Wine Regions of California
The Golden State has long been known for its quality produce. But
it was only in the 1970s that it began to gain an international
reputation as a high quality wine producer. Today the state stands
at the center of a worldwide wine renaissance.
The Golden State has long been known for its quality produce. But
it was only in the 1970s that it began to gain an international
reputation as a high quality wine producer. Today the state stands
at the center of a worldwide wine renaissance.
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Fast Facts
- California is the world's 5th largest
economy - California produces 90 percent of the wine
in the U.S. - Father Junipero Serra planed the first
vineyards near San Diego - Prohibition nearly destroyed the California
wine industry - European vine clippings were first brought
to California in the 1850s
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The word's 5th largest economy, California is a veritable nation unto itself.
(Secession? If only dreams could come true!) California alone produces more
wines than 90 percent of all the wine produced in the U.S. In fact, if California
were and independent nation, it would be the 4th largest producer of wine in
the world. With a highly variegated set of climates, California's growing region
spans the state, nearly a thousand miles from Klammath County in the north
to San Diego County in the south. In between, nearly every major grape variety
(and many a minor variety) is grown.
Backgorund
My favorite quote in wine literature comes from the story "Napa Wine," by
Robert Louis Stevenson: "The smack of California earth shall linger upon the
palette of your grandson." Stevenson was writing in the 1870s, soon after new
grape varieties from Europe had been introduced and the state was gaining a
reputation for quality.
The first known wine grapes were planted by the Spanish priest and explorer,
Father Junipero Serra, at the Mission San Diego in 1769. These "Mission
Grapes" as they were later called, would eventually be planted in vineyards all
over the region of "Alta California" following the influx of Spanish settlers.
"Mission Grapes" would dominate California wine making until the introduction
of European grape varieties.
Beginning in the 1850s, a Hungarian by the name of Agoston Haraszthy
journeyed several times between California and Europe, taking clippings from
many of the great vineyards of the Old World. He began his own vineyard with
these cuttings and was soon encouraging wine growing all over the northern
part of the state. Haraszthy is considered by many to be the true father of
California wine.
Charles Krug started that Napa Valley's first commercial winery near the town
of St. Helena in 1861 and in 1879, Gustave Niebaum established Inglenook
winery, which won medals Paris and became quite famous.
California wines really began to take off during this period due to an ironic twist
of fate. The native American root louse phylloxera, which can devastate a
vineyard, was accidentally introduced to Europe along with some native
American grape samples. The pest decimated vineyards all over Europe,
helping California wines to find there way into the world market.
Prohibition, enacted in 1919, nearly destroyed the California wine industry
along with its early reputation for quality. Before Prohibition, there were some
2,500 commercial wineries in the U.S. Fewer than 100 survived to see repeal.
After repeal, many wine-makers chose to concentrate their efforts on quantity
rather than quality, selling cheap, sweet dessert and fortified wines. Things
slowly changed for California wines, however, as a younger generation began
to take charge. By the 1970s, Californians were again turning out world class
wines, but to little notice. Then, in 1976, a blind taste test was held in Paris that
pitted French and California red and whites against one another. Shockingly,
California wines took top honors in both categories.
Over the last 35 years, the California wine (and wine tourism) industry has
become one of the most impressive in the world.
Major Regions
At the time of this writing, there were 97 AVA (American Viticultural Areas) in
California out of a total of 173 in the U.S. In fact, there are AVAs in nearly every
quarter of the state. However, for out purposes we will break the state down
into three basic regions, Central Coast, Northern California and Southern
California.
Central Coast
The Central Coast wine-growing "region" is really a patchwork quilt of vineyard-
covered areas that stretches from just south of San Francisco in the north to
Santa Barbara in the south. Most prominent are the areas around Santa Cruz
and the Santa Maria Valley and its environs near the city of Santa Barbara,
thought areas around Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo are also getting
traction among oenophiles. A broad range of wine grapes are grown in this
enormous region -- it is so large that about the only thing common throughout
is proximity to the cool, damp breeze of the Pacific -- but Pinto Noir,
Chardonnay and Syrah are prominent. In addition, blends are becoming more
common.
Northern California
Like the Central Coast, Northern California is patchwork of near-coast areas,
inland valleys, and Sierra foothills that offers huge variety of grapes and terroir.
These include Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, lowlands of the Sacramento and
San Joaquin Valleys and the slopes of the Sierra Nevadas.
Because of its long history and the leadership role that that entails, Napa
Valley and its environs is considered the monarch among U.S. wine-growing
areas and is the seat of power in California wine-making (with a nod to the
school of oenology at the University of .California at. Davis -- my home town).
Within the Napa Valley area are several small sub-regions. Calistoga (one of
my favorite places) is furthest north, followed by St. Helena, Rutherford,
Oakville, Yountville and Carneros, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are most prominent, as are Bordeaux-style
blends.
Over the hills to the West, and closer to the sea, lies the Sonoma Valley, where
Pinot Noir and Zinfandel as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
thrive. Still further west is the Russian River Valley, home to much Pinot Noir
and Chardonnay.
