An Important View From the Plane of Livermore Valley
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Last a week I started a whirlwind journey visiting various wineries in Northern California for nine days. One item caught my attention on the approach to Oakland Airport. Flying over Livermore Valley it was easy to see the nightly fog flowing into one the few west to east valleys on the west coast. The importance of the cooling fog on the vineyards is immense. Just a few keys factors are: the fog slows down grape respiration allowing the vineyards to retain critical tartaric and malic acids. This allows for producing crisp and vibrant white and red wines. Heavy fog layers shields grape skins from harsh direct sunlight which can help prevent sunburn and off-flavors. By moderating severe temperature spikes, this allows more time on vine allowing each grape to develop a more complex flavor profile and tannins. One of Livermore Valley’s “unheralded” aids in developing excellent wines. On the left is Mt. Diablo barely showing its 3,849 feet peak.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly