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Mendocino County is in the North Coast wine region, north of Sonoma County. The vineyards are divided into mountainous areas and coastal mountain valleys which follow the drainage of the Navarro and Russian rivers.
Vineyards rise on to the bench lands from the river plains. There are two main winery clusters in Mendocino Country, some near Hopland and others in the Anderson Valley. The Anderson Valley wineries have a cooler climate and produce Alsation varieties, sparkling wines and Pinot Noirs. The Hopland wineries enjoy a warmer climate and produce grapes such as Zinfandel and Syrah.
Mendocino Wines
The principal grape varietals used for Mendocino wine making are Riesling, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Canernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.
History of Mendocino Wine Making
The first wine grapes were planted in Mendocino just after the California Gold Rush in the mid nineteenth century. Immigrant farmers who had no luck as prospectors turned back to agriculture. Food crops were grown on the flat lands near the river plains and grapes were grown on the ridge tops and rugged hillsides.
Mendocino was isolated from large southern markets because of its geography and early Mendocino wine country produce was traded close to home. When the highways and railroad reached the northern area of Mendocino County, Sonoma and Napa wineries were already well known but Mendocino wineries were not.
In the time of alcohol prohibition, the vineyard acreage declined rapidly and the small wineries vanished. Only the Parducci family in Ukiah persevered with wine making after the prohibition, between 1933 and the 1960s. Older vineyards started up again around this time and local wineries started to make wine from the local grapes, which had been shipped south before.
Wine making in Mendocino County expanded further through the 1970s and 1980s. The wine varieties and styles were altered to suit the tastes of the wine-buying public. Mendocino wineries, the top ones being Parducci Wine Cellars and Fetzer Vineyards, stood out as being excellent wine makers and continue to distribute their wines worldwide today.
Mendocino Vineyards Today
Modern Mendocino vineyards are doing very well and the name "Mendocino" is becoming increasingly well known. Thanks to the microclimate of Mendocino, it is possible to produce distinctive and high quality wines in the region.
There are now fifty wineries in the Mendocino region of the California wine country. Also, the area has developed more varietals, new organic grape growing procedures, specialised wine making techniques over the past fifty years or so. Mendocino wines are acclaimed today and are likely to achieve even more success in the future.
Mendocino Wineries
Fetzer Vineyards is America's sixth largest producer of fine California wines. One of their most popular wines is Fetzer Coro. With its berry, violet and allspice flavors, this rich red wine complements rich dishes like steak or braised sausages. Fetzer Vineyards also produces dual varietals, such as Chardonnay-Viognier and Zinfandel-Shiraz.
Another exciting Mendocino winery is Parducci Wines, the oldest winery in this northern area of California wine country. Their 2006 Pinot Grigio won a gold medal in the 2007 San Francisco International Wine Competition with its fruity yet dry, spicy aromas and smooth finish.
Mendocino is a fascinating place to do a wine tour or simply to visit. Its microclimate is perfect to grow grapes and make high quality prize winning wines. Once pretty much cut off from civilization, without a railroad or highway, Mendocino wines are now enjoyed all over the globe and the excellent wines have truly earned their place on the California wine country map.
Author: California Wine Guide Staff Writer
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