July 17, 1957: On this day, Eric Asimov was born in Bethpage, New York. The nephew of science fiction author Isaac Asimov, with multiple family members involved in journalism, he has been a food and wine writer for the majority of his adult life. His early career focused on writing articles revealing restaurants where people can receive excellent dining experiences for a low cost. Later he became the New York Times’ chief wine critic.

July 17, 2006: Alta Mesa AVA was established as a sub-appellation of Lodi AVA, located in Sacramento County. The AVA is named after a Spanish phrase, meaning “High Table,” since it’s fairly elevated than most appellations in Lodi. The 55400-acre AVA has a distinct climate and boasts alluvial soils excellent for viticulture. Barbera, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah are some of the main grapes used in it.

July 17, 2006: Borden Ranch AVA was established as a sub-appellation of Lodi AVA extending between Sacramento and San Joaquin counties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Albarino, and Viognier are the key grapes planted in this AVA. The AVA experiences a Mediterranean climate, with warm days cooled with breezes from rivers running through it.

July 17, 2006: Clement Hills AVA was established. It is located in San Joaquin County, encompassing 85400 acres of land, of which 21700 are under vines. The AVA has a unique climate, experiencing warmer and wetter conditions than appellations immediately to its west. Its diurnal shifts are larger, leading to long ripening periods. The appellation boasts sandy loam and clay soils suitable for several red and white varietals.

July 17, 2006: Cosumnes Rives AVA was established. It extends between two counties, San Joaquin and Sacramento, with most of it located in Sacramento County. It is part of the larger Lodi AVA elevated between 5 and 48 ft above sea level. The low elevation ensures the AVA experiences maximum marine influences, making it cooler than surrounding AVAs. As a result, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the dominant grapes in this AVA.

July 17, 2006: Jahant AVA was established as a sub-appellation of Lodi AVA with most of its planting region in San Joaquin County; it is the smallest among Lodi sub-AVAs. A small portion of the AVA extends into Sacramento County. The AVA is characterized by a cooler climate and pink-colored soil from other Lodi sub-appellations. Most of its grapes are processed in Napa and Sonoma. The appellation covers 28000 acres of land, of which 9000 are under vines.

July 17, 2006: Mokelumne River AVA was established. It is part of Lodi AVA, named after the Mokelumne River. The AVA is characterized by fairly uniform elevation and boasts granite sandy loams. The AVA borders Jahant AVA to the north (separated by Jahant Road) and the Mokelumne River to the west. The AVA covers 85700 acres of land, of which 42000 acres are under vines. The key grape is Zinfandel, although other varietals are also planted.

July 17, 2006: Saddle Rock-Malibu AVA was established, located in the Santa Monica Mountains in the western part of Los Angeles Couty. It neighbors Malibu-Newton Canyon and is part of South Coast AVA. Its high elevation ensures the production of rich, earth-red wines from its key grapes, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

July 17, 2006: Sloughhouse AVA was established. Located in Sacramento County, this AVA is part of Greater Lodi AVA and the warmest among Lodi appellations. Its terroir is considered a transition between the nearby Sierra Foothills and Central Valley. The AVA is made of 78000 acres of land, of which 8000 are under vines. Even though white grape varieties like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are also widely cultivated, red wines predominate.

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