California Wines

1
California Wines

• History and Challenges

2
Recent History

• Earlier perceived as bulk wine belt
• 1980-present California wines advance to the
  levels of France and Italy
• 1986 Seeks global markets for export
• 1992 Begin to produce organic wines
• 1993 Increasingly popular in Europe and Asia

3
Five Major Production Zones

• Multiple Regions and Sub Regions

4
North Coast Region

• NORTH COAST REGION
• Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Marin, and Solano
  Counties
• less than 25 of total CA grape acreage

5
North Coast Region

• most of the higher quality Sauvignon Blanc,
  Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot comes
  form this area
• contains most of CAs 800 wineries
• mostly Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon

6
Central Coast Region

• CENTRAL COAST REGION
• area from San Francisco Bay to Santa Barbara
• cool coastal areas are good for growing Pinot
  Noir and Chardonnay

7
South Coast Region

• SOUTH COAST REGION
• Riverside County and San Diegos San Pasqual
  Valley
• recently undergone changes due to urban expansion
• warm region
• predominantly whites
• Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Johannesburg
  Riesling

8
Central Valley Regions

• CENTRAL VALLEY REGION
• 180,000 acres of CAs 330,000 acres
• San Joaquin Valley in the South, Sacramento
  Valley in the North, Sacramento Delta in-between
• most productive agricultural area in CA
• high temperatures and rich soils bring high yields

9
Central Valley Cont.

• CENTRAL VALLEY CONT.
• San Joaquin Valley
• 54 of all grapes planted in CA
• mostly jug wines
• Sacramento Valley
• mostly table and dessert wines
• Modesto
• 30 of all CA wines
• mostly table and jug wines

10
Sierra Foothills Region

• SIERRA FOOTHILLS REGION
• 2 dozen wineries
• known for hearty Zinfandels
• Sauvignon Blanc a distant second
• mountain climate
• high altitudes
• moist springs, warm dry summers
• wines with deep concentrated flavors and aromas