California is world-famous for its wines for a good reason. The climate and terrior perfectly meld in numerous regions throughout the state to allow vintners to turn out fantastic wines. But, while the state has won acclaim, most people focus on two counties-Napa and Sonoma, when they go shopping for wine at their local stores. Understandable, some great wine is crafted in those spots, but California has much more to offer wine connoisseurs.
There are multiple growing regions that wine lovers should have on their radar throughout the state. Not only do they turn out fantastic wines, but they also offer visitors a respite from the crowds that flock to Napa and Sonoma every year.
To help sift through all that California has to offer, we turned to Robert Ord, the directory of winery relations at Underground Cellar, an online marketplace dedicated to introducing drinkers to different wines. An industry veteran with over twenty-five years of experience, he has won a Wine Spectator Magazine Grand Award as a Sommelier, has been a judge for numerous international wine competitions, and has earned other accolades. On top of all that, he routinely works with winemakers across the state to bring their bottles to market.
Robert Ord, the Director of Winery Relations at Underground Cellar.
Underground Cellar
Here are six locations that he recommends searching out the next time you want to try something off the beaten path, and one winery in each to search out to get a taste of what is awaiting wine lovers there.
Lake County
“Nestled along the spine of the Mayacamas Mountains, just north of Napa and Sonoma Counties, the volcanic-mineral rich soils of Lake County turn out some fantastic wines. Due to its higher elevations, ranging from 1,00 ft to over 3,000 ft, the wide diurnal swings here give the grapes higher acidity and natural vibrancy. The Cabernets here tend to be concentrated with a focus of fresh blackberry and a bright acid, making them perfect for Napa and Sonoma fans looking to explore a new region.”
Winery: Hawk and Horse
Owned by the Hawkins and Boies families, Hawk and Horse uses organic and biodynamic practices to produce stellar wines. Their wines have a fantastic structure which allows their Cabernet Sauvignon to age ten years or more with beautiful tertiary notes of leather and spice onto the rich blackberry palate.
El Dorado County
“Famous for the discovery of gold which led to the gold rush of 1849, El Dorado County is especially known for its full-bodied Zinfandels. The high elevation and cooling breezes from the Sierra Nevada mountains create a wide diversity of micro-climates, allowing El Dorado County to be successful with many Rhone varieties such as Grenache, Syrah, and the whites Marsanne and Roussanne. I really like the Grenache from this region; they are vibrant and have a crunchy raspberry feel. I also am a fan of the old vine Zinfandels here with their spicy and concentrated palates. They are perfect with a bacon cheeseburger and fresh-cut fries.”
Winery: Aviatrix Winery
World-renowned winemaker Heidi Barrett (the woman behind Screaming Eagle’s mythic status) started Aviatrix Winery in 2016 with her two daughters, winemaker Chelsea Barrett and Sales/Marketing Director Remi Barrett. It is a small-production, boutique winery offering bottles at affordable prices that appeal to all kinds of wine lovers. Their Grenache is beautiful, with dried herbs and rose petals complementing the soft and juicy raspberry and plums.
Santa Clara
“Perhaps better known as Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County hugs the edge of the Santa Cruz mountains south of the San Francisco Bay. The delightful Mediterranean climate and cooling sea breezes, coupled with the easily draining soils, provide the perfect conditions for a plethora of different grapes. Balanced Cabernets, peppery Syrah, and plush yet focused Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the standard here. There are also some fun Barbera, Marsanne, and Mourvèdre wines for those wanting to explore outside their normal fare.”
Winery: Clos LaChance Winery
Founded by Bill and Brenda Murphy thirty-five years ago, Clos LaChance Winery produces many wines, including tasty Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Their Cabernet is filled with fresh black cherry, currants, and baking spice flavors. For those looking for a bigger white wine, their Marsanne is one to try. Flavors of yellow apple, pear, slight ginger, and marzipan abound.
Mendocino County
“This region is just north of Napa and Sonoma. Mendocino County offers cool climates and high elevations, meaning bright, elegant wines that dance lightly on the palate. The county is home to eleven AVAs showcasing a diversity of styles, with most wineries using organic and biodynamic practices. The most famous AVA here is Anderson Valley which is home to the American arm of the Champagne house Louis Roederer. However, Mendocino is so much more than just sparkling wines. Crisp Rieslings, balanced Pinots, and bright Zinfandels are found aplenty here, and the overall quality level is high. This is the perfect region to seek out if your tastes lean more toward light and bright rather than heavy and bombastic.”
Winery: Handley Cellars
A small, family-owned winery, it makes fruit-driven balanced wines that show varietal typicity. They have a vast selection of whites to choose from, ranging from Gewurztraminer to Chardonnay, all with sprightly acidity and vivaciously fresh fruit. Their single-vineyard Pinot Noir’s have vastly different characteristics highlighted in vertical tastings.
Paso Robles
“The Paso Robles wine region in San Luis Obispo County is a huge AVA with a wide variety of soils and climates, noted by its eleven different sub-AVAs. If you are looking for ripe, rich, broad-shouldered styles of wines, then Paso delivers. The western side of Paso tends to be slightly cooler as the crisp Pacific air finds its way through the Templeton Gap, though away from this marine air influence, the rest of Paso is warm and dry. Zinfandel has historically been the grape here; however, the Cabernet Sauvignon is plush and, to me, always seems to have chocolate crumbly tannins. Other warm climate varieties flourish here, especially the Rhone triumvirate of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.”
Winery: Le Vigne Winery
Le Vigne Winery is a fun winery with a deep history in the area dating back to the early 1960s. Their Sangiovese retains a slight Tuscan feel with bright cherry and strawberry flavors mixed with cigar leaf, vanilla, and dark chocolate. In comparison, their Tannat is slightly tamer than some of the more wild and woolly examples from Madiran (a Southwest France region). Flavors of blackberry jelly, licorice, and espresso are framed with bold tannins. It’s the perfect winery for drinkers looking to get off the beaten path.
Amador County
“Located forty miles east of Sacramento, and only a two-hour drive from Napa is Amador County. It is in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada range and home to the oldest Zinfandel vines in America, planted in 1869. Most growers can dry farm their vines because of the dense ground that retains Amador’s rain. That works in conjunction with the low nitrogen and phosphorus soils to restrict the foliage giving the grapes more sunlight exposure. Warm climate, low humidity, and high sunlight mean that the grapes hit full ripeness. At the same time, the cool evening mountain breezes allow the grapes to retain acidity and provide balance for the wines. Amador is best known for Zinfandel; however, the climate is conducive to growing balanced Italian varieties such as Barbera, Aglianico, and Sangiovese.”
Winery: Avio Vineyard
Specializing in the Italian-style varietals that Amador County is known for, Avio Vineyards feels like one has been transported from the Tuscan countryside. Founded by a family with winemaking roots that stretch back to Italy, they are a boutique vineyard that produces small batches of award-winning wines. Their Barbera is chock full of black cherry and plum flavors that intermingle with hints of vanilla and smoke. They also make a smooth Sangiovese that’s a pleasure to sip.