A look at East Bay wine country

A look at East Bay wine country
East Bay Business Times - by Judy Jacobs

Wineries seem to be popping up everywhere in the East Bay these days, but most of them are located in three areas: Livermore Valley, Suisun Valley and warehouse districts in Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville, with a few others scattered throughout east Contra Costa County. Here are some facts and figures relating to wine and grape production in these areas.

Livermore Valley Wine Country
Livermore Valley wine production dates back to the 1760s when Spanish priests planted the first vines to make wine for the missions. The first commercial vines were planted by Robert Livermore in the 1840s, followed 40 years later by C.H. Wente, James Concannon and Charles Wetmore, two of whose descendants are still active in the Livermore Valley wine industry. Before Prohibition, Livermore Valley had more than 50 wineries, more than it does today.

Year Livermore Valley AVA established: 1982
Size: 15 miles long by 10 miles wide
Acres under vines: More than 3,000
Number of wineries: 44
Number of wineries to open in past year: Five
Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association Web site: www.lvwine.org

Suisun Valley
Wine grapes have been grown and wine made in the Suisun Valley since the 1800s. In the latter part of that century, Mangles Winery, which is no longer in existence, was one of the largest commercial wineries in the country. Phylloxera and prohibition did much to damage the wine industry, but after World War II it began to come back to life and continues to grow. The newest winery, Blue Victorian Vineyards, is scheduled to open this fall.

Year Suisun Valley AVA established: 1982
Size: Eight miles long by three miles wide; 15,000 acres
Acres under vines: About 3,000
Grape tonnage: An estimated 50% to 55% of the Solano County total of 11,481 tons.
Number of wineries: 10, plus one to open in the fall Suisun Valley Grapegrowers
Association Web site: www.svgga.com

Urban East Bay
When veterinarian Kent Rosenblum and his wife, Kathy, founded Rosenblum Cellars in 1978 they were urban winemaking pioneers. Since then the East Bay has undergone a wine revolution, with winemakers moving their operations out of their garages and into full-scale wineries - some with tasting rooms - in warehouses scattered throughout industrial districts in Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville. It would be difficult to establish an exact number, but the industry has matured and now has its own association with 15 wineries as members.

East Bay Vintners Alliance Web site: http://eastbayvintners.com

jjacobs@bizjournals.com | 925-598-1451