Lake County growers are committed to sustainable farming and participate in yearlong education programs. The vineyards here – like the Kelsey Hills Vineyard– are planted from the lower level near the lake at 1,370 feet to the rocky red volcanic soil at more than 2,000 feet elevation around Mt. Konocti, a dormant volcano in the Pacific Rim chain. The diverse elevations and mountain climate conditions lead to low humidity and large temperature fluctuations from hot days to cold nights with a later start to the growing season. Summer growing conditions are suitably warm to ripen the grapes and the elevation allows rapid cooling in the evening allowing for good acid retention during ripening. Few grape pests can tolerate the altitude and cool climate. The soils of Lake County are also something to marvel at with many of the vineyards rooted in soils rich in black obsidian, quartz crystal, and volcanic gravel allowing grape varieties like Sauvignon Blanc to thrive.

Lake County is also home to ‘The Original Kendall-Jackson Estate’. Here, our founder Jess Jackson purchased an 80-acre pear and walnut orchard and replanted it with Chardonnay grapevines in 1974. The family home, winery, and tasting room remained in Lake County until 1996 before moving to Sonoma County when the doors of our Wine Estate & Gardens officially opened. Today, ‘The Original Kendall-Jackson Estate’ or TOG as we like to call it, still plays an important part in our winery operations and pays homage to our roots.