Lamorinda AVA: My Favorite Portmanteau
Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda
The name Lamorinda is a portmanteau from the names of the three cities that make up the region: Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda.
On Wednesday, February 24, 2016, the TTB approved the establishment of the Lamorinda AVA. The Lamorinda AVA is located in Contra Costa County, California, and includes part of the cities of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. The AVA is entirely contained within the San Francisco Bay Area AVA, which is itself entirely contained within the Central Coast AVA.
Lamorinda's position in the hills protects it from the San Francisco Bay fog, and the vineyards have far less influence from the ocean than the surrounding areas. Instead, there is a range of different mesoclimates throughout the area that are more dependent on altitude, slope and aspect of the vineyards. Soil is also an important consideration for Lamorinda. The hills are made of uplifted sedimentary rock, and are covered with clay-rich soils. However, these soils are thin and sandy, and this, combined with the steep slopes, makes for excellent drainage in the vineyards. The lack of water in the soil reduces the threat of mildew, and decreases vine vigor, which helps direct energy into the production of high-quality berries.
According to the original petition for the AVA, the unique features of the Lamorinda AVA include its soil, topography, and climate:
· Topography: The terrain consists mainly of moderate-to-steep hills with narrow valleys. In contrast, areas further inland are much more rugged, and areas to the west are both flatter and at lower overall elevations.
· Soils: The soils of Lamorinda tend to be thin, with high levels of clay and sand. In contrast, soils in the surrounding areas tend have more sedimentary and volcanic elements.
· Climate: The Lamorinda area is, overall, warmer than the areas to the north, south, and west due to the presence of hills that block the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean. It is, however, cooler than the region located further inland, to its east.
