic tuff which is very different from the parent materials of the Big Valley District– Lake County soils.28

South – Soils to the southeast and south of the boundary line are significantly different than the soils found in the Big Valley District– Lake County area, with three general soil map units comprising over 72% of the soil. These include the Manzanita – Wappo - Forbesville series, the Millsholm – Skyhigh – Bressa series, and the Phipps – Bally series. The Manzanita – Wappo – Forbesville series of soils are found on gently sloping to moderately steep terrain, are moderately well drained, and are on dissected alluvial terraces. The Millsholm – Skyhigh – Bressa series are shallow to moderately deep soils found on sloping to steep terrain. The parent materials Millsholm – Skyhigh - Bressa soil is material weathered from shale, siltstone, sandstone, and in some cases greywacke or schist. This soil is well drained. The Phipps – Bally series is a very deep soil found on gently sloping to very steep terrain found on uplifted dissected hills. In contrast, the soils found in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area are from the Cole – Clear Lake series and the Still – Lupoyoma series. Cole – Clear Lake soils are very deep, nearly level, poorly drained soils found in basins. The Still – Lupoyoma series is also very deep moderately well drained soil found on nearly level alluvial plains and flood plains.29

West – Highland Springs Road was selected to define the western boundary based on changes in soil type and elevation. The terrain west of Highland Springs Road slopes gently to the west on elevations of 1400 to 1600 feet. Soils in this area are of the Wappo series, part of the Manzanita – Wappo - Forbesville series cited above.30 In addition to the differences in terrain and drainage, fertility in this soil series is lower than that of the soils found in the Big Valley District– Lake

28 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989) page 14

29 Ibid, pages 9 - 11

30 Ibid., page 10

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

County area based on the Storie Soil Index rating.31 The boundary line continues along Manning Creek to the point where it drains into Clear Lake. While the soils along the western banks of Manning Creek are similar to the soils of the proposed AVA area, there are no vineyards west of this area, instead being an area of small businesses bordering the city of Lakeport.

Discussion of Specific Soils Series

Soil survey maps for the Lakeport Quadrangle, Lucerne Quadrangle, Highland Springs Quadrangle, and Kelseyville Quadrangle were examined to identify the soils found in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County appellation area. Four out of five of the soils in this map unit are classified as prime farmland by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.32 Appendix Exhibit 16 shows the general soils map for Lake County. Appendix Exhibit 17 contains the document Lake County Prime Farmland Soils. Appendix Exhibit 18 contains a chart taken from Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist that shows an example of the composition of Cole Clay Loam soil structure for a vineyard located on Soda Bay Road. Appendix Exhibit 19 contains copies of the Storie Index Rating for the soils discussed below. The following discussion on each of the soil types suitable for viticulture is based on the Soil Survey of Lake County, California issued in May, 1989 by U S Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.

121 Clear Lake clay, drained, cool33 – This very deep soil is in basins. Drainage of this soil is poor. However, drainage has been improved in most areas as a result of entrenchment of stream channels. The soil formed in lacustrine deposits derived from mixed rock sources. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Typically, the surface layer is very dark gray and dark gray clay 41 inches thick. The upper 15 inches of the underlying material is grayish brown clay, and the lower part to a depth of 72 inches is pale brown clay loam. This soil is fine textured clay. Lime commonly occurs below a depth of 6 to 28 inches. Soil reaction is mildly to moderately alkaline reaction.34 Permeability of this Clear Lake soil is slow. Available water capacity is 8.5 to 10.0 inches. Fertility based on the Storie Index Rating is fair.35

31 Ibid., page 260

32 California Department of Conservation, Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, Lake County Prime Farmland Soils, (Updated June 29, 2010)

33 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989) page 32

34 Ibid., page 169

35 Ibid., page 247

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

122 Clear Lake Variant clay, drained36 - This very deep soil is in basins. Drainage of this soil is poor. However, drainage has been improved in most areas as a result of entrenchment of stream channels. The soil formed in lacustrine deposits derived from mixed rock sources. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Permeability of Clear Lake Variant soil is slow. Available water capacity is 8.5 to 10.0 inches. Typically the surface layer is very dark gray clay 38 inches thick. The upper 25 inches of the underlying material is dark and light gray clay, and the lower part to a depth of 72 inches is pale olive clay loam. Clear Lake Variant clay is fine textured soil. Soil reaction is slightly acid37 and fertility is fair based on the Storie Index Rating.38

123 Cole clay loam, drained39 – This very deep soil is in basins and on flood plains. It formed under somewhat poorly drained conditions although drainage has been improved in most areas as a result of entrenchment of stream channels. The soil formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Permeability of Cole soil is slow. Available water capacity is 7.5 to 10.5 inches. Typically, the surface layer is grayish brown clay loam 6 inches thick. The upper 29 inches of the subsoil is grayish brown and gray clay loam, and the lower 27 inches is pale brown and grayish brown clay loam. The substratum to a depth of 71 inches is brown and pale brown clay loam. This soil is medium textured clay loam. Fertility based on the Storie Index Rating is good.40 Soil reaction is slightly acid.41