Two hundred miles to the east and a few hundred feet higher are the Sierra
Foothills, or gold country, and the home of Zinfandel, until fairly recently thought
to be a grape variety indigenous to California. In fact, it’s genetically the same
as Italian Primitivo and Croatian Crljenak Kaštelanski. The difference in soil
and climate however, makes Foothill Zin unique -- and among my favorites.
Recently, Rhone-style blends have also made an appearance in Gold Country.
Southern California
Two small regions dominate Southern California wine production: The area
around the town of Ojai, as the foot of the Ynez Mountains and the Temecula
Valley, between Los Angeles and San Diego. Temecula is the site of one of
the oldest wineries in California. It enjoys a significant position in wine
production. The generally hot climate is particularly suited to Rhône varieties,
Cabernet and Zinfandel. Wineries on the edge of the mesa country behind San
Diego are also gaining an audience.
California American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)
(Secession? If only dreams could come true!) California alone produces more
wines than 90 percent of all the wine produced in the U.S. In fact, if California
were and independent nation, it would be the 4th largest producer of wine in
the world. With a highly variegated set of climates, California's growing region
spans the state, nearly a thousand miles from Klammath County in the north
to San Diego County in the south. In between, nearly every major grape variety
(and many a minor variety) is grown.
Backgorund
My favorite quote in wine literature comes from the story "Napa Wine," by
Robert Louis Stevenson: "The smack of California earth shall linger upon the
palette of your grandson." Stevenson was writing in the 1870s, soon after new
grape varieties from Europe had been introduced and the state was gaining a
reputation for quality.
The first known wine grapes were planted by the Spanish priest and explorer,
Father Junipero Serra, at the Mission San Diego in 1769. These "Mission
Grapes" as they were later called, would eventually be planted in vineyards all
over the region of "Alta California" following the influx of Spanish settlers.
"Mission Grapes" would dominate California wine making until the introduction
of European grape varieties.
Beginning in the 1850s, a Hungarian by the name of Agoston Haraszthy
journeyed several times between California and Europe, taking clippings from
many of the great vineyards of the Old World. He began his own vineyard with
these cuttings and was soon encouraging wine growing all over the northern
part of the state. Haraszthy is considered by many to be the true father of
California wine.
Charles Krug started that Napa Valley's first commercial winery near the town
of St. Helena in 1861 and in 1879, Gustave Niebaum established Inglenook
winery, which won medals Paris and became quite famous.
California wines really began to take off during this period due to an ironic twist
of fate. The native American root louse phylloxera, which can devastate a
vineyard, was accidentally introduced to Europe along with some native
American grape samples. The pest decimated vineyards all over Europe,
helping California wines to find there way into the world market.
Prohibition, enacted in 1919, nearly destroyed the California wine industry
along with its early reputation for quality. Before Prohibition, there were some
2,500 commercial wineries in the U.S. Fewer than 100 survived to see repeal.
After repeal, many wine-makers chose to concentrate their efforts on quantity
rather than quality, selling cheap, sweet dessert and fortified wines. Things
slowly changed for California wines, however, as a younger generation began
to take charge. By the 1970s, Californians were again turning out world class
wines, but to little notice. Then, in 1976, a blind taste test was held in Paris that
pitted French and California red and whites against one another. Shockingly,
California wines took top honors in both categories.
Over the last 35 years, the California wine (and wine tourism) industry has
become one of the most impressive in the world.
Major Regions
At the time of this writing, there were 97 AVA (American Viticultural Areas) in
California out of a total of 173 in the U.S. In fact, there are AVAs in nearly every
quarter of the state. However, for out purposes we will break the state down
into three basic regions, Central Coast, Northern California and Southern
California.
Central Coast
The Central Coast wine-growing "region" is really a patchwork quilt of vineyard-
covered areas that stretches from just south of San Francisco in the north to
Santa Barbara in the south. Most prominent are the areas around Santa Cruz
and the Santa Maria Valley and its environs near the city of Santa Barbara,
thought areas around Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo are also getting
traction among oenophiles. A broad range of wine grapes are grown in this
enormous region -- it is so large that about the only thing common throughout
is proximity to the cool, damp breeze of the Pacific -- but Pinto Noir,
Chardonnay and Syrah are prominent. In addition, blends are becoming more
common.
Northern California
Like the Central Coast, Northern California is patchwork of near-coast areas,
inland valleys, and Sierra foothills that offers huge variety of grapes and terroir.
These include Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, lowlands of the Sacramento and
San Joaquin Valleys and the slopes of the Sierra Nevadas.
Because of its long history and the leadership role that that entails, Napa
Valley and its environs is considered the monarch among U.S. wine-growing
areas and is the seat of power in California wine-making (with a nod to the
school of oenology at the University of .California at. Davis -- my home town).
Within the Napa Valley area are several small sub-regions. Calistoga (one of
my favorite places) is furthest north, followed by St. Helena, Rutherford,
Oakville, Yountville and Carneros, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are most prominent, as are Bordeaux-style
blends.
