A visual journey through the volcanic soils, vine rows, and living landscape of Quercus Ranch — where Sauvignon Blanc wine grapes and Bartlett pears have been grown for over a century at the edge of Clearlake.
No description captures what the land communicates on its own. These videos were filmed on the ranch — no staging, no production — just the volcanic terroir of Big Valley as it exists through the seasons.
Lush rows of Sauvignon Blanc vines stretch across the volcanic soils of Big Valley, reflected in the still waters of a ranch pond. Mount Konocti and the Mayacamas Mountains rise in the distance — the same peaks that funnel cooling Pacific breezes through the valley each afternoon, preserving the natural acidity that defines our wines.
A slow drive through the heart of Quercus Ranch — past row after row of Sauvignon Blanc vines in full spring canopy, past the ranch house and outbuildings that have anchored this property for over a century. The scale of the operation becomes clear only when you move through it.
The first bright green leaves of the season push from gnarled old trunks — bud break on Sauvignon Blanc at Quercus Ranch. The trellis wires are still bare, the cover crop is green, and the mountains are clear on the horizon. This is the moment the vintage begins.
Driving past the full extent of the Sauvignon Blanc blocks reveals the true scale of Quercus Ranch — row upon row of vines extending toward the ranch buildings and the mountains beyond. A dust plume rises in the distance as vineyard work continues across the property.
Young vines in protective sleeves line freshly prepared rows — a new block coming into production at Quercus Ranch. The volcanic soils are visible in the tilled earth, the mountains frame the horizon, and the ranch building sits at the edge of the new planting. This is how a century-old ranch continues.
Sauvignon Blanc vineyards, Bartlett pear orchards, and the working landscape of Quercus Ranch — Big Valley Basin AVA, Lake County, Northern California.
39 PHOTOS · QUERCUS RANCH · BIG VALLEY BASIN AVA · LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
The volcanic soils, the reflective surface of Clearlake, the afternoon breezes funneling through the Mayacamas passes — every element visible in these videos is directly expressed in the Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown here.
At 1,329 feet elevation, Big Valley receives up to 10% more UV radiation than Napa Valley, producing thicker grape skins and wines of exceptional concentration. The ancient lakebed soils — rich in obsidian, pumice, and volcanic ash — impart the distinctive savory, slightly mineral character that sets Lake County Sauvignon Blanc apart from any other growing region in Northern California.
Quercus Ranch Sauvignon Blanc is available as fresh wine grapes and bulk wine to commercial wineries, wine buyers, and distributors throughout Northern California. Allocations are limited — contact us early to secure your fruit.
