Livermore Valley’s proximity to San Francisco makes it a convenient destination for wine consumers, but this historic wine region is also well regarded by grape growers and winemakers. The valley’s unique geography, its gravelly soils, and the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean make it an ideal place to plant grapes. Livermore Valley has played a significant part in California’s wine history and continues to make its mark through innovation and experimentation.
Winkler Region III, warm days, cool nights, due to cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay
Key Soil Types
Primarily gravel, with sand and loam.
Overview
Livermore AVA is not only one of California’s oldest wine regions, it has historically been a leader in the California wine industry. Though not quite as prominent today, Livermore acquired international recognition as early as 1889 (eclipsing nearby Napa), when a Livermore white from Charles Wetmore’s Cresta Blanca Winery won the Grand Prix at the 1889 Paris Exposition. Livermore continued to lead the pack as the first California region to release varietally labeled Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Petite Sirah. Its impact on the California wine industry runs deep to this day: The Wente clone of Chardonnay and the Concannon clone of Cabernet Sauvignon, both prolific in California, were originally planted in Livermore in the 1890s.