Over the hills to the West, and closer to the sea, lies the Sonoma Valley, where
Pinot Noir and Zinfandel as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
thrive. Still further west is the Russian River Valley, home to much Pinot Noir
and Chardonnay.
Two hundred miles to the east and a few hundred feet higher are the Sierra
Foothills, or gold country, and the home of Zinfandel, until fairly recently thought
to be a grape variety indigenous to California. In fact, it’s genetically the same
as Italian Primitivo and Croatian Crljenak Kaštelanski. The difference in soil
and climate however, makes Foothill Zin unique -- and among my favorites.
Recently, Rhone-style blends have also made an appearance in Gold Country.
Southern California
Two small regions dominate Southern California wine production: The area
around the town of Ojai, as the foot of the Ynez Mountains and the Temecula
Valley, between Los Angeles and San Diego. Temecula is the site of one of
the oldest wineries in California. It enjoys a significant position in wine
production. The generally hot climate is particularly suited to Rhône varieties,
Cabernet and Zinfandel. Wineries on the edge of the mesa country behind San
Diego are also gaining an audience.
California American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)
Alexander Valley
Anderson Valley
Arroyo Grande Valley
Arroyo Seco
Atlas Peak
Ben Lomond Mountain
Benmore Valley
Bennett Valley
California Shenandoah
Valley
Capay Valley
Carmel Valley
Central Coast
Chalk Hill
Chalone AVA
Chiles Valley
Cienega Valley
Clarksburg
Clear Lake
Cole Ranch
Covelo
Cucamonga Valley
Diablo Grande
Diamond Mountain
District
Dos Rios
Dry Creek Valley
Dunnigan Hills
Edna Valley
El Dorado
Fair Play
Fiddletown
Guenoc Valley
Hames Valley
High Valley
Anderson Valley
Arroyo Grande Valley
Arroyo Seco
Atlas Peak
Ben Lomond Mountain
Benmore Valley
Bennett Valley
California Shenandoah
Valley
Capay Valley
Carmel Valley
Central Coast
Chalk Hill
Chalone AVA
Chiles Valley
Cienega Valley
Clarksburg
Clear Lake
Cole Ranch
Covelo
Cucamonga Valley
Diablo Grande
Diamond Mountain
District
Dos Rios
Dry Creek Valley
Dunnigan Hills
Edna Valley
El Dorado
Fair Play
Fiddletown
Guenoc Valley
Hames Valley
High Valley
Howell Mountain
Knights Valley
Lime Kiln Valley
Livermore Valley
Lodi
Los Carneros
Madera
Malibu-Newton Canyon
McDowell Valley
Mendocino
Mendocino Ridge
Merritt Island
Monterey
Mt. Harlan
Mt. Veeder
Napa Valley
North Coast
North Yuba
Northern Sonoma
Oak Knoll District
Oakville
Pacheco Pass
Paicines
Paso Robles
Potter Valley
Ramona Valley
Red Hills Lake County
Redwood Valley
River Junction
Ribbon Ridge
Rockpile
Russian River Valley
Rutherford
Salado Creek
San Benito
San Antonio Valley
San Bernabe
Knights Valley
Lime Kiln Valley
Livermore Valley
Lodi
Los Carneros
Madera
Malibu-Newton Canyon
McDowell Valley
Mendocino
Mendocino Ridge
Merritt Island
Monterey
Mt. Harlan
Mt. Veeder
Napa Valley
North Coast
North Yuba
Northern Sonoma
Oak Knoll District
Oakville
Pacheco Pass
Paicines
Paso Robles
Potter Valley
Ramona Valley
Red Hills Lake County
Redwood Valley
River Junction
Ribbon Ridge
Rockpile
Russian River Valley
Rutherford
Salado Creek
San Benito
San Antonio Valley
San Bernabe
San Francisco Bay
San Lucas
San Pasqual Valley
San Ysidro District
Santa Clara Valley
Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Lucia Highlands
Santa Maria Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
Seiad Valley
Sierra Foothills
Solano County Green
Valley
Sonoma Coast
Sonoma County Green
Valley
Sonoma Mountain
Sonoma Valley
South Coast
Spring Mountain District
St. Helena
Sta. Rita Hills
Stags Leap District
Suisun Valley
Temecula Valley
Tracy Hills
Trinity Lakes
Wild Horse Valley
Willow Creek
York Mountain
Yorkville Highlands
Yountville
San Lucas
San Pasqual Valley
San Ysidro District
Santa Clara Valley
Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Lucia Highlands
Santa Maria Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
Seiad Valley
Sierra Foothills
Solano County Green
Valley
Sonoma Coast
Sonoma County Green
Valley
Sonoma Mountain
Sonoma Valley
South Coast
Spring Mountain District
St. Helena
Sta. Rita Hills
Stags Leap District
Suisun Valley
Temecula Valley
Tracy Hills
Trinity Lakes
Wild Horse Valley
Willow Creek
York Mountain
Yorkville Highlands
Yountville
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