Livermore Valley

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Livermore Valley, is a valley in California, USA, surrounding a city of the same name, Livermore. It is named after Robert Livermore, a landowner whose holdings encompassed the valley. It is perhaps best known for its wineries and is the location of the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area.

In the early sixties, Livermore had as much area under vine as Napa Valley did at that time. However, it remained relatively unknown, while Napa rose to worldwide prominence.

Wente has long been the largest producer in Livermore, making around 300,000 cases of relatively inexpensive wine annually, much of it for export. It was first established in the valley in 1883.

The next largest, Concannon, makes around 30,000 cases per year. The rest are mostly new and considerably smaller. Only in the last decade have smaller producers sprung up, with twenty-one wineries operating in Livermore as of 2002.

The relatively obscure Petite Sirah grape produces Livermore's best known red wine, although the warm climate also makes for interesting dessert wines. The original plantings of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc were cuttings taken from Château d'Yquem, and those grapes tend to produce fine wine in the Livermore area. There is also a move afoot among the wineries in Livermore to specialize in Merlot. Wine from Livermore is eligible for the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, and Central Coast AVAs.