Our vineyard is in the heart of the Lamorinda AVA (American Viticultural Area), which was established on February 24, 2016. This AVA defines a region within California’s Contra Costa County with specific geographic and climatic features that distinguish it from the surrounding regions and affect how grapes are grown. It got its name from the portmanteau of the names of the three cities that make up the region: Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. It covers a total of nearly 30,000 acres and is home to dozens of commercial vineyards.
The unique features of the Lamorinda AVA include its soil, topography, and climate:
Topography: The terrain consists mainly of moderate-to-steep hills with narrow valleys. In contrast, areas further inland are much more rugged, and areas to the west are both flatter and at lower overall elevations.
Soils: The soils of Lamorinda are a combination of uplifted sedimentary formations, some rich in marine fossils, and erosion from the surrounding mountains. They tend to be thin, with high levels of clay and sand. In contrast, soils in the surrounding areas tend have more sedimentary and volcanic elements.
Climate: The Lamorinda area is, overall, warmer than the areas to the north, south, and west due to the presence of hills that block the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean. It is, however, cooler than the region located further inland, to its east.
"While there are some white wine varietals being grown, Lamorinda is mostly devoted to red wine varietals. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Sangiovese are most common. Being a relatively new winegrowing area, there is some experimentation going on with some very interesting results,” says Lamorinda Wine Growers Association Vice-President Carol Haag.