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Geographically Originating California Wines
The father of the California wine making
was a flamboyant Hungarian named Agoston Haraszthy, who settled in Sonoma in 1856.
He imported 200,000 vines of 1,400 varieties from Europe and proved that fine wine
could be made from the vineyards of California.
California, while Mediterranean-like
in general, has one of the most unique climate and geographic positions on the globe.
Although located far south, on similar latitude to Spain and North Africa, the vineyards
of California are under the influence of ever-shifting topography and a multitude
of microclimates. Grape and wine production is an integral part of the vast agricultural
mega-industry that spans the length of the state for a thousand miles.
Wines labeled
California appellation can be from any of the many wine growing regions of the state
(over 90% of U.S. wine is from the state of California). Geographic and soil types
are many and varied, but climate is considered the element most responsible for
the distinctive California "fruit forward" style. Although California and sunny
weather seem to go hand in hand, in truth some of California's best vineyards are
downright chilly, cooled by the moderating influences of fog and wind from the Pacific
Ocean. Cool mornings and evenings in these vineyards balance hot days under the
California sun.
While the variety of terroirs might indicate a similarly large range
of grapes, California's success has been found on relatively few: Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. There are additional
plantings of other varieties, such as Gew€?rztraminer and Riesling, Italian varieties
such as Sangiovese and Barbera, and Rh€?ne varieties such as Syrah, Mourv€®dre,
Grenache and Viognier.
California Wines from Napa Valley:
The Napa Valley is 60
miles north of San Francisco, 27 miles long and in some parts less than a mile wide.
It is considered among California's finest wine appellations, particularly for Cabernet
Sauvignon, prompting some to dub it "the Paulliac of California". Napa Valley is
far more compact than its neighbor Sonoma, bordered to the south by the shoreline
of the San Francisco Bay; to the north, east and west by the redwood-covered Mayacamas
Mountains. It is said that the Napa Valley has more different types of soil than
all of France, and its microclimates are so varied that it is possible to gain 20F
degrees of temperature in the brief trip up valley from Carneros to Calistoga. Napa
Valley is blessed with singular geologic and climatic diversity, resulting in extraordinary
vineyards. The gift of nature, partnered with state-of-the-art technology and winemaking
skill, has consistently propelled Napa Valley wines to the head of the world wine
class.
Given its relatively small size, Napa Valley has a surprising number of sub-appellations.
Listed alongside are the varieties particularly noted, but by no means exclusively
found, in these districts.
California Wines of Atlas Peak (Sangiovese) California
Wines of Chiles Valley (Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) California Wines
of Howell Mountain (Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon) California Wine of Carneros (Chardonnay,
Pinot Noir, Merlot, sparkling wine) California Wines of Mount Veeder (Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot) Oakville (Cabernet Sauvignon) California Wines of Rutherford (Cabernet Sauvignon)
California Wine of Calistoga (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) California Wine of Saint
Helena (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) California Wine
of Spring Mountain District (Zinfandel) California Wines of Stags Leap District
(Cabernet Sauvignon) California Wines of Wild Horse Valley (Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay) California Wine of Yountville (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot,
Sauvignon Blanc)
Also smaller plantings of Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot,
Malbec, Syrah, Riesling.
Napa Valley recognized the importance of protecting its
existing and potential vineyard sites early on. Strict agricultural preserve laws
are in place to prevent runaway development and protect valuable vineyard land.
The valley floor in this delimited agricultural preserve is literally covered with
vines, with some plantings, though not as many as may be expected, in the benchlands.
The mountain vineyards are located on Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain,
in Wild Horse Valley and on Diamond Mountain in Calistoga. Interest in developing
further hillside sites is keen, but environmental concerns have sparked a debate.
The stakes are high: a prime acre of developed vineyard in the Napa Valley is selling
for $100,000.
California Wines from Central Coast:
The Central Coast is a vast region,
stretching south from Monterey to the quintessential California beach town of Santa
Barbara on the Pacific Ocean.
