Lake County was formed in 1861 from parts of Napa and Mendocino counties. Lake County has long been known as a farming community. Vineyards were planted in the 1870s; by the early 1900’s the area was earning a reputation for producing some of the world's greatest wines. However, in 1920 Prohibition forced an end to Lake County wine production. Most of the vineyards were ripped out and replanted with walnut and pear farms. Re-emergence of the wine industry began in the 1960's when a few growers rediscovered the area's grape growing potential and began planting vineyards. The area went from less than 100 acres of grapevines in 1965 to over 8,800 acres of vineyards today, and has seen the recent establishment of several American Viticultural Areas such as High Valley and Red Hills. Many of the vineyards in Lake County today support sustainable farming practices.