California was the first acclaimed wine regions from the New World since its exceptional wines began to compete against the famous French wines.
California is the most important wine-growing region of the United State thanks to its high yields and its high-quality production. The State spreads the big southern part of the Pacific coast. Since the Paris Judgment in 1976, the centuries-old Californian viticulture is world-renowned. California has many distinctive terroirs thanks to its wide range of relief, from valleys to mountains and plateau, and the diverse climatic conditions.
Major grape varieties in California
California State grows many grape varieties:
- Chardonnay wines are full-bodied, highly alcoholic and have delicious peach and banana flavors and distinctive notes of oak, butter and hazelnut.
- The Californian Pinot Noir is an exceptional rich and complex red wine with its silk palate.
- Their best Cabernet Sauvignons are among the greatest in the world.
- The inlands are the center of strong Zinfandel wines. This variety could be from Croatia and have a similar DNA to the Primitivo, a grape from Southern Italia. California is full of old vines of Zinfandel planted by the Italian immigrants during the nineteenth century. The variety produces full-bodied rich red wines with intense red fruit flavor and a high alcohol level.
Main Sub Regions of California
The State of California can be divided in five important wine sub-regions:
- North Coast in the north of San Francisco Bay (with the famous appellation of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino)
- Central Coast from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (with the areas of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara)
- Central Valley in the inlands,
- AVA Sierra Foothills near the Sierra Nevada,
- South Coast from Los Angeles to San Diego.
Napa County
Napa County is one of the most famous wine regions in the world thanks to the prestigious Napa Valley. A tourism hub, the county has expensive vineyards and world-renowned wineries. The county is stretching on 50 kilometres on the south-east of North Coast and is the home of illustrous appellations: AVA Napa Valley, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville and Carneros.
The valley is rather dry and benefits from the cool morning fogs thanks to the western mountains. The few rainfalls spray the vineyards during winter but during the rest of the year, the producers have to irrigate their plantations. The sites on the mountains and the valleys are exposed to the risk of spring frost.
Napa County is the home of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon wines. They are full-bodied, strongly alcoholic and age slowly. Californian Cabernet Sauvignon has distinctive smooth tannins and black cherry flavors.
The winemakers in Napa produce intense crisp white wines of Chardonnay and velvety round Merlots with delicious notes of plum and blackberry.
The most interesting wine producers in Napa County are, amongst others, Joseph Phelps, Newton, Paul Hobbs, and Mondavi.
Sonoma County
West of Napa County only divided by the Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma County compete with its famous neighbour for the most appreciated Californian wine production. Sonoma is the home of highly esteemed appellations like AVA Russian River Valley, AVA Alexander Valley or AVA Dry Creek Valley.
The western cooler areas can receive the maritime influence to grow Burgundy varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Indeed, the western part of Sonoma produces the best Californian Chardonnay. In the county's eastern side, Zinfandel and Bordeaux varieties grow on the south-facing slopes and valleys. The warmest areas had to settle the vineyards in altitude to temper the heat.
Sonoma County producers make famous dark fruit-driven Pinot Noir wines with their flavors of ripped red fruits. The region produces also elegant Chardonnays with a certain minerality and the full-bodied Cabernets Sauvignons have a velvety palate. Zinfandel wine from the Dry Creek Valley is famous for its good acidity and its blackberry and pepper aromas.
The most important wine estates in Sonoma County are De Loach, Gary Farrell, Ravenswood, Ridge Vineyards, La Crema and Kendall-Jackson.
Central Coast
South of San Francisco, Central Coast is a vast region that includes many counties and AVA like Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. The wines not included in the appellations are labelled AVA Central Coast.
The coastal region receives a rather cool climate by the Californian standard thanks to the cool winds from the Pacific. Inlands the warmer areas have vineyards of Zinfandel and Bordeaux varieties.
Central Coast is famous for its production of tropical Chardonnay with its citrus fruit notes and refreshing acidity. The region produces good Merlot wines with firm tannins and black fruits aromas.
The most interesting producers in Central Coast are Ridge Vineyards, La Crema and Tablas Creek.
Santa Barbara County
In the southern side of Central Coast, Santa Barbara County concentrated around the town of Santa Barbara. The county includes the coastal viticultural zones of AVA Santa Maria Valley and AVA Santa Ynez Valley.
The vineyards spread on valleys stretching east to west that allow the circulation of cool winds. The sun exposure of the vineyards is essential because of the cool climate.
Santa Barbara County produces extraordinary Pinots Noirs. Strong and complex, the red wines have exquisite black cherry and plum flavors. Chardonnay wines have powerful and vibrant tropical aromas.
Andrew Murray, Arcadian, Au Bon Climat, Byron and Sanford are some of the great wine estates in Santa Barbara.