124 Cole Variant clay loam42 – This very deep, moderately well drained soil is on flood plains. It formed in alluvium derived from mixes rock sources. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Permeability of this Cole Variant soil is slow. Available water capacity is 8 to 10 inches. Typically, the surface layer is grayish brown clay loam 8 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60 inches or more is dark gray and grayish brown clay. The textural class of this soil is medium textured clay. The soil reaction is moderately alkaline43 and the fertility is good based on the Storie Index Rating.44

36 Ibid., page 33

37 Ibid., page 169

38 Ibid., page 247

39 Ibid., page 34

40 Ibid., page 248

41 Ibid., page 170

42 Ibid., page 35

43 Ibid., page 171

44 Ibid., page 248 17

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

125 Cole Variant clay loam, calcareous substratum45 – This very deep, moderately well drained soil is on flood plains. It formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Permeability of this Cole Variant soil is slow. Available water capacity is 8 to 10 inches. Typically, the surface layer is dark grayish brown clay loam 20 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60 inches or more is dark grayish brown clay. The soil is calcareous below a depth of 30 inches. This soil is a medium textured clay loam. Soil reaction is moderately alkaline46 and fertility of the soil is good based on the Storie Index Rating.47

158 Lupoyoma silt loam, protected48 – This very deep, moderately well drained soil is on flood plains. It formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Permeability of this Lupoyoma soil is moderately slow. Available water capacity is 8.5 to 11.0 inches. Typically, the surface layer is brown silt loam, 31 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 84 inches is brown and very dark grayish brown silt loam.49 This is a medium textured soil with a high a high fertility based on the Storie Index Rating.50 Soil reaction is slightly acid.51

233 Still loam, stratified substratum52 – This very deep, well drained soil is on alluvial plains. It formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources, dominantly sandstone and shale. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Permeability of this Still soil is moderately slow. Available water capacity is 7.5 to 10.0 inches. Typically, the upper part of the surface layer is brown loam 6 inches thick and the lower part is brown clay loam 30 inches thick. The upper 16 inches of the underlying material is stratified, brown clay loam and loam, and the lower part to a depth of 70 inches is extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand. This is a fine textured loamy soil with a high fertility based on the Storie Index Rating.53 Soil reaction is slightly acid to neutral.54

45 Ibid., pages 35, 36

46 Ibid., page 171

47 Ibid., page 248

48 Ibid., pages 60, 61

49 Ibid., page 59

50Ibid., page 251

51 Ibid. page 188

52 Ibid., page 118

53 Ibid., page 259

54 Ibid., page 209

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

234 Still gravelly loam55 - Small areas of Soil type 234, Still gravelly loam are also found in the proposed AVA area. This soil is differentiated from Soil type 233 in its composition of a more gravelly material. According to the Soil Survey of Lake County, California, this soil is typically made up of a layer of brown gravelly loam 3 inches thick with a lower part to a depth of 36 inches of brown gravelly clay loam.56 The fertility of this soil type is rated as good based on the Storie Index Rating.57 Parent material, slope, drainage, and permeability of this soil type are the same as 233.

237 Tamlage very gravelly sandy loam58 – This very deep, somewhat excessively drained soil is on alluvial fans and flood plains and in areas adjacent to drainage ways. It formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Permeability of this Talmage soil is moderately rapid. Available water capacity is 2.5 to 4.5 inches. Typically the surface layer is grayish brown very gravelly sandy loam 33 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 70 inches is stratified, light yellowish brown and grayish brown gravelly sandy loam, very gravelly loam, and gravelly loam.59 Soil reaction is neutral to mildly alkaline.60 This soil has a gravelly texture with fair fertility based on the Storie Index Rating.61

Soils Not Suitable for Viticulture

Five soil series are found in the proposed viticulture area that are not suitable for growing wine grapes. These include Riverwash, soil type 199 and soil types 248 and 249, Xerofluvents, and soils found along the shoreline of Clear Lake, soil type 131 Fluvaquentic Haploquolls and soil type 157, Landlow variant silty clay loam.

199 Riverwash62 – This soil is found in active stream channels and consists of erratically stratified layers of water deposited sand, gravel, and cobbles. Layers of sandy loam and loamy sand are deposited for short periods but are subject to intermittent scouring and removal.

55 Ibid., page 118

56 Ibid., page 118

57 Ibid., page 259

58 Ibid., page 120

59 Ibid., page 120

60 Ibid., page 210

61 Ibid., page 260

62 Ibid., pages 90, 91

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Riverwash is used mainly as a wildlife habitat and as a source of sand and gravel. Because it is nearly devoid of vegetation, it is not used for agriculture.

248 and 249 Xerofluvents, very gravelly, and Xerofluvents – Riverwash complex63 – These soils are found adjacent to stream channels. The soils are poorly suited for agriculture because of restricted water capacity.

131 Fluvaquentic Haplaquolls, nearly level64 – This soil is very poorly drained and found in lake marshes, notably along the shores of Clear Lake in the proposed AVA area. The soil is not suitable for agriculture and is used mainly as a wildlife habitat.

157 Landlow Variant silty clay loam65 – This soil is very deep but poorly drained soil. Soil wetness limits the choice of plants. The soil is used for hay and pasture and for wildlife habitat.

