Did you know Lake County has volcanoes?

My latest in the drinks business:

Did you know that California has volcanoes?

by L.M. Archer

Red volcanic soils, high altitude and a seemingly magnetic pull for veteran winemakers are making Lake County in northern California one to watch, writes LM Archer.

At the recent SommCon conference in Washington, D.C., a $20 (£14.60) Lake County red blend outshone other premium international labels — a moment that hints at a bigger story.

At the time of writing, 2025 revenues for Brassfield Estate Winery, which produced the show-stopping wine, already surpass total revenues of 2024. “And we have the rest of the year to go,” reports Chris Baker, Brassfield Estate’s president and COO.

As the global wine industry doom-scrolls downward, how does this sleepy wine region north of Napa keep rising?

Location, location, location

Lake County claims its name from a volcanic caldera lake located on Clear Lake Volcanic Field in northern California. The region, spanning approximately 4,047 ha (10,000 acres), contains obsidian-laced volcanic soils, eight appellations, and two towering volcanoes, Mount Cobb and Mount Konocti.

Industry veterans like Andy Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards and Clay Shannon of Shannon Family of Wines invested decades ago in Lake County, impressed by its high altitudes, volcanic soils, and ample sunshine.

“I also wanted to be located as close as possible to the edge of development,” says Shannon. “There is not much north of us until you get to Oregon.”

Lake County vineyards slope between 457 m (1,500 ft.) and 914 m (3,000 ft.), basking in about 10% more ultraviolet light than other wine regions at or near sea level. This extra light produces thicker grape skins, and more concentrated phenolics.

Best Kept Secret

“Over time, winemakers and grape buyers across the North Coast recognised the value that Lake County grapes deliver in terms of phenolics, tannin, and structure,” explains Debra Sommerfield, president of Lake County Winegrowers. “Which became sort of a ‘best-kept secret’ among many winemakers.” READ MORE HERE.

I’m delighted to share my recent db article about Lake County with you.

Find more of my work here.