California wine
Tinta Cao, Tinta Madeira, Touriga Nacional, Trebbiano, Trousseau gris, Valdiguié, Verdelho, Viognier, Zinfandel[1] | |
No. of wineries | Over 4,200[1][4] |
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California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when
Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted
Its contemporary wine production grew steadily since the end of
The state produces about ninety percent of the American wine supply and is the fourth largest wine producer among the world's independent nations.[9][10] California has more than 4,200 wineries ranging from home-grown and small boutiques to large corporations with international distribution, and even more vineyards and growers, at close to 6,000.[9][11]
History
The state of California was first introduced to
The
Phylloxera and Prohibition
The late 19th century also saw the advent of the phylloxera epidemic, a type of parasite similar to aphids, which had already ravaged France and other European vineyards. Vineyards were destroyed, and many smaller operations went out of business. However, the remedy of grafting resistant American rootstock was well known, and the Californian wine industry was able to rebound quickly, utilizing the opportunity to expand the plantings of new grape varieties. By the turn of the 20th century, nearly 300 grape varieties were being grown in the state, supplying approximately 800 wineries.
Worldwide recognition seemed imminent until January 16, 1919, when the
Modern era
The Californian wine industry slowly recovered from Prohibition. By the 1960s, it was primarily known for its
In 2010, it was reported that, for the first time in 16 years, California wine sales were down. This was not due to a decrease in drinking wine as much as it was a decrease in customers' willingness to spend large amounts on wine. Jon Fredrikson, president of Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates, said that although sales of $3 to $6 a bottle of wine and $9 to $12 wine had seen growth, sales of wine over $20 had stagnated. Much of this loss in the market was occurring in overseas sales, as opposed to U.S. sales in 2010.[14] However, California wine export volume has shown impressive growth and demonstrating increased popularity in a highly competitive global market. Its vintages continue to perform around the world, especially in Southeast Asia, Mexico and the EU. California vintners represent 80% of U.S. wine production and 95% of U.S. wine exports. Honore Comfort, Wine Institute vice president of international marketing commented, “...there is no doubt that California wines will remain a top choice for wine drinkers around the world.”[15]
Climate and geography
California is a very geologically diverse region and varies greatly in the range of climates and terroirs that can be found. Most of the state's wine regions are found between the Pacific coast and the Central Valley. The Pacific Ocean and large bays, like San Francisco and Monterey Bays, serve as tempering influences to the wine regions nearby providing cool winds and fog that balance the heat and sunshine.[9] While drought can be a vinicultural hazard, most areas of California receive sufficient amounts of rainfall with the annual precipitation in regions north of San Francisco between 24 and 45 inches (610–1,143 mm) and southern areas receiving 13 to 20 inches (330–508 mm). Winters are mild with little threat of frost damage though springtime. To curb the threat of frost, vineyard owners will often employ the use of wind machines, sprinklers and smudge pots to protect the vines.[16]
While California's wine regions can be generally classified as a
Water and irrigation
The average vineyard in California uses 318 gallons of water to produce a single gallon of wine through irrigation. The average depends, in part, on the region where the grapes are grown, with 243 gallons of water per wine gallon in the North Coast region to 471 gallons per on the Central Coast.[18]
Wine regions
California has over 427,000 acres (1,730 km2) planted under vines mostly located in a stretch of land covering over 700 miles (1,100 km) from
California is often divided into four main regions:[19]
- North Coast – Includes most of also reside in this region.
- Central Coast – Includes most of the SLO Coast AVA, Santa Maria Valley AVA and Santa Ynez Valley AVA.
- South Coast – Includes portion of San Luis Rey area are in the proposal process to establish a viticultural area specific to that region.[20]
- Central Valley – Includes California's Central Valley and the Sierra Foothills AVA. Notable wine regions in this area include the Lodi and Squaw Valley-Miramonte AVAs.
