Wine has been cultivated in this region going way back to the late 19th century. The Livermore Valley wine-growing region is based within the borders of Alameda County, California. There are several prize-winning wineries within the Livermore Valley. These include the Steven Kent Winery, Concannon Vineyard, Occasio Winery, the Big White House and John Evan Cellars.
Many of the wines produced here are award-winning and have accolades in France. But it was during the prohibition years, when most wineries were shut down, that the Livermore Valley saw two of its production continue to thrive. The Wente Vineyard has enjoyed being the valley’s biggest producer and exporter in the region.
The Wente Vineyards can produce up to 750,000 cases of wine every year with much of the produce being exported or used in showrooms, tasting centres or sold to smaller distributors at a wholesale price.
The viticulture area was named after landowner Robert Livermore. There is a groundwater basin within the valley that holds enough water to supply the entire San Francisco Bay Area. Although there are four other aquifers used to supply much of San Francisco city itself.
It was as recently as half a century ago when Livermore was producing as much wine as the Napa Valley. But where Napa was a household name for wineries and wine production in the early 1960s, Livermore was not. Yet the first family-run wine production business in Livermore began as early as 1883 and it is still functioning today – a feat unmatched by any other family-run winery in the United States.
The Concannon Vineyard is one of the other largest producers within the Livermore wine producing region. It too was established in the late 19th century but it is now run by a major corporation in the wine distribution industry. Still, there are many independent and smaller wineries functioning today in the Livermore Valley.
There is something very different about the viticulture in Livermore, which sets it apart from other wine growers: firstly, that these vineyards have an east to west orientation (unlike many other which run north to south) to take advantage of the warm breezes coming off the San Francisco Bay Area.
The microclimate here ensures there is always a warm onshore breeze during the afternoon and early evening and offers to grapes a wide temperature variation. This gives red grapes a particularly exciting taste and flavor once produced into some of the world’s most desired wine.
So be sure to visit the Livermore Valley if you are a wine enthusiast and especially if you are loooking to become one. Contact us at Armario Venema Homes for more information on living in Pleasanton and the Tri Valley
