http://www.venture-magazine.com/content/view/377/31/
Excerpt:
Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery: Room to Breathe
Cover Story
By Brooke Knudson
Thursday, 14 February 2008
Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery’s Lake County property abounds with shallow and gravelly volcanic soils that help grapes thrive because of their ability to quickly drain water.
Premier Business Partners:
Landmark Label
When you’re a part of an industry that contributes more than $52 billion to the state’s economy, it takes more than a fancy bottle to maintain a competitive edge. Fortunately for Clay and Margarita Shannon, owners of Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery, their 20 years of experience in the industry has taught them a few things about what it takes to build a winery business in California.
But the husband-and-wife duo didn’t come into the business looking only to gain the upper-hand on the competition. Their story also has hints of innovative thinking and a few notes of good luck.
The Shannons hatched the idea to launch a vineyard management and development company in Lake County, Calif. They had worked several years for mega-producer Sutter Home, which used wine grapes grown locally in its various blends.
Continue reading at :
http://www.venture-magazine.com/content/view/377/31/
Shannon Ridge, Lake County California Winery Chosen As One Of The "Hot Brands" Of 2011 By Jon Fredrikson. Watch Us Grow...Happenings, Distributors, Press Etc.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A little history of Lake County and Wine Grapes
Compliments of the Lake County Wine Grape Growers:
History:
Lake County has been growing winegrapes since the mid 19th Century, when early settlers recognized that the climates and soils of the region would produce fruit and wines of excellent quality. Expansive vineyards were already established near the shores of Clear Lake when Napa and Sonoma counties were just initiating their wine industries. David Voight was the first pioneer to develop a commercial winery in Lake County in the early 1880s, on land east of Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake. Other winemakers bought land adjacent to the Voight vineyards, including Stephen Nicolai, a local stonemason whose jailhouse in Lower Lake is still standing. In 1884, Nicolai planted 10 acres and built a stone winery for himself. By 1884 Lake County could claim 600 acres of grapes. The largest vineyard in the Lower Lake area was started by an Englishman named George Wrey. In 1883 he bought 5,000 acres of land two miles south of Lower Lake on the road to Middletown. He planted hundreds of acres of vines and convinced Stephen Nicolai to build yet another stone winery with a storage capacity of 20,000 gallons. Due to business troubles, Wrey eventually abandoned his bottling plan and wound up selling his wine in bulk to the Greystone Winery in St. Helena. One of the most famous vintages from Lake County was developed during the 1890's by Charles M. Hammond, a young Harvard graduate. Hammond acquired a 600-acre estate in Upper Lake and set out to produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon. In 1893, his white and red wines won the best exhibit award at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. By 1920 Lake County had over 10,000 acres of vineyards and 28 wineries, but Prohibition spelled the end of commercial winegrowing in the region. Most of the county's grapevines were pulled up and replaced with pear and walnut orchards. Due to its superior growing environment, Lake County eventually became renown for the quality of its pears and today is the second largest supplier of premium fresh pears in the U.S. The renaissance of the local wine industry began again in the late 1960's when a few growers decided to diversify by planting winegrapes in Lake County. Today, the Lake County wine industry is booming with 18 wineries, 145 growers and 8,800 acres of producing vineyards.
History:
Lake County has been growing winegrapes since the mid 19th Century, when early settlers recognized that the climates and soils of the region would produce fruit and wines of excellent quality. Expansive vineyards were already established near the shores of Clear Lake when Napa and Sonoma counties were just initiating their wine industries. David Voight was the first pioneer to develop a commercial winery in Lake County in the early 1880s, on land east of Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake. Other winemakers bought land adjacent to the Voight vineyards, including Stephen Nicolai, a local stonemason whose jailhouse in Lower Lake is still standing. In 1884, Nicolai planted 10 acres and built a stone winery for himself. By 1884 Lake County could claim 600 acres of grapes. The largest vineyard in the Lower Lake area was started by an Englishman named George Wrey. In 1883 he bought 5,000 acres of land two miles south of Lower Lake on the road to Middletown. He planted hundreds of acres of vines and convinced Stephen Nicolai to build yet another stone winery with a storage capacity of 20,000 gallons. Due to business troubles, Wrey eventually abandoned his bottling plan and wound up selling his wine in bulk to the Greystone Winery in St. Helena. One of the most famous vintages from Lake County was developed during the 1890's by Charles M. Hammond, a young Harvard graduate. Hammond acquired a 600-acre estate in Upper Lake and set out to produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon. In 1893, his white and red wines won the best exhibit award at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. By 1920 Lake County had over 10,000 acres of vineyards and 28 wineries, but Prohibition spelled the end of commercial winegrowing in the region. Most of the county's grapevines were pulled up and replaced with pear and walnut orchards. Due to its superior growing environment, Lake County eventually became renown for the quality of its pears and today is the second largest supplier of premium fresh pears in the U.S. The renaissance of the local wine industry began again in the late 1960's when a few growers decided to diversify by planting winegrapes in Lake County. Today, the Lake County wine industry is booming with 18 wineries, 145 growers and 8,800 acres of producing vineyards.
Shannon Ridge - New Arrival.
Bustling baby Isabella
Born February 7th, 6 lbs, 15 ozs
Grandpa Shannon with Isabella...congratulations!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Whole lotta Bull!
Shannon Ranches and Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery would like to introduce you to one of the newest members of the family.....Joe Cumberland (Also known as Cumberland Joe as a breed line). Clay and I visited Joe yesterday as he was having a late lunch. You can look forward to seeing him on your visit to the ranch.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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