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California wines are a reflection of the land where they are produced and of the people who craft them.  The warm summer and rainy winter and spring in the coastal areas produce superior tasting wines. California wine areas believe in achieving the highest quality, best flavored wines through good stewardship of the land and using sustainable practices in winegrape growing.

The original Spanish pioneers had a large effect on the California wine growers. As the California missions were being setup in the 18th century, the Spaniards would create a vineyard. The grapes were grown for use in religious sacraments as well as for daily life. Early vine cuttings came from Mexico from the common black grape. Up until the 20th century this variety, also known as the “Mission Grape”, was the dominant grape.

The gold rush period in California saw the biggest growth in residents as well as wineries in the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Celebrated vineyards such as Buena Vista, Charles Krug Winery, Inglenook and Schramsberg were established at that time.

California Wine Zones

California wine is produced in specific locales. There are 4 vicinities in particular.  The first locale is the North Coast area which takes in counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake. The second district would be the Central Coast areas west of San Francisco which reaches down into the Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Santa Maria Valleys. Reaching all the way to the Mexican border from Los Angeles is the third section referred to as the South Coast vineyards that also include the Antelope and Temecula Valleys. The fourth region is the Central Valley which includes, of course, the central valley and the Sierra foothills and Lodi.

Wide Range of Grapes and Wines

There are a number of types of grapes cultivated in the California wine regions. For instance, there are the French, Italian, Spanish grapes and new hybrids springin up each year.

You have probably heard of most of the popular grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel. You have tasted some of their red wine grapes like Barbera, Grenache, Malbec and Sangiovese. A few of their white wine grapes are the Gewurztraminer, Pinot blanc and Riesling.

New World Style Wines

California wine is ofteh referred to as “New World” wine.  Because of the consistently warm weather they tend to use a riper grape that gives the wine a fruitier flavor as well as higher alcohol levels. California wine making more often uses aged oak to produce full bodied wines.

Winning California Wines

More attention and rave reviews have been coming from the international arena as California wine producers craft higher quality wines each year. The rest of the world is quickly discovering the treasures of the California wine industry through the wine of the month club.

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