If you’re buying wine from the United States, chances are it came from California. In fact, the Western state produces some 90% of all the wine in the country. Why is California on the map as such a hotbed of vinous action?
Simply put, California has the best climate for wine in the U.S., making it an attractive state to set up a winery. Vinifera vines (the type of vinesIf you’re buying wine from the United States, chances are it came from California. In fact, the Western state produces some 90% of all the wine in the country. Why is California on the map as such a hotbed of vinous action?
Simply put, California has the best climate for wine in the U.S., making it an attractive state to set up a winery. Vinifera vines (the type of vines used to make wine) cannot survive winter temperatures below 5° F without extensive mediation in the vineyard, making them difficult to grow in many northern and eastern states. By the same token, a growing season that is subject to high humidity and high temperatures can lead to the spread of fungal diseases, creating obstacles to successful viticulture in southern and Midwestern states. California’s unique combination of the cooling Pacific Ocean influence combined with abundant sunshine gives the state’s coastal areas ideal growing conditions for quality wine. ...more ...less
The nexus of California winemaking lies in the north coast, particularly in Napa and Sonoma counties. There are a variety of microclimates within these two parallel valleys, accommodating a wide range of grapes and winemaking styles. The flat lands of the valleys are warmer regions, ideal for late-ripening grapes, while the higher elevation hills and mountains provide ideal growing conditions for early-ripening, high-acid varieties.
The proliferation of grapes grown onThe nexus of California winemaking lies in the north coast, particularly in Napa and Sonoma counties. There are a variety of microclimates within these two parallel valleys, accommodating a wide range of grapes and winemaking styles. The flat lands of the valleys are warmer regions, ideal for late-ripening grapes, while the higher elevation hills and mountains provide ideal growing conditions for early-ripening, high-acid varieties.
The proliferation of grapes grown on the north coast eventually drove up land prices, so winemakers were motivated to search for vineyard land outside that area. Stretching from San Francisco south to Los Angeles, the central coast of California has many of the same qualities that make the north an ideal region for growing grapes. With temperatures that don’t get too cold, along with a growing season that can accommodate a variety of different grapes, the central coast is now an up-and-coming wine region that has some of the most exciting experimentation on the market today – an ideal location to visit some fun, experimental tasting rooms.
In short, California is where you can find nearly any type of wine – from cool climate bottles that rival the best that France and Germany have to offer, to bold, robust warm-climate selections that mirror what much of the best of what the New World produces – if you want it, chances are California’s got it. ...more ...less