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Petition to Establish Big Valley – Lake County

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Petition to Establish Big Valley – Lake County 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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.
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