Occupying an elevated position overlooking Clear Lake, Shannon Ridge is one of Lake County’s most iconic wine producers. Since the middle of the 1990s, Clay Shannon and his team have developed an enduring brand synonymous with exceptional mountain fruit and subsequently rich, well-balanced wines of excellent ageing potential.
High in the hills of Lake County, Shannon Ridge vines enjoy the benefits of enhanced sunlight exposure, shallow volcanic soils and a constant flow of cooling winds from nearby Clear Lake. This unique combination of climate and geology, creates perfect growing conditions for a variety of red and white grapes including but not limited to: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Like many Lake County producers, sustainability is integral to the practice here with preservation of this unique landscape at the heart of every endeavour; Shannon Ridge exists in harmony with the various wildlife that shares its space, from ducks to deer, bobcats to bears, mountain lions to the iconic bald eagle. The ranch around which the vineyards are centred - lovingly labelled Home Ranch by its owners - was acquired in the spring of 1996, on account, not only of its potential for quality viticulture, but also for its stunningly beautiful setting and remarkable vistas. Over the years, the original thirty-two hectares have been dramatically added to, such that today Shannon Ridge farms more then eight-hundred-and-fifty hectares of land including plots in the famed Napa Valley AVA. Originally much of the sought after mountain fruit was sold to wineries in nearby Napa and Sonoma, however as the ranch grew, so too did the family of wines offered by its cellar. Nowadays around 50% of all fruit is used to produce acclaimed and award winning Shannon Ridge wines, with the remainder still sold on to premium winemakers across California's most famous appellations. The range of wines here is broad and each offers quality, choice and value to the consumer. Eight sub-collections comprise varietals and blends from high elevation fruit at a number of different price points. These include a set of single vineyard wines from the thirty-hectare Betsy vineyard in High Valley AVA (named in honour of the founder’s mother), the age-worthy Shannon Reserve series and the Clay Shannon signature collection produced from the grapes of premier plots in the Red Hills, Lake County and Napa Valley appellations. Wines from these collections and others can be tasted in the idyllic surroundings of California's North Coast, where visitors can also enjoy the spectacular scenery at harmony with nature.
