Geography and climate
California is the largest state in the United States, located on the west coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east and Mexico to the south. It’s divided into two distinct regions by a mountain range running through its centre: northern California, which experiences cooler temperatures than southern California. The geography of this massive state is incredibly varied, including deserts, river valleys, forests and coastal plains.
The climate of California varies from Mediterranean along its Pacific coastlines to subarctic in parts of its northernmost counties. The temperatures don’t fluctuate very much year-round along most of California’s coastline. Inland temperatures are more extreme; inland valleys can be very hot in summer and cold in winter while some areas experience snowfall in winter.
The soil conditions vary greatly throughout California, with loam and sandy soils near bodies of water while more mountainous areas have heavy clay or rocky soil made up mostly of granite or limestone bedrock. This diverse terrain allows for a wide variety of wine grapes to thrive across the state over an extensive growing season that runs from February through October because California never experiences frost or snow during those months.
History
Wine has been made in California since the 18th century, when Spanish missionaries brought their grapevines with them as they settled in the area. A few commercial wines were made in the 19th century, but it wasn’t until after Prohibition was repealed in 1933 that the modern wine industry began to take shape.
Today, California is home to more than 1,200 wineries and accounts for about 90 percent of all American wine production. The industry is worth an estimated $114 billion per year and employs over a million people across the state.
Grape varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay account for more than half of all grapes grown with over 100,000 acres each. In addition to these varieties, the state grows many other types of wine grapes, including Syrah, Zinfandel and over 100 others.
The most popular grapes grown in California are:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
Appellations or AVAs (American Viticultural Area)
If you really want to get into the nuances of California wine, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with appellations (also known as AVAs, or American Viticultural Areas). An appellation is a specific wine-growing region that has unique climate and soil characteristics. There are over 100 appellations in California, and each one has its own distinct personality. For example, the Russian River Valley AVA produces wines known for their lush fruit and supple tannins. The Sonoma Coast AVA makes wines noted for their high acidity and robust structure. In contrast, Napa Valley’s main AVA is known for producing deeply concentrated wines that ooze with ripe black fruits and baking spices.
Some of the most famous AVAs are located in Northern California: Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Carneros and Mendocino Ridge to name a few. But there are also several noteworthy AVAs in Southern California; Santa Barbara County’s Sta Rita Hills AVA is home to some of the state’s best Pinot Noir producers, while Temecula boasts dozens of boutique wineries making everything from sparkling wine to Bordeaux blends.
Noteworthy wines
California is the most populous state in America and also the third-largest. It is home to a great variety of wines, due to its diverse landscape, which allows for all sorts of different climates that offer optimal growing conditions for certain grapes. Here are just some examples of noteworthy California wines:
- The Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay Napa Valley Reserve 2015 was named “World’s Best Chardonnay” at the 2018 World Chardonnay Championships. This full-bodied, rich wine was fermented using wild yeast and aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 10 months before being bottled unfiltered. It has aromas of vanilla, lemon oil, pineapple and honeydew melon with flavors of vanilla cream, clove and honeydew melon rind along with a creamy texture and a long finish. This particular wine costs around $50 per bottle.
- Some more affordable options include Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2016 from Central Valley ($8) or Carmel Road Pinot Noir 2016 from Monterey County ($15).
- And for those who love dessert wines, there’s Michel Schlumberger Botrytis Riesling 2017 from Dry Creek Valley ($30).
California’s terroir, history, and wine production make it unique.
“The size of wine production in California is amazing, but it’s also important to note that there are more than 100 different wines being produced by the state. These wines come from all sorts of regions, including many, such as Napa and Sonoma wine country.”
“I mean, you can’t really just go out and buy a bottle of wine at a store or anything. You may have noticed, though—the prices for most wines aren’t cheap.”