Yolo County Wine

Yolo County, which lies to the west of Sacramento, the capital of California, has slightly cooler growing conditions than much of the rest of the Central Valley wine region. This is because coastal winds are able to penetrate the area via the Sacramento River Delta. Yolo’s central location means that it is surrounded by the counties of Napa, Solano, Sacramento, Lake, Colusa and Sutter.

Most vineyards within Yolo County are planted in the eastern AVAs of Clarksburg and Merritt Island, where the cooling coastal influence is most prevalent and the soils are generally deep and fertile. In the south-west of the region the smaller AVAs of Dunningan Hills and the Capay Valley are more marginal for grape growing, with drier conditions and poorer soils.

Chardonnay is the most widely planted variety in Yolo County. There are also smaller plantings of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.