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When you think of wine, you probably think of France or Italy, not the US. But, the US is actually one of the biggest wine producers in the world. North America is home to many native grape varieties, and California in particular is the country’s biggest wine producing hub. Curious? Here’s everything you need to know about the best California wine.
Why is California a good state for wine production?
It’s California’s climate and geography that makes it such a good state for wine production. California has a Mediterranean climate, like many other prominent viticulture regions around the world, and this is what makes the state perfect. The mix of near constant sun and just enough rain, plus the large swaths of land available to plant sprawling vineyards, all add up to make wine producers in California happy!
Image source:Contiki
Where is wine country in California?
There are four main wine regions in California:
- North Coast
- Central Coast
- South Coast
- Central Valley
Collectively, these regions make up 525,000 acres of vineyards, which is insane, and each region makes use of different grape varieties – there are over 100 wine grape varieties in California! – and produces unique wines and flavour profiles in turn.
The most famous of California’s wine countries are:
- Napa Valley
- Sonoma County
- Mendocino County
- Solano County
Napa Valley
If you’ve heard of wine in California before, then no doubt you’ve heard of Napa Valley. This region, just north of San Francisco, is renowned for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, a very dry red wine. These grapes are the proclaimed ‘king’ of the region and account for 40% of Napa Valley’s productions!
Other notable wines of the region include other reds like Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel, as well as white Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Image source:Fantesca Estate and Winery / unsplash
Sonoma County
Sonoma County, also just north of San Francisco, is highly regarded for its production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines – a mixture of red and whites! Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet are also common in this wine country.
Mendocino County
Mendocino’s most important wine is Pinot Noir, though this region, like others, produces many more as well. What’s really interesting about Mendocino County is that over 25% of their vineyards are organic, and they were one of the first regions to lead in the organic and sustainable wine production practices.
This county is located all the way up north of the state.
Solano County
Solano County, just east of Napa Valley, is known for its unique variety of wines. This county produces reds like Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Pinot Noir, as well as whites like Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.
California wine history
It’s believed that the production of wine in California started during the 18th century when Spanish Franciscan missionaries began planting vineyards in order to cultivate and produce wines for Holy Communion.
Over time, the production of wine expanded from just reds to whites, fortified wines, and even roses as well. It was during California’s time of ‘Gold Rush’ that the state’s wine production really rocketed into stardom however. With many people arriving in the state in search of good fortune, the need for labour was in demand, and many vineyards had jobs to offer. This led to a dramatic increase in production.
The 20th century saw this market turn global, but this was quickly nipped in the bud after the US put a ban on alcohol in what’s known as the Prohibition era. The Californian wine industry collapsed during this time, but it was born anew in the 1930s and has become bigger and better than ever.
Where can I stay in California’s wine country?
Plenty of wine lovers – or oenophiles, if you want to get fancy with it – travel to California in order to sample the region’s best. It’s not an uncommon form of tourism, and to that end, there are plenty of places on offer for you to stay!
Depending on the specific holiday vibe you want, there’s a few options:
- Luxury resort: If you want to stay in the heart of the vineyards (or very near the hearts, anyway), and sample reds and whites and dessert wines all day, you could opt for a luxury resort. The accommodations will be pristine, and all the amenities as well.
- Boutique hotel: If the luxury resort isn’t quite your vibe, there are plenty of boutique hotels you can stay in instead! Maybe rent a car and make your holiday a road trip, giving yourself freedom to visit the wineries you like and do other things around California.
- Stay in San Francisco: California’s most famous wine regions are located in the Northern part of the state, near San Francisco. Staying in the city is a perfect option if you want to balance out your holiday! Wine tastings and strolls through vineyards on one day, and then museum visits, seaside walks, and all-night-parties the next.
