Cucamonga Valley Wine

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Cucamonga is located in San Bernardino County, about 45 miles east of Los Angeles. The storied Cucamonga Valley (aka. Cucamonga-Guasti Wine District) – where vineyard planting began in 1838 – has lost most of its once vast vineyard acreage to industrial development and the urban expansion of nearby Los Angeles and Orange Counties. When Prohibition hit in 1920, grapevine acres in Cucamonga numbered twice as many as Napa/Sonoma Counties combined. In the 1940s, this east/west oriented valley region hosted 60 wineries and over 35,000 acres of vine, as its thick-skinned grapes with high natural sugar levels proved ideal for the needs of east coast home winemakers. Today, only three of the original winegrowing family wineries and less than 1,000 vineyard acres remain. The loss of vineyard land continues and some of the nation's oldest vines could disappear.

The value of Cucamonga goes beyond the quality of its vines, as the region is also home to a strong tradition of unique fortified wines, including a highly regarded Triple Cream Sherry made by its smallest producer, the Biane winemaking family’s Rancho de Philo. But survivors persevere and, since the region became an AVA in 1995, the two major wineries, Galleano and Joseph Filippi, have focused on producing premium wines. Long time Temecula Valley winemakers including Etienne Cowper (Mount Palomar Winery), Joe Hart (Hart Winery) and Jon McPherson (South Coast Winery) have also experienced success with Cucamonga Valley fruit. The area’s red wines, derived mainly from old vines including Alicante Bouschet, Carignane, Cinsault, Grenache, Mission, Mourvedre and Zinfandel, showcase the concentration of fruit character typical of Cucamonga. With summer temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees F., wines are generally rich and jammy with a strong earthy dimension.

The sandy alluvial valley floors, rocky fans and terrace soils of the area help to reduce the risk of Pierce’s disease which has plagued surrounding areas. However, the AVA has not been completely immune to the effects of Pierce's and a moderate number of old vines have been lost to this plague. Over the past decade, however, the Filippi family has successfully replanted over 50 acres of new vines in the foothills of Rancho Cucamonga (including Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Mourvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel). Additionally, a further 100 plus acres will be planted in Cucamonga through 2009. – Description from Appellation America (view original content) (hide)

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Popular wines made in Cucamonga Valley under $20

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Norman Vineyards Zinfandel Cucamonga Valley Old Vine

Varietals Produced in Cucamonga Valley View all

Syrah

The irony here is that Syrah’s origins could give Carmen Sandiego a run for her international wallet. Syrah’s deepest...
Grenache

You’re a member of the ‘Rhône Ranger’ band. Your groupies think you’re ‘hot’, even when you're boozy and "strung out"...
Zinfandel

Parentage of the grape: Crljenak to Austria to America. In the 1970s, claims surfaced that the Italian Primitivo is l...
Cabernet Franc

History of the grape: References to it in the Loire region of France date as far back as the mid 12th century. But it...
Mourvèdre

History of the grape: Monastrell is a native of Spain, first grown in Murviedro near Valencia, and was eventually bro...
Merlot

The Occitanian word “merlot” translates to “young blackbird.” An accurate description for this popular, early-budding...

Popular Wineries in Cucamonga Valley View all

Robert Renzoni

Robert Renzoni Vineyards is a remarkable estate, nestled in the heart of the Temecula Valley. Wi...
J. Filippi Winery

Hand crafted, limited production, Joseph Filippi wines are the result of a craftsmanship derived ...

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Cucamonga Valley on Snooth

July 2012

Stuart Cellars Cucamonga Valley Zinfandel Lopez Ranch Vintner's Special Select Reserve 2008

Snoothrank:

Loads of pepper and spice on the nose with an underbrush and tomato leaf aroma. Spicy, stewed red fruit compote, some zippy pomegranate notes and fresh sage. On the palate, a rather minty quality up front. Then zesty red raspberry and currant fruit with a white pepper and baking spice quality. Some blacker fruits emerge. Lighter to medium b... Read More

Wine review by VegasOenophile
August 2010

Rancho de Philo Mission Cucamonga Valley Triple Cream Sherry 2007

Snoothrank:

One of the best Cream Sherries that I have have ever had. Read More

Wine review by studyguy
May 2010

Norman Vineyards Zinfandel Cucamonga Valley Old Vine 2007

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by tes990
February 2010

South Coast Zinfandel Jose Lopez Ranch 2002

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by ehscrosscountry2
January 2010

Rancho de Philo Mission Cucamonga Valley Triple Cream Sherry 2007

Snoothrank:

LOUSY! Blah! Metallic taste. DO NOT BUY THIS! Ptew, yuck! Cork not sealed! No WAY 18%. Lousy after taste. Read More

Wine review by Scoots
December 2009

Norman Vineyards Zinfandel Cucamonga Valley Old Vine 2004

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by Oh How I LoveWine
August 2009

Norman Vineyards Zinfandel Cucamonga Valley Old Vine 2004

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by bug12811
July 2009

Norman Vineyards Zinfandel Cucamonga Valley Old Vine 2005

Snoothrank:

Very smooth and delicious with a bar of creamy milk chocolate. Read More

Wine review by LegalBeagle
May 2009

Stuart Cellars Zinfandel Temecula Valley Select Reserve 2003

Snoothrank:

The is a bold wine, very fruit forward with a pleasant jammy finish. Read More

Wine review by GlobalSolution
December 2008

Norman Vineyards Zinfandel Cucamonga Valley Old Vine 2004

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by Christian Eby

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