History of the Area

Lake County, California. Hidden in California’s coastal mountains, Clear Lake is a small rural community named after California’s largest - and some say North America's oldest - fresh water lake. Covering 68 square miles, Clear Lake's focal point is Mount Konocti, whose volcanic eruptions 200,000 years ago created the iron-rich, red soils of the Red Hills appellation.

Lake County’s diverse ecosystems include Black Oak and Ponderosa forests in the higher elevations, to the valley oaks and wetlands in the Clear Lake basin. Due in large part to the county’s small population and reliance on agriculture and tourism as economic engines, Lake County has the best air quality in the state.

Located about 100 miles north of San Francisco, Lake County borders the wine growing regions of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. In recent years the agricultural landscape in Lake County has changed from primarily Bartlett pears and walnuts to wine grapes.

Perini Ranch itself is a small family farm that was established in the early 1900's by Joseph and Josephine Perini, immigrants from Italy's hill country. Like much of Lake County, the farm's survival depended on its walnut orchards, some of which still stand on the property. It has been maintained as a working farm and rustic retreat for four generations.

Click here for more on the history of the area.

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