When Volcanic Soil Meets Storytelling: A Day in the Red Hills

• Posted January 11, 2026

MS Andrea Immer Robinson took the floor. Leave it to Andrea, as a Master Sommelier, to set the tone with grace and wit — and to remind all of us why we fell in love with wine in the first place. This wasn’t just about tannins or tasting notes; it was about storytelling, connection, and how the right glass of wine can transport you straight to the place it developed.

We got to explore Red Hills Lake County, along with insights on this rugged, volcanic influenced growing region that I knew very little about.  The Winemakers that joined us included Kirk Venge (B Cellars/Crimson Vail), Jesse Giacomelli (Beckstoffer Vineyards), Peter Molnar (Obsidian Ridge), and Keith Emerson (Vineyard 29/atLarge) who shared their perspective and bottles of their Cabernet Sauvignons.

Our first pour came from Beckstoffer Vineyards, located high in the Lake County Red Hills AVA. The moment I lifted the glass, there was a whisper of volcanic soil — dark fruit, mountain herbs, and that textured minerality that only comes from vines grown in elevation.

Obsidian Wine Co.’s Peter Molnar, who knows these hills like an old friend, painted the geological picture for us: decomposed basalt,