California Wine Country Information
Starting around Santa Barbara all the way to Sonoma County, from Paso Robles to Napa Valley, this expert, Michael Fagan will take you on a journey through the incredible California Wine Country.
Watch the California wine country video above and learn how geography, climate, and winemaking skills forge unique wine styles in some of California’s finest wine-producing regions – and meet the people behind the labels!
This episode of Discover is your guide to understanding the inimitable character that defines California wine and food… enjoy!
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Wondering what to read next? It’s not from California, but how about the “History of Cold Duck”?
https://anyglasswithwine.com/the-history-of-cold-duck/
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Californians are 110% serious about their wine yet pretty relaxed about almost everything else. When you’re surrounded by natural wonder and almost constant sunshine in the daytime, it’s pretty easy to be serious. Of course, a good glass of California white or red wines always help.
Plenty of warming sunshine creates a consistent and long grape growing season in the California wine country. At the same time, the diversity of our terroir (or environment) supports a plethora of grape varieties perfect for wine-making. Hot days and cool nights give a surprising flavor variation.
California wine country has 800 miles of coastline that exposes nearby vineyards to natural “air conditioning” because of the fog and breezes, making for incredibly special Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and other cool-climate varieties. At the same time, interior valleys that are warmer receive the same cooling effect thanks to plenty of water… found in rivers, lakes, and deltas.
The vines planted along the California hillsides get an incredible mixture of cool air and unfiltered sun-conditions that Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot absolutely thrive in. In addition, the hillsides make the California wine country as wonderful to look at, as to drinks its wines.
The California wine country soils are diverse and can be made of clay, granite, volcanic ash, loam, seabed soil, gravel, and more. The California winemakers are just as varied… since the 1700s, immigrants from all over the world have settled here, bringing vines and their age-old secrets of soil, climate and vine have been passed from generation to generation.
Sustainable California Wine Practices
Sustainable practices protect our soil, air, and water. These are elements that breathe life and impeccable flavor into our wine.
Sustainable practices in both grape growing as well as winemaking help California vintners make high-quality wines and provide a healthy and beautiful environment for employees, wine drinkers, and countless wine country visitors. Sustainable winegrowing methods include biodynamic and organic winemaking practices.
Organic California Wine
California wine country has organic wines made with organically grown grapes that come from special vineyards that follow the guidelines set by the National Organic Program (NOP).
- no nonorganic crop protection materials
- only NOP-approved materials (some synthetic materials are allowed)
Additionally, they control the amount of sulfite added to the wines.To be labeled organic, a wine cannot have any added sulfites to prolong shelf life. They can have no more than 10 parts per million.
For more information visit: www.ccof.org the USA’s largest organic certifier.
Biodynamic California Wine
Biodynamic farming includes farming the grapes with what’s known as a closed-loop that uses organic practices as well as natural alternatives to eliminating waste. This promotes a healthy ecosystem.
- no nonorganic protection materials to crops
- natural preparations to enrich the soil and promote microorganisms
- insectaries are required to control pests
- planting and pruning times are determined by the phases of the moon
For more information, visit: www.demeter-usa.org
Conservation in California
Soil Health of California Grapevines
Habitat restoration of California Vineyards
Biodiversity of California Grapes and Wines
Want some help ordering California wine to drink at home?
If you want some personal wine recommendations from our co-editor and consultant, contact [email protected], or call Pat at (866) 332-9463. He is a 27-year veteran professional consultant.
He’ll learn your preferences and budget, and never try to convince you to get something you won’t enjoy… and if you don’t, he’ll take back the empty bottle (actually. you can keep it) and send you something else to replace it!
Or for the cost of a Starbucks, grab my wine guide/booklet “Any Glass With Wine in it is a Wine Glass”. If you’d like to read the intro, or order it in paperback, on Kindle, or even as an audiobook to listen to as you drive to your favorite wine shop, you can grab it by clicking here!
The original link for the video above can be found here.
Much info in our article was found at – https://discovercaliforniawines.com/
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