When Clay Shannon, the owner of Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery, stands among the vines on his home ranch vineyard on a ridge in High Valley, he can see for miles. His breathtaking view includes the massive Clear Lake and Mt. Konocti. “We literally live in the vineyard,” Clay says, referring to himself, his wife Margarita, and their children. “This is our life.”
He dedicates much of his day on his 1,000-acre ranch to thinking of ways to practice more sustainable farming methods. Just 45 percent of the land is planted to grapes, and that’s about as much as he intends to plant. Clay considers wine to be an integral part of a larger system of values and ideas that includes being a good farmer, a caring employer, and a gentle ambassador for Lake County as a whole.
Clay recently increased the farm’s sheep population to about 700. He grazes them in the vineyards from October through April, and they fertilize the vineyards for the entire year. The sheep are also efficient lawn mowers. By eating the vineyard grasses, mowing is reduced to once or twice a year. Clay also uses as many natural mildew- and-pest-control methods as possible to gradually eliminate the need for sprays altogether.
Clay’s conscientious efforts are evident in the Shannon Ridge portfolio. “We make wines for people to enjoy,” he says. “We’re not chasing high scores and medals.” Yet high scores and medals have a way of attaching themselves to Shannon Ridge wines. Recently, the 2008 Ranch Collection Cabernet Sauvignon won Double Gold, and the 2007 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was named Best in Class at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
The Shannons recently opened a second tasting room at Lake County’s newest wine destination, Vigilance Winery & Vineyards, located in a 1931 Ranch Home in Lower Lake. Ideal for proposals, weddings, and receptions, the Vigilance tasting room overlooks Anderson Marsh and beautiful Clear Lake, giving guests an added treat while they taste Shannon Ridge and Vigilance wines.