Willow Creek AVA

Willow Creek has long been known as a small geographic agricultural area located approximately {{convert|31|mi}} from the Pacific Ocean. For years the main crops of the area, peaches, apples and tomatoes, were widely sought by Humboldt County residents. Willow Creek was first identified in 1851 by early miners and pack train drivers on their trips from Eureka, Arcata and Blue Lake to the interior valleys. They identified the area because of a heavy growth of willows around the mouth of the creek which emptied into the Trinity River. Other miners named the area China Flat in 1852 because of the heavy influence of the Chinese. This remained the name until 1912 when it was discovered that there was another China Flat in the mother lode area.{{California's Geographic Names|168}} At that time the name was changed back to Willow Creek in honor of those pack string drivers.{{cite journal |author1=Rowley, Maxwell C. |title=HUMBOLDT HISTORY: The Muleteer Who Made a Bad Guess About the Weather and Nearly Ended Up Freezing or Starving on South Fork Mountain |url=https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/feb/8/humboldt-history-muleteer-who-made-bad-guess-about/ |journal=Humboldt Historian |date=1979-11-03|issue=November-December 1979}} Early agriculture started in the 1920's, when the Cambi family brought grape vines, peach trees and apples from Santa Cruz to the Willow Creek Valley. The Gambi's made wine from these early vines--mostly muscat. Other families started large orchards in the 1930's until there were approximately {{cvt|150|acre}} in production. Eventually Willow Creek became famous throughout the county for its excellent produce and climate. The first commercial vineyard in the region was planted in 1974.

Generally, the Willow Creek viticulture area is situated in and around the confluence of the Trinity River and the South Fork of the Trinity River, approximately {{convert|31|mi}} inland from the Pacific Ocean. The area surrounding the area is mountainous, at times rising sharply to high elevations and is approximately {{convert|7+1/2|mi}} in length and {{convert|3+3/4|mi}} at its widest point encompassing approximately {{convert|16|sqmi|acre|order=flip}}. The elevation, above sea level, ranges from a low of {{convert|461|ft}} on the valley floor to {{convert|1500|ft}} in the foothills. The ATF has evaluated the evidence and concluded that the natural valley comprising the Willow Creek viticultural area is geographiclly distinguishable from the surrounding mountainous areas based on the climatic differences in temperatures and the seasonal fluctuations in rainfall.

The Sunset New Western Garden Book places the Willow Creek viticulture area into a microclimate similar to the well known grape growing areas of California located at St. Helena and Napa Valley, in Napa County; Healdsburg, Cloverdale and Santa Rosa in Sonoma County; and Hopland and Ukiah in Mendocino County. This reference describes the climate as "...moderated by the effect of marine air on inland areas that otherwise would be colder in winter and hotter in summer..."{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/sunsetnewwestern0000unse/page/18/mode/2up|title=Sunset New Western Garden Book |publisher=Lane Publishing Co. |date=1979 |location=Menlo Park, Calif. |pages=8-35|format=The West's 24 Climate Zones}}

The Willow Creek viticultural area is influenced primarily by two major climatic forces; the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, {{convert|31|mi}} to the west, and the warmer climate of the Sacramento Valley approximately {{convert|100|mi}} eastward. These influences create easterly winds keeping the Willow Creek area fairly cool in the summer, while only infrequent freezes occur in the winter. The average high and low temperatures are moderate at {{convert|82.85|F}} and {{convert|47.04|F}} during the growing months of April through October. These figures are based on data collected during the past five growing seasons. The area to the east of Willow Creek experiences colder temperatures in winter, but hotter temperatures in summer. To the west of the Willow Creek area the winters are milder, but the summer temperatures are cooler due to Pacific Ocean maritime influence. The heat degree days of the area average 3005.62, based on climalic data gathered during the last three years. These heat units correspond to the top range of an Region II and the bottom range of an Region III. Rainfall, based on data gathered during the last 38 years, averages {{convert|39.9|in}} per year. Although the average rainfall in the areas east and west of the Willow Creek area are comparable, the area to the west does receive slightly less rain. Further, this area receives its rainfall in the summer months, whereas the Willow Creek area receives most of its rainfall in the winter months.

The soil composition of Willow Creek is primarily Quaternary terrace gravels, which provide excellent drainage for the vineyards. The vineyards of the area are situated on plateaus and benches at elevations varying from {{convert|461|to(-)|1500|ft}}. Soils in the mountains are typically made up of rocky shale and limestone.{{cite web |title=Willow Creek Wine |url=https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-willow+creek |website=Wine-Searcher |access-date=23 April 2025}}

In 1974, the first commercial vineyard was planted. Today, there are five such vineyards comprising a total of approximately {{cvt|30|acre}} in vitculture. The predominant varieties grown are Cabernet, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Merlot. Prior to 1976, there was one winery in Humboldt County. Due to the availability of locally grown grapes, there are now about ten wineries. Fieldbrook Winery, Willow Creek Vineyards, Dogwood Estate Winery and Miles Garrett Wines use the term "Willow Creek" in conjunction with the varietal designation on labels of wines produced from this area.

{{Reflist}}

• California wine

• [https://www.trinityrivervineyards.com/ Willow Creek AVA Humboldt County]
• [https://www.ttb.gov/AVA/ TTB AVA Map]

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Category:American Viticultural Areas of California

Category:Geography of Humboldt County, California

Category:Geography of Trinity County, California

Category:1983 establishments in California

{{cite web |website=Trinity River Vineyards |date=2007| url=https://www.trinityrivervineyards.com/|title=Welcome!- Humboldt County | access-date=2025-04-21}}

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