Monterey County is at the northern end of the Central
Coast region. It is distinguished by the Salinas Valley. Made famous by the writings
of native son John Steinbeck, the Salinas Valley is a thriving agricultural region,
recognized for extensive vineyard plantings of the most popular varieties, both
red and white. At the northern end, the valley is cooled by the maritime influences
of the Pacific Ocean. It becomes downright hot by the time you reach the southern
end in Paso Robles. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and red Rh€?ne varietals
do well in hillside vineyards which cool down at night.
California Wines from South-Central
Coast:
As the landscape curves southward again towards the Pacific Ocean, the vineyards
become positively nippy by Paso Robles standards. Foggy mornings and nights are
perfect for Burgundian-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Edna Valley, Arroyo
Grande and Santa Maria Valley in San Luis Obispo County. There are also plantings
of Riesling and Gew€?rztraminer. Some believe the unspoiled Santa Ynez Valley, in
northeast Santa Barbara County, is the next great California wine region. Santa
Ynez experiences the typical am/pm cooling influences of the Pacific, but can be
quite warm and Rh€?ne valley-like during the day. The region holds great promise
for Rh€?ne varietals, as well as the classic Burgundian ones.
California Wines from North Coast:
The North Coast region encompasses some of the finest vineyards in
the state, running south from Mendocino on the coast, through Lake County and Sonoma,
and eastward to the Napa Valley.
The Carneros AVA is shared by both Sonoma and Napa.
Carneros dips over rolling hills right down to the San Pablo Bay, (part of the San
Francisco Bay). Maritime influences, including cool fog and chilly winds, are at
the heart of its microclimate. The fog and breezes filter the intense California
sunshine, slowing maturity and lengthening hang time. Soil types are extremely varied
in the Carneros; in one Napa vineyard, Winery Lake, seven different types have been
identified, including one, Haire, found nowhere else in the world. Carneros produces
elegant Chardonnay and stylish Pinot Noir, with some Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.
Grapes from the Carneros are particularly suited to sparkling winemaking as well,
as the cool temperature helps impart the higher acidity and bright fruit desired
for sparkling wine.
California Wine from Mendocino & Lake County,
For some, Mendocino
means the quaint, artsy village perched on a cliff above the Pacific. But Mendocino
County is also wine country. Many of the region's vineyards are tucked among the
redwoods, sheltered from the fog and wind of the Pacific by the protective mantle
of the Coastal Range Mountains. Sunny enclaves, such as Redwood and Potter Valleys,
produce fine Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. On the other hand, the more-exposed
Anderson Valley is extremely cool, ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in still
and sparkling styles. Well inland from the Pacific Ocean, just about everything
from Chardonnay to Zinfandel does well in very warm regions such as Clear Lake and
Guenoc Valley in Lake County. Of note, there are vineyards of so-called "Old Vines"
Zinfandel plantings of long ago, sprinkled across the region. There is renewed interest
in making wine from these old, historic vines.
The San Francisco Bay area is the
centered between the North Coast and Central Coast regions. Although generally urban
for the most part, tucked into the valleys and up on the mountains are several historic
wine-growing regions. The warm Livermore Valley which lies 40 miles east of San
Francisco became a wine center in the late 19th century, as the miners returned
from the Gold Fields to the San Francisco Bay Area. The first California varietally-labeled
California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon came from the region, which
was also responsible for important viticultural research and advances in the area
of clonal selection. Today, the Livermore Valley is still well-known for excellence
in Chardonnay, as well as the Bordeaux varietals Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Merlot and Late-Harvest Riesling. Santa Clara County, although today perhaps better
known in some circles for technology than wine, evolved as an agricultural and wine
growing region about the same time as the Livermore Valley. Although high-tech industry
has supplanted much of the agriculture of the valley, vineyards and boutique wineries
specializing in the noble varieties can be found around Saratoga and Los Gatos.
