LAKE COUNTY >> Shannon Ridge Family of Wines continues its growth with the purchase of 430 acres of prime Lake County vineyards.
The purchases include 280 acres in Long Valley, a very special area due to its lower elevation and cool moist climate, slated to be planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; 100 acres from three different properties in the Big Valley/Kelseyville area planted with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and 50 acres in the renowned Red Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area), planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.
“Folks are eager to buy our award-winning, affordable wines,” stated Clay Shannon, owner of Shannon Ridge Family of Wines. “We need to make more wine to keep up with the demand, and these new vineyards will help supply us with fruit for our established brands.”
The Shannon Ridge Family of Wines portfolio includes Cross Springs, Dalliance, High Valley, Hillgate, Playtime, Vigilance Vineyards and Shannon Ridge. Shannon Ridge’s vineyards are certified sustainable and are known for their woolly compost machines — a flock of 1,000 sheep, complete with shepherd and a team of highly trained sheepdogs. The sheep do an excellent job of canopy management and leaf removal, and pick the vineyard clean after harvest. They also manage the cover crop in the spring and work hard to reduce fire danger in the surrounding hills the remainder of the year.
For information on Shannon Ridge, visit www.shannonridge.com.
