Shannon Family of Wines

Shannon Ridge is a line of modestly-priced wines that are sourced from estate-owned vineyards in three Lake County appellations: High Valley, Red Hills, and Big Valley. Warm summer days and cool nights as well as the volcanic soils in mountain vineyards make for excellent terroir for Sauvignon blanc. The winery characterizes the wine as “brimming with lemongrass, mango, tangerine, and gooseberry flavors. Steely crispness is perfectly balanced by a lush tropical fullness and complex, lingering finish.” It would pair well with sashimi or a lazy spring afternoon under the cherry blossoms.

Shannon Ridge Chardonnay is sourced from mountain vineyards in the High Valley, Red Hills, and Big Valley appellations in Lake County. High Valley fruit adds lively citrus flavors and bright acidity, while grapes from Red Hills contribute a generous, ripe fruit character. Big Valley adds more balance with grassiness and mineral tones. As noted by the winery, “The balanced fruit and oak aromas of this Chardonnay blends seamlessly with flavors of ripe peaches, pineapple, vanilla, butter, and caramel for a silky-smooth lingering finish.”

In the early 20th century, Petite Sirah was one of the most widely planted grapes in Lake County. Shannon Ridge Petite Sirah reminds us that these high-elevation appellations comprise excellent terroir for this varietal. Pour a glass and take in the inky purple/black in color, aromas of dusty ripe plums, and rich flavors of blueberry jam, blackberries, chocolate, earth and spice. It’s a fruit-forward, full-bodied wine with a nice structure of acidity and tannin. Restrained ABV of 13.9% ensures it will harmonize with rather than overwhelm your meal.

The Clay Shannon Sauvignon Blanc is sourced primarily from Long Valley, an organic vineyard in the High Valley AVA. This high-elevation area features a unique east-west orientation that funnels in cool air off the lake as well as gravelly volcanic soils. Grapes were harvested at medium-low brix, balancing bright acidity with ripeness. While most of the wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel, a small amount saw time in acacia to enhance the mouthfeel and add floral notes. The winery says, “In the nose, you find white peach, passion fruit, and lime zest, as well as some herbaceous notes like bell pepper. Presents a rounded mouthfeel, well balanced with a refreshing acidity, enhancing its flavors.”

Clay Shannon Chardonnay is mainly sourced from cool sites in the Red Hills AVA (43%) with the rest from vineyards around Lake County. The wine was made to emphasize the fresh flavors of pure Chardonnay with little influence of oak or malolactic fermentation. The winery’s notes describe “aromas of pear, nutmeg, honeydew, lemon zest with just a hint of butter. On the palate: Meyer lemon, Fuji apple, vanilla & baking spices. Bright, clean with a creamy texture.”

“Junior” is an intensely flavored Zinfandel that entices with aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum, and a hint of black pepper. Crafted from grapes grown in high-elevation vineyards in Lake County's High Valley, it exemplifies the region's signature bright fruit, spice, and textured richness.  The Wine Enthusiast noted a “vivacity of fresh fruit that adds an excellent midpalate lift and keeps the energy going through to the lengthy finish. Cottony tannins gently coat the palate and are well-met by the concentration of ripe black cherry, plum, and bramble fruits, which are further complemented by herbes de Provence, fresh forest floor, and nuanced spices.”

The Long Valley Ranch Pinot Noir is sourced from a single vineyard located in a cool spot in the region: the western edge of an unusual valley that runs East-West. Planted at an elevation of 400 m., the vineyard is situated between mountains that soar up to over 900 m. Cool air funneled in from Clear Lake and wide diurnal temperature swings make for excellent acidities and fruit flavors. Scoring this wine 92 points, the Wine Enthusiast noted “Full of red cherry, red currant and orange tea flavors, this multidimensional, full-bodied wine is a standout. It layers subtle cinnamon, clove and vanilla accents among the lively, ripe fruit flavors while good acidity and light tannins provide great balance.”

Clay Shannon Petite Sirah is estate-grown and sourced mainly from two high-elevation Lake County appellations: High Valley (57%) and Red Hills (33%). These vineyards get plenty of sun but are also whipped by fierce winds, producing tiny berries with huge but refined tannins. The wine is loaded with rich purple and black fruit but accented with brighter notes of red fruit, herbs and spice. Fans of Zinfandel, Syrah, or spicy red blends take note!

Clay Shannon Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from vineyards in two Lake County AVAs: High Valley (56%) and Red Hills (44%). These high-elevation mountain vineyards benefit from well-drained soils, cooling breezes and winds, clean air, and high UV light, conditions that produce wine with texture, tannin, and intensity. Blending High Valley’s dark, deep, and rich flavors with the brighter notes of Red Hills ensured this wine is complex, layered, and deeply satisfying. While the wine is young, decanting is recommended - or cellaring for six months or a year or more.

Ovis is Latin for sheep. Clay Shannon named his flagship label Ovis to honor the large herd of sheep that lie at the center of his sustainable farming practices. Letting sheep graze the cover crop in the vineyard reduces the need for herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizer; because they also till the soil, tractors are used less, further shrinking the carbon footprint of the operation. Ovis is sourced mainly from the best blocks in the estate’s Round Mountain Vineyard in High Valley AVA. The wine aged for 30 months in 90% French and 10% American oak. The Wine Enthusiast rated this wine 92 points, describing it as “full of black cherries, black olives and blackberries, this firmly structured and full-bodied wine wraps its fruit in firm, fine-grained tannins and spices them with oak notes of cinnamon, cedar and wood smoke. Best now to 2028.”