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Mendocino County, California Located directly north of Sonoma County and about 90 miles north of San Francisco, the Mendocino wine region is bounded by California's Coastal Mountain Range, the Pacific Ocean and the great northern redwood forests. Mendocino County is highly diverse with coastal influences, mountaintops, river valleys, and inland regions that have either Mediterranean like climates or like Northern Europe. Potter Valley, northeast of Ukiah, and directly east of Redwood Valley is at the headwaters of the Russian River's East Fork. The valley is at about 1,000 feet elevation. Great day-night temperature variations separate Potter Valley from other growing areas in Mendocino. Mid-day, this inland valley can be truly hot, but at night temperatures plummet and under such conditions varieties such as Pinot Noir and Merlot flourish, developing strong, refined character. The high water table of the Eel River watershed is an added bonus. Anderson Valley is one of California's a coolest growing areas and now ranks with the top Pinot Noir regions in North America. While production is not huge, quality is soaring, as rising-star winemakers join home-grown stalwarts in producing sleek, powerful Pinots. Cutting laterally through the coastal range rather than lying between ridges, the west or “deep end” of the Anderson Valley is only a few miles from the cold Pacific Ocean, while the town of Boonville is some 20 miles to the east. Such unique geography results in a wide diurnal range, with daily high and low temperatures occasionally diverging 40 or 50 degrees. This enables Pinot Noir growers to keep acid development in line with sugar and flavor formation through long, warm Indian summers. Sanel Valley is a southern Mendocino growing area surrounding the town of Hopland on the Russian River. It is scarcely 6 miles long and at most 2 miles wide. Most Sanel Valley vineyards are on the river plain. The gravelly soils and well drained vineyards produce outstanding Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. Sanel Valley’s AVA application is pending.
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Gino Pinto Inc. 
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