Grapes and wines
Over one hundred grape varieties are grown in California including French, Italian and Spanish as well as hybrid grapes and new Vitis vinifera varieties developed at the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. The seven leading grape varieties are:[9]
Other important red wine grapes include
Up until the late 1980s, the Californian wine industry was dominated by the Bordeaux varietals and Chardonnay. Sales began to drop as wine drinkers grew bored[
New World wine styles
While Californian winemakers do craft wines in more "Old World" or European wine styles, most Californian wines favor simpler, more fruit dominant
The style of California Cabernet Sauvignon that first put California on the world's wine map at the Judgment of Paris is still a trademark style today. The wines are known for their concentration of fruits which produces lush, rich wines. Merlot became widely planted in the 1990s due to its wide popularity, and is still the highest selling of all varietal wines in the country. Many sites that were ill-suited for the grape began to produce harsh, characterless wines trying to model Cabernet. Merlot, when planted on better sites tend to produce a plush, concentrated style. The profile of Californian Pinot noir generally takes on a more intense, fruity style than the subtler, more elegant wines of Burgundy or Oregon. Until being passed up by Cabernet in 1998, Zinfandel was the most widely planted red wine grape in California. This was due in part to the wide popularity of White Zinfandel. Despite being made from the same grape, the only similarity between White and Red Zinfandel is the name. Zinfandel is a powerful, fruity wine with high levels of acidity and a jam-type flavor. White Zinfandel is a thin, slightly sweet blush wine. While the grape does have European origins, Zinfandel is considered a unique American style grape.[21]
Sparkling and dessert wines
California sparkling wine traces its roots to Sonoma in the 1880s with the founding of
The potential for quality sparkling wine has attracted
Since the wine renaissance of the 1960s, the quality of California's
See also
- Agriculture in California
- California Association of Winegrape Growers
- California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
- Wine Country
- Wine Institute
References
- ^ a b c d "California: Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
- ^ a b Diaz, Jo (March 17, 2011). "The Mission Grape Played a Major Role in California Wine Viticultural History". Wine Blog.
- ^ "Established American Viticultural Areas" (California). Tax and Trade Bureau. Alcohol and Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Statistics".
- ISBN 978-0-7432-4751-1.
- ^ Taber (2005), p. 40.
- ^ a b Taber (2005), pp. 216–220.
- ^ a b Peterson, Thane (May 8, 2001). "The Day California Wines Came of Age". Business Week. Archived from the original (Movable Feast) on October 18, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2006.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-56305-434-1.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-8684-0.
- ^ "Statistics - California Wine Profile 2021". California Wine Institute.
- ^ Brennen, Nancy (November 21, 2010). "John Patchett: Introducing one of Napa's pioneers". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
- ^ Taber, George M. (June 7, 1976). "Modern Living: Judgment of Paris". Time. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015.
- ^ Bonné, Jon (January 29, 2010). "Why California wines aren't selling". SFGate.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017.
- ^ DiCaro, Gino (March 21, 2023). "California Wine Exports Resilient in Global Markets, Led by Strong Growth in Mexico, Key Asian Markets and the EU" (Despite market challenges, California’s global wine sales on the rise). Wine Institute. San Francisco. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-860990-2.
- ISBN 978-1-86205-782-1.
- ^ Heller, Marc (July 25, 2019). "Water shortages force a reckoning in Calif. wine country". E&E News. Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-3164-2.
- Treasury: 59820–59825. August 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c MacNeil (2000), pp.644–651
- ^ van der Vink, Julia (July 23, 2013). "California wine gets back to its roots". CNN. Archived from the original on February 16, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
- ^ a b c MacNeil (2000), pp.652–667.
External links
- California wine at Curlie
- Discover California Wine - California Wine Institute
- American Viticultural Areas of California (Source: Wine Institute using Federal Register)
- WineFiles.org - publicly searchable archives of the Sonoma County wine library
- TTB AVA Map