Climate

Meteorology - Lake County’s inland location and protection by mountain ranges result in local meteorological effects playing a more important role in creating Lake County’s microclimates and account for the differences between various areas than in other coastal regions. Winds develop as the result of temperature differentials. Temperature gradients due to differences in elevation generate mountain-valley winds and water –land temperature differentials generate lake-land winds in accordance with the principles described below. This material is based on a discussion found in the Red Hills Viticultural Area Petition dated August 27, 2001.66

The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area is affected by Clear Lake as well as the surrounding mountains with winds that are driven by temperature contrasts. The phenomenon that water warms more slowly than adjacent land during the day and also holds its heat longer at night is the driving force that creates land-water winds. At night, air passing over Clear Lake is warmed, becomes less dense and rises, while air over the relatively cool land on the shores becomes denser and sinks. This causes nocturnal katabolic winds to develop towards the lake.

During the day the land becomes warmer than the lake, reversing the process and causing the winds to blow inland. The on-shore (anabatic) daytime winds are weaker than the off shore nocturnal winds.

63 Ibid., pages 126, 127

64 Ibid., page 41

65 Ibid., page 60

66Sara Schorske, Red Hills Viticultural Area Petition, (August 27, 2001) pages 15, 16

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

In many locations mountain valley breezes and land water breezes result in incomplete circulation. Warmer air that is displaced by the cooler breeze rises, disperses broadly, and mixes with lower air slowly, so that little of the displaced air is re-circulated in the breeze. In the Clear Lake basin, however, because both processes occur in a relatively small and confined space, these winds are a kind of perpetual motion machine. Wind regime maps for the morning/night and afternoon wind regimes taken from the Environmental Data Compilation for the Red Hills Geothermal Prospect Area are included in the Appendix as Meteorology Evidence, Exhibits 20 and 21 to this application as evidence of this pattern.

Importance to Viticulture

Air movement plays a key role in preventing mildew and other pests in the vineyard. Combined with the significant swings in high and low temperatures in the growing season, air movement keeps the berries and canopy cool and dry. In Lake County, this translates to a lesser need for application of pesticides than in other areas.

Boundary Discussion – Meteorology

North – The northern boundary of the proposed area is Clear Lake. The Lake plays a key role in creating the wind regimes that area discussed above.

East - Studies of data from the Lake County Air Pollution control District mechanical weather station network indicate that local katabolic drainage winds predominate up to 18 hours a day, during the night and morning hours. The afternoon regime, which predominates the remaining six hours each day, is the opposite of the ones just described. Data from the Red Hills Geothermal Prospect show that the wind patterns in the Big Valley District area are distinct from those in the surrounding mountain areas.

South- The southern boundary line runs along the proposed Kelsey Bench. There is only one weather station located in the proposed Bench area. This weather station is located at Silva Ranch and has been collecting data since February, 2010. Data on wind speed is incomplete.

West- The land west of Highland Springs Road forms a large portion of the western boundary with Lakeport sitting to the north. There is a weather station located in Lakeport at the Lake County Air Quality Management District office. Monthly average wind speed data from this weather station was compared with monthly average wind speed data for the three weather stations located in the proposed Big Valley District area for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010. This comparison shows that the average wind speed for the Big Valley District area is consistently 0.5 mph to 2.0 mph higher than the average wind speed for the Lakeport weather station. Appendix exhibit 22 contains a spreadsheet showing the comparative data for average 21

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition wind speed for the 4 weather stations.

Heat Summation - Heat summation provides further evidence that climate is a distinguishing feature of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area. Heat summation is calculated as the sum of the mean monthly temperature above 50° F during the growing season and expressed as degree days. Appendix Exhibit 23 contains a Portion of Table 3, Heat Summation as Degree- Days above 50° F for the Period of April 1 to October 31 of Various County Locations in California and a Few Foreign Locations, from General Viticulture by A. J. Winkler, James A. Cook, W. M. Kliewer, and Lloyd A. Lider. Kelseyville which is located in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area is listed in the table as a high Region II location. Importance to Viticulture

University of California Viticulture Professors Amerine and Winkler developed a system of Climate Regions to categorize locations based on degree days. Heat summation uses a baseline temperature of 50° F because there is almost no shoot growth below this temperature. Locations are categorized as Region I with less than 2500 degree days, Region II with 2501 to 3000 degree days, Region III with 3001 to 3500 degree days, Region IV with 3501 to 4000 degree days, and Region V with over 4001 degree days. Their approach is universally accepted as the most important climatic factor in predicting a site’s suitability for growing specific grape varieties.67

Boundary Discussion – Heat Summation

North – The area to the north of the proposed area is Clear Lake. Heat summation data is not relevant to the Lake.

East - The chart in Figure 3 below shows a summary of degree day data by year for six weather stations located in Lake County – Kelseyville South (KES), Kelseyville (KEL), Bell Hill West (BHW), Red Hills 1(RED), Red Hills 2 (RH), and Red Hills 3 (RH3). This summary data is based on calculations using the temperature data collected at each weather station by Western Weather Group. The Kelseyville, Kelseyville South, and Bell Hill West stations all lie within the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area. The three Red Hills stations lie within the Red Hills AVA area. The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area would be classified as a high Region II to low Region III area while the Red Hills area is distinctly hotter with a classification of a Region IV area using Amerine and Winkler’s degree day classification system.

