Not many people believe that the United States is a wine-producing nation. Although grapes can grown in many areas in the United States, is California responsible for over 90% of the total wine production in the United States. How big is the wine-producing industry in California as if it were their own country, California to the world's fourth largest wine producer! Because of California's varied climate and geography, can more than one hundred varieties of grapes are grown, wines range in California are completely different.
History of California wine
Grapes were first introduced to California by Spanish missionaries planted their own small wineries to use to make wine for religious sacraments. Vine cuttings used was from Mexico, who first introduced by Heran Cortes in the early 16th century, and was a descendant of the original "common black grape". Because of the Association of this strain of grape musts, as "Mission grape," and was the dominant grape grown for California wine until the beginning of the 20th century.
Demand for locally produced wines grew sharply during the California gold rush in the mid-19th century. From this requirement took the Californian wine industry momentum in Northern California, especially around Sonoma County and Napa Valley. Turn of century, there were approximately 800 wineries produce wine from nearly 300 varieties of grapes. However, introduced in 1919, prohibition of the United States. This meant that the wine-producing vineyards had to tear up all their vines and destroy the basement. Some wineries managed to get around this by converting their vines to produce table grapes or grapes of grape growing. Others could still produce wine for religious purposes, but this was held in relatively small quantities. When prohibition was repealed in 1933, most wineries were bankrupt and only 140 managed to survive.
It took many decades for the Californian wine industry to recover. By the 1960s had California's reputation for producing good sweet Port wine. This era also brought in new everything after from abroad that focuses on quality. Over the years has a reputation for producing high-quality wines increased and gradually became known abroad. This reputation was solidified in 1976, when several California wine producers were invited to Paris to participate in a blind tasting to compete against some of the best wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy. The result of this was that not only the show once and for all that California could produce some great wines, but they took gold in both the red and white categories.
Wine-producing regions in California
Currently there are approximately 1730 km2 of planted vines grown throughout California. The wine-producing regions are divided into four major regions.
1) Northern coast — this includes most of California's North Coast. The most famous regions are Napa Valley and Sonoma County.
2) Central Coast-this area contains most of Central California's coast and the areas south and West of the San Francisco Bay to the Santa Barbara County.
3) South Coast-this area contains some of Southern California, South of Los Angeles to the Mexican border.
4) Central Valley-this is the largest wine region, including California's Central Valley and Sierra foothills.
Grapes
There are more than 100 varieties are grown in California today with many originating in France, Italy and Spain. The most common grape varieties cultivated today are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah and Zinfandel. There are also many other smaller varieties grown in small quantities. This means that there is a large variety of wines. Today