California Wine from Sonoma
Is a large and diverse region. Whereas its neighbor,
Napa Valley, is small and compact, Sonoma sprawls for miles. Many of the best vineyards
are located north of the city of Santa Rosa, and south of the town of Cloverdale.
There you'll find a concentration of superb vineyards in the Alexander and Knights
Valleys. Varietal diversity rules here, with excellent versions of any number of
different wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah,
Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Russian River runs through the Alexander
Valley and swings west towards the sea at the charming town of Healdsburg. The cool
climate near the river as you approach the Pacific Ocean produces brilliant Chardonnay
and Pinot Noir--some say the best Pinot Noir in the New World. Within the Russian
River Valley, the small sub-appellation Chalk Hill produces Chardonnay and Sauvignon
Blanc. Northwest of the river is the Dry Creek Valley, home of fine Sauvignon Blanc
and Zinfandel, as well as some Gew€?rztraminer and Riesling.
Farther south, and
to the east, paralleling the Napa Valley on the other side of the Mayacamas Mountains
is the Sonoma Valley. The town of Sonoma, with its historic town square and mission,
was the birthplace of the Bear Flag Republic of California in 1848. Surrounding
the town are numerous wineries and vineyards, including some of the oldest in California.
Within the Sonoma Valley you'll find the sub-AVA Sonoma Mountain, known for hillside-grown
Cabernet Sauvignon, and districts such as Valley of the Moon and Kenwood. The Sonoma
Valley features a variety of microclimates ranging from cool near the Bay to warm
farther north, and produces rich Chardonnay, intense Cabernet Sauvignon and luscious
Merlot, among others.
California Wine from Santa Cruz:
The wine region of Santa
Cruz County lies in the redwood-studded coastal mountains between the Santa Clara
Valley and the Pacific Ocean. Whether you consider it part of the San Francisco
Bay Area, or part of the north-central coast, Santa Cruz is home to some of the
most rugged vineyard sites in the state, and famous for immense, powerful, mountain-grown
Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and red Rh€?ne varietals. Santa Cruz has always had
a reputation for attracting free thinking sorts, and many of the winemakers practice
a kind of iconoclastic, no-holds-barred type of winemaking. It's in perfect sync
with a wine region that, geographically, in no way resembles anything near typical.
East of Santa Cruz, in the dry hills of San Benito County, limetone soils produce
fine Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Viognier. California Wines from Central Valley:
The Central Valley, split into the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, was once
nothing more than a very long, hot, dry inland plain. The miracle of technology;
namely, irrigation and the California aqueduct, brought precious water to the region
and transformed it into the center of California agriculture. Among the crops grown
in the Central Valley are wine grapes, and while the intense heat does not make
for "fine" wine, large industrial wineries have been successful in producing millions
of gallons of well-made, inexpensive wine for world-wide consumption. The slightly
cooler areas, such as Lodi on the Sacramento River delta, can and do produce smaller
quantities of better quality wine. The area around Madera is known for quality fortified
wines in the style of Port.
California Wines from Sierra Foothills:
The Gold Rush
of 1849 brought thousands of fortune seekers to the Sierra Foothills. Among them
were immigrants, mostly of Italian descent, who realized that their fortune might
be more easily made by supplying thirsty miners with wine. They planted the first
vines in the rolling hills of the Gold Country including Amador County, the California
Shenandoah Valley, Fiddletown, Calaveras County and El Dorado County. The Tuscany-like
Sierra Foothills are Zinfandel country, and home to rich, full-bodied Cal-Itals
such as Sangiovese and Barbera. Rh€?ne varietals such as Syrah and Viognier have
also caught the imagination of the area winemakers. Summers are hot in the foothills,
but many vineyards are sited at cooler elevations well above 1000 feet, in thin,
volcanic soils.
California Wine from South Coast:
Downtown Los Angeles may have
been the cradle of California winemaking, but these days you'll find the wine country
farther south. In Temecula and the San Pasqual Valley of San Diego County, award-winning
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are produced.
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