67 A J Winkler, James A Cook, W M Kliewer, Lloyd A Lider, General Viticulture University of California Press, 1962, p 61 - 71

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 3

Lake County Growing Degree Totals - April 1 - October 31 - (Base 50°F)

Western Weather Group for Lake County Winegrape Commission

KEL KES BHW RED RH2 RH3 GDD's 2005: 2623 2911 2958 3343 3298 GDD's 2006: 3080 3317 3303 3826 3718 3769 GDD's 2007: 2805 3110 3042 3571 3397 3472 GDD's 2008: 3036 3304 3285 3917 3790 3953 GDD's 2009: 3038 3249 3237 3805 3690 3789 GDD's 2010: 2683 2851 2837 3256 3126 3246

Average 2878 3124 3110 3620 3544 3588

This was also used as part of the application for the Red Hills Viticultural Area, noting that Big Valley District was cooler than Red Hills to the east. In the Red Hills petition, comments from the Roumiguiere family were cited to support heat summation as a distinct climatic feature. The quote below is taken from the Red Hills – Lake County AVA petition dated August 27, 2001.

“For example the Roumiguiere family has over two decades of experience with vineyards in both and Red hills. The Roumiguieres' Big Valley vineyards were planted in 1980 and their Red Hills vineyards were planted in 1989. John Roumiguiere states that the climate in Big Valley is cooler but bud break is consistently later. He reports that his Red Hills Cabernet Sauvignon is often picked in late August, while his Big Valley Cabernet hangs until October.”68

South – The area to the south of the proposed boundary line consists of the related proposal for the Kelsey Bench- Lake County AVA. While current weather data for calculation of heat summation is not available, comments submitted by Mark Welch reflecting heat summation data for Arkley Vineyards in his petition to expand the area covered by the Red Hills appellation speak to heat summation for this area. (Arkley Vineyards is located on the southeast side of Bell Hill Road and is included in the area for the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA. Weather data for this vineyard was collected on a proprietary system and has not been tracked since approximately 2005.) Mr. Welch writes, “Arkley Vineyards, located within the Red Hills addition has logged an average of 3225 degree days over the past 4 years (through 2002), and this weather station site is on the lower third of the property. From observation, the higher elevations of the property would be somewhat warmer if tracked. “69 While not as warm as the

68 Ibid., pages 18, 19

69 Welch Vineyard Management, PETITION TO EXPAND RED HILLS VITICULTURAL AREA APPLICATION 23

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Red Hills area, Mr. Welch’s statements regarding Arkley Vineyard support the conclusion that the proposed Kelsey Bench area is warmer than the proposed Big Valley District area.

West – Weather data is not available for the area adjacent to the western boundary line. This area rises from gently sloping uplifted hills to the steeper terrain of the Mayacmas Mountains. The closest weather station with data for calculation of heat summation is located in Scotts Valley which lies to the north-west of Lakeport. Average degree days over the same period of 2005 through 2010 for this area was 2825, slightly cooler than the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area.70

Frost Free Days - Further evidence of the difference in temperature can be seen by looking at a comparison of frost free days for the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area and the Red Hills area. The chart in Figure 4 below shows frost free days for growing years 2008 and 2009 based on weather data collected by Western Weather Group from three weather stations in each area. Additional data that was used to make this comparison can be found in Appendix Exhibit 24 which shows the earliest and latest frost dates for these weather stations for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, and spring 2010. Exhibit 25 contains a map printed from the Lake County Winegrape Commission website showing the location of Western Weather Group weather stations throughout Lake County. This data establishes that Big Valley District has significantly fewer frost free days than the Red Hills area and provides additional evidence supporting climate as a distinguishing feature of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area.

70 Average calculated by Western Weather Group based on temperature data collected at Scott’s Valley Weather Station for growing years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 4 Comparisons of Frost Free Periods for Growing Seasons 2008 and 2009

Frost Latest Earliest Free Station Frost Date Frost Date Period Kelseyville 4/16/2009 9/30/2009 166 Kelseyville South 4/29/2009 9/30/2009 153 Bell Hill West 4/29/2009 10/4/2009 157

Kelseyville 5/1/2008 10/11/2008 162 Kelseyville South 5/1/2008 10/10/2008 161 Bell Hill West 5/1/2008 10/10/2008 161

Red Hills 1 4/14/2009 11/19/2009 218 Red Hills 2 4/15/2009 11/19/2009 217 Red Hills 3 4/15/2009 12/6/2009 234

Red Hills 1 4/24/2008 12/13/2008 232 Red Hills 2 4/24/2008 12/13/2008 232 Red Hills 3 4/24/2008 12/13/2008 232

Importance to Viticulture

Frost free periods, also known as the growing season, are important to viticulture for two reasons. Frost events can produce significant damage or prevent the vines from developing the necessary sugars for successful wine production. Spring frosts that occur after bud break can cause the tender shoots and forming grape clusters to burn and die resulting in crop loss and lower yields. Early frost in the fall impacts the vine’s ability to ripen the grapes to the BRIX levels that produce high quality wine. The length of the growing season calculated by totaling the number of days between last spring frost and first fall frost therefore impacts the selection of varieties to be planted and the successful production of the crop.

Boundary Discussion – Frost Free Days

North - Clear Lake sits to the north of the proposed area. Frost Free Days are not applicable to Clear Lake.

East – The areas to the east of the proposed elevation are Mount Konocti and the proposed Kelsey Bench. The terrain of Mount Konocti is higher than much of the Red Hills AVA and experiences area lies to the east. The discussion above demonstrates the difference in growing

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

seasons between the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area and the higher elevations of the Red Hills area.

South - The Kelsey Bench area which lies to the south of the proposed boundary line has only one weather station that is currently active located at Silva Ranch to the west of Highland Springs Road. This weather station has been collecting data since February of 2010. Average high and low temperatures by month were compared with similar data from the three weather stations located in the proposed Big Valley District area. Both the high and low temperatures recorded at the Silva station for 11 months of 2010 and the first 8 months of 2011 were consistently warmer than temperatures recorded at Big Valley District weather stations. This is most important in terms of frost events in the spring and fall. The low temperatures recorded at the Silva weather station were not as low as those recorded by the weather stations located in the adjacent Big Valley District area, translating to a lower potential for frost damage. This is confirmed by grower experience. Steve Devoto who owns a vineyard that is situated on land that extends up onto the edge of the Kelsey Bench, made the following comments about frost, “I have a vineyard at 2225 Smith Lane which starts in the flat area of Big Valley and extends past Hill Creek up onto the Kelsey Bench. The latter is about 10 acres and has the following characteristics: ground is fractured clay and loam with good drainage; frost is less likely because of the good air drainage to the valley; better sun exposure since it faces west. Preferable for red varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petite syrah. The adjacent valley is more of a clay loam with higher water holding capacity.”71

West – As noted in the discussion above, the area adjacent to the western boundary on Highland Springs Road has one weather station located on Silva Ranch. This station started collecting weather data in early 2010. For 2010, the last spring frost date was May 23rd, which is the same date as the weather stations located in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area. However, the low temperature recorded at the Silva location was only 32.4°F compared with the slightly colder temperatures of 30°, 31.4°, and 31.6°. The first frost date in the fall did not occur until October 27th with a low temperature of 31.4°.72 This is a full 23 days later than the first fall frost date in the Big Valley District– Lake County area.

Rainfall - Rainfall in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area is significantly different than surrounding areas. Precipitation varies greatly over Lake County due to the rapid changes in topography between the Mayacamas Mountains and the lower elevations of the Big Valley. Rain bearing clouds dump their moisture when forced to rise over mountains in their path. Therefore as expected, rainfall in the Big Valley District area with an average of 24 inches per year is significantly lower than the rainfall in the surrounding mountains.

71 Email dated November 22, 2010 from Steve Devoto, Devoto Vineyards

72 Email dated November 30, 2010 from Steve Tylicki, General Manager/Viticulturist, Steele Wines,

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Importance to Viticulture

Annual rainfall plays a critical role in ensuring sufficient water for irrigation of grapes and recharge of the underlying groundwater. According to the Kelseyville Area Plan, “The groundwater basins in the planning area have limited storage capacity and rely on annual re-charge to replenish the basins. Full replenishment occurs in normal and wet years, however, during drought years, the aquifers are not filled.”73 Wine grapes require sufficient water during the growing season to produce and ripen the fruit.

Boundary Discussion - Rainfall

North – The area to the north of the proposed area is Clear Lake. Rainfall data is not available for the Lake although the Lakeport Area Plan describes rainfall in Lakeport at 28 to 32 inches at lake level.74

East – The areas to the east of the proposed area include both Mount Konocti and the proposed Kelsey Bench area. Rainfall data is not available for either of these areas. In order to demonstrate the difference in rainfall along this boundary, comparisons were made with data for the Red Hills area.

Data collected from three weather stations in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area was compared to data collected from the three weather stations in the Red Hills area. Appendix Exhibit 26 contains a chart with the raw data for each weather station for the years of 2008, 2009, and 2010. This data was used to calculate an average annual rainfall for the Big Valley District and Red Hills areas. Averages for 2008 and 2009 were calculated by averaging the totals for all three weather stations in each area. The data for 2010 is incomplete for one weather station in the Big Valley District area and 1 weather station in the Red Hills area, so the average is based on the total rainfall for two weather stations in each location. The chart below in Figure 5 is a graphic representation of the average annual rainfall for the two areas over the three year period, again demonstrating the differences between the two areas.

73 Kelseyville Area Plan, (Prepared by the Lake County Community Development Department, 1989) page 3-3

74 Lakeport Area Plan, County of Lake California, 2000, page 1-8

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 5 Comparison of Average Annual Rainfall

South – Rainfall data for the area adjacent to the southern boundary is not available. However, because the topography increases in altitude as it approaches the Mayacamas Mountains, it is reasonable to expect that a similar rainfall pattern to the Red Hills area would occur. This is further supported by the chart contained in Appendix Exhibit 27. This chart was taken from the Soil Survey of Lake County California and shows general precipitation patterns for Lake County. The proposed Big Valley- Lake County area sits in a pocket with an average of 24 inches per year whereas the surrounding areas fall into bands with higher precipitation.

West – The area adjacent to the western boundary includes both the land west of Highland Springs Road and the eastern portion of the City of Lakeport. Rainfall data is not available for the area west of Highland Springs Road. Rainfall in Lakeport is described as follows in the Lakeport Area Plan: The Lakeport area has a Mediterranean climate. Rainfall averages 28-32 inches annually at lake level.”75 Rainfall data for Scotts Valley area located west of Lakeport was also examined. Data for the three year period referred to in the discussion above shows a similar trend of higher rainfall in the Scotts Valley than in the Big Valley District area. Topography again plays a factor in this difference. Scotts Valley, like the Big Valley, is surrounded by mountainous terrain on its western boundary, but additional hilly terrain separates it from Clear Lake. Appendix Exhibit 28 contains a table showing monthly rainfall data collected at the Scotts Valley weather station by the Western Weather group.

75 Ibid, page 1-8

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

AVA within an AVA: Discussion of the Clear Lake AVA Petition Evidence

This petition seeks to establish the Big Valley District– Lake County AVA within the larger Clear Lake AVA. The Clear Lake AVA was established in final regulations published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Volume 49, Number 90 of the Federal Register on May 8, 1984. The Clear Lake AVA included reference to Big Valley as well as other geographical regions within its boundaries. This was the second viticultural area in Lake County, with Guenoc Valley being the first one. At the time that this AVA was requested, the area that it represented included over 3000 acres planted to vines and 3 commercial wineries, two of which were located in Big Valley. The petition was submitted by 3 of the grape growers and winery owners.

Since the approval of the Clear Lake AVA, the wine industry in Lake County has grown substantially. Today, there are over 8000 acres planted to wine grapes, over 150 growers in the County, and 32 wineries. AVAs have been approved for Red Hills, High Valley, and Benmore Valley with all of the Red Hills area and most of the High Valley area encompassed within the Clear Lake AVA. Appendix exhibit 29 contains a map of Lake County showing the currently approved AVAs and the placement of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County AVA.

Prior to the revision of the American Viticultural Area Regulations on January 20, 2011, many AVAs within AVAs were approved. The proposal to establish 7 new viticultural areas within the existing boundaries of the Lodi viticultural area is an example of an instance where this practice was used. Like the widely accepted and internationally understood practice of “nesting” wine appellations, this delineation of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County AVA within the existing Clear Lake AVA would provide substantial information on wine produced from grapes grown in this area for the consumer.

The following discussion demonstrates the similarities and differences between the larger Clear Lake AVA and the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County AVA. While the distinctions are easily defined, we believe that the Clear Lake AVA continues to be a significant growing area that encompasses many different microclimates suitable to viticulture. Many of these growing areas are not part of another established or proposed separate AVA and would be damaged by the elimination of the Clear Lake AVA. In addition, the Clear Lake AVA is used by wineries including Steele Wines on its labels.

Similarities: The Clear Lake AVA petition cited elevation, climate and watershed as distinguishing features. The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area is similar to the Clear Lake AVA in elevation, climate and is part of the Clear Lake watershed. The petition to establish the Clear Lake AVA also cited elevation, noting that vineyards in the proposed area were planted at elevations between 1300 and 1800 feet. The elevations of the vineyards of the

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

proposed Big Valley District– Lake County fit within this elevation range although all vineyards in the proposed area sit below 1400 feet.

The Clear Lake AVA cited the Clear Lake watershed as a second distinguishing feature, noting that the area encompassed by the Clear Lake AVA lies within the Clear Lake watershed. The proposed viticultural area lies within this watershed. A map of the Clear Lake watershed in included in Appendix Exhibit 30. The petition for the Clear Lake AVA claimed that the area enjoyed a unique climate pattern due to the influence of the Clear Lake watershed. The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area is similarly affected by several of these factors including little fog compared to the coastal area and warmer temperatures than neighboring viticulture areas in Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.

Differences: The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County is distinctly different from the larger Clear Lake AVA in both growing season and rainfall. The Clear Lake AVA petition stated “According to the publication entitled “Climatography of the United States No. 81-4, Decennial Census of U.S. Climate,” the growing season in Clear Lake is 223 days which is shorter than the surrounding areas.” This is considerably different than the growing season in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County. The growing season in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area has a range of 160 to 205 days according to the Soils Survey for Lake County in the discussion of Cole – Clear Lake Variant soils types. This is further supported in the climate discussion of this petition under Frost Free Periods. This section included a discussion of the data defining frost free periods in the Big Valley District area and compared the Big Valley District data with data defining the frost free periods in the Red Hills area.

The differences in growing season are also supported by the discussion of heat summation. Heat summation defined as growing degree where the baseline temperature is 50° F or higher is widely accepted today as a better indicator of climate and suitability for grape cultivation and further demonstrates the differences between growing areas. Heat summation expressed as growing degree totals varies widely within the various regions encompassed by the Clear Lake AVA. The growing degree totals in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area averaged between 2878 to 3124 over the years of 2005 through 2010 depending on which weather station was used to collect the temperature data. The Red Hills area growing degree totals for the same five year period averaged between 3544 and 3620, again based on the weather station used to collect the temperature data. The Scotts Valley area is slightly cooler than either Big Valley District or Red Hills with an average over the same period of time of 2825. All three of these areas lie within the boundaries of the Clear Lake AVA, demonstrating the diversity of microclimates that comprise this AVA.

The Clear Lake petition also spoke to average rainfall in for the Clear Lake area of about 37 inches per year and compared this data with average rainfall for Sonoma and Mendocino counties. While it may be true that the average rainfall over the entire Clear Lake area falls 30

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition within this average, the rainfall based on weather station data for the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County is considerably less as shown in the Rainfall section of this petition, again supporting the Big Valley District area as distinctly different from the larger Clear Lake AVA area. Likewise, rainfall data from Red Hills, Scotts Valley, and the city of Lakeport demonstrate the diversity of climate and the effect of terrain on each area.

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Boundaries

The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County Viticulture Area is located entirely within the Clear Lake Viticulture Area in Lake County, California. The area is bounded by Clear Lake on the north, Lakeport and the Mayacamas Mountains on the west, the slopes of Mount Konocti to the east, and Kelseyville and the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA to the south.

Boundaries plotted in a clockwise direction are found on four USGS 7.5’ series topographic maps, the Kelseyville Quadrangle, the Lakeport Quadrangle, the Lucerne Quadrangle, and the Highland Springs Quadrangle.

The beginning point is the point where Cole Creek flows into Clear Lake, Lucerne Quadrangle, Section 36, T14N, R09W.

Follow Cole Creek in a southwesterly direction to where it intersects with Soda Bay Road along the section line of Sections 1 and 2, T13N, R09W of the Lucerne Quadrangle.

Proceed east on Soda Bay Road to the point where it intersects with the unnamed road known locally as Clark Dr. just west of the 122°49’0” degree line, Lucerne Quadrangle, Section 1, T13N, R09W.

Draw a straight line from this intersection south-east to the 1400 foot contour line, Lucerne Quadrangle, Section 1, T13N, R09W.

Follow the 1400 foot contour line in a southerly direction until it meets the unimproved road which runs north from Konocti Road, Kelseyville Quadrangle, Section 13, T13N, R09W.

Proceed in a southeasterly direction along this unimproved road to its intersection with the improved portion of Konocti Road.

Proceed west on Konocti Road past the High School to the intersection of an unnamed road locally known as Main Street, Kelseyville Quadrangle, Section 14, T13N, R09W.

Follow Main Street southeast and then south to the point of intersection with Highway 29.

Proceed northeast on Highway 29 past Live Oak Drive to the point of intersection with Kelsey Creek. Follow Kelsey Creek north, then northwest to the unnamed road known as North Main Street, Kelseyville Quadrangle, Section 15, T13N, R09W.

Proceed west and then north on North Main Street to the point of intersection with Merritt Road. 32

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Follow Merritt Road west to the 1400 foot contour line, Kelseyville Quadrangle Map, on the border between Sections 10 and 15 T13N, R09W.

Pick up the 1400 foot contour line and follow it in a northwest then southwest direction to Highway 29.

Draw a straight line from the 1400 foot contour line’s point of intersection with Highway 29 to the 1380 foot contour line due west which borders the green vegetative area on the Kelseyville Quadrangle Map, Section 9, T13N, R09W.

Follow the 1380 foot contour line in a south-westerly direction until it intersects with Merritt Road.

Proceed west on Merritt Road to Hill Creek.

Pick up Hill Creek and follow it in a southerly direction until the point of intersection with Bell Hill Road.

Follow Bell Hill Road due west then southwest past the intersection of Bell Hill Road and Hummel Lane to the 1400 foot contour line at the point marked 1402 on the Kelseyville Quadrangle Map, Section 16, T13N, R09W.

Pick up the 1400 foot contour line and follow it as it crosses Hummel Lane and runs in a south, southwesterly direction to its first intersection with Bell Hill Road shown on the Highland Springs Quadrangle, Section 20, T13N, R09W.

Follow Bell Hill as it runs west, then south, then west, then south, and then west to its point of intersection with Highland Springs Road, Section 30, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Follow Highland Springs Road north to its intersection with Matthews Road, Highland Springs Quadrangle, the northwest corner of Section 8, T13N, R09W.

Proceed west on Matthews Road to the unnamed paved road known locally as Ackley Road, east of George Road, Highland Springs Quadrangle, Section 6, T13N, R09W.

Follow Ackley Road north to the point of intersection with Highway 29, Lakeport Quadrangle, Section 6.

Starting at the point of intersection of Ackley Road and Highway 29, draw a straight line north to 33

Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Soda Bay Road.

Proceed east on Soda Bay Road to Manning Creek.

Follow Manning Creek in a northwesterly direction to the shores of Clear Lake, Lakeport Quadrangle, Section 30, T14N, R09W.

Proceed east along the shores of Clear Lake on the Lakeport Quadrangle and then the Lucerne Quadrangle, Section 36, T14N, R09W to the point of beginning.

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Exhibits to Petition

Evidence to Establish Big Valley District– Lake County Viticulture Area

Exhibits that include the hand drawn diagrams of the proposed area’s boundary lines are included to provide the reader with a general frame of reference for the location of the proposed area. Please refer to the USGS maps of the proposed area for the actual boundary lines.

General Evidence

Exhibit 1- Kelseyville Area Plan Prime Agricultural Soils, Kelseyville Area Plan adopted August 15, 1995 (Exhibit page 1)

Exhibit 2 – Map of Big Valley Watershed, Lake County California, May 2009, showing location of vineyards and other agricultural parcels participating in Farm Bureau watershed program in proposed Big Valley District – Lake County Please note, this map has not been updated since 2009 nor does it identify every vineyard parcel in the area. (Exhibit page 2)

Exhibit 3 – List of growers and wineries located in the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County area (Exhibit pages 3, 4)

Exhibit 4 – Letter from Grower Steve Devoto, Devoto Vineyards (Exhibit page 5)

Exhibit 5 – Letter from Grower Greg Hanson, Hanson Vineyards (Exhibit page 6)

Name Evidence

Exhibit 6 - Map of Lake County California taken from A Description of Lake County California, Published by Authority of the Board of Supervisors, 1888 (Exhibit page 7)

Exhibit 7 – 1870 Federal Census, California, County: Lake; Division Big Valley, www.census-online.com/links/CA/Lake (Exhibit page 8)

Exhibit 8 - Lake County Farm Trails Discovery Map printed in 2008 (Exhibit page 9)

Exhibit 9 - 2008 AAA Clear Lake Communities City Series map (Exhibit page 10)

Exhibit 10 - at&t, The Real Yellow Pages, under the letter B in the Business section U.S Places.com (Exhibit pages 11, 12)

Exhibit 11 – Map showing Big Valley in Lake County, California, www.us-places.com (Exhibit page 13)

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

Exhibit12 - Lake County Winegrape Growers – Talking Points, Big Valley / Kelseyville Bench Area, Lake County Winegrape Growers Grapes & Juice for Sale, www.lakecountywinegrape.org (Exhibit pages 14, 15)

Exhibit 13 – Big Valley Properties homepage, www.bigvalleyproperties.com (Exhibit page 16)

Geology Evidence

Exhibit 14 – Diagram of fault lines located under Big Valley taken from Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist, Dana Eker, 2005, Revised 2007, page 61 (Exhibit page 17)

Exhibit 15 - Figures 1 and 2 showing maps with lake boundaries in ancient past, taken from Images of America Lake County by Marcia Bishop Sanderson and Maureen Garcia Carpenter, published 2005, page 11 (Exhibit page 18)

Soils Evidence

Exhibit 16 - General Soil Map of Lake County, California from Soil Survey of Lake County California, by the USDA Soil Conservation Service completed in 1989 (Exhibit pages 19, 20)

Exhibit 17 - California Department of Conservation, Lake County Prime Farmland Soils (Exhibit pages 21 – 24)

Exhibit 18 – Soda Bay Road Vineyards table showing soil components, Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist, Dana Eker, 2005, Revised 2007, page 114 (Exhibit page 25)

Exhibit 19 - Excerpt from Table 7, Storie Rating, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, May, 1989, pages 247, 248, 251, 257, 259, and 260 (Exhibit pages 26 – 31)

Meteorology Evidence

Exhibit 20 - Red Hills Geothermal Prospect Morning Wind Regime (Exhibit page 32)

Exhibit 21 - Red Hills Geothermal Prospect Afternoon Wind Regime (Exhibit page 33)

Exhibit 22 – Spreadsheet showing average wind speed in miles per hour for weather stations located at Lake County Air Quality Management District office in Lakeport, Bell Hill West, Kelseyville, and Kelseyville South (Exhibit page 34)

Heat Summation Evidence

Exhibit 23 - Portion of Table 3,”Heat Summation as Degree-Days above 50° F for the Period of April 1 to October 31 of Various County Locations in California and a Few Foreign Locations,

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Big Valley – Lake County AVA Petition

from General Viticulture by A J Winkler, James A Cook, W. M. Kliewer, Lloyd A. Lider (Exhibit pages 35, 36)

Frost Free Days Evidence

Exhibit 24 - Chart showing earliest and latest frost dates for 2007, 2008, 2009, and Spring 2010 collected by weather stations in proposed Big Valley District– Lake County and weather stations in Red Hills AVA by Western Weather Group for Lake County Winegrape Commission (Exhibit page 37)

Exhibit 25 - Map showing location of Western Weather Group weather stations in Lake County printed from Lake County Winegrape Commission website (Exhibit page 38)

Rainfall Evidence

Exhibit 26 – Rainfall data for years 2008, 2009, and 2010 for weather stations located in Big Valley District– Lake County area and weather stations located in Red Hills area (Exhibit page 39)

Exhibit 27 Figure 1 – Isohyetal map showing general precipitation patterns for Lake County California, copied from Soil Survey of Lake County, California, United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, 1989, page 5 (Exhibit page 40)

Exhibit 28 - Comparison of Annual Rainfall Scotts Valley with Average Annual Rainfall Big Valley District (Exhibit page 41)

AVA within AVA Evidence

Exhibit 29 – Map of Lake County Wine Industry showing Current American Viticultural Areas (Exhibit pages 42, 43)

Exhibit 30 – Map of Clear Lake Watershed (Exhibit page 44)

Contact Information

Exhibit 31 – Contact information for petitioners (Exhibit page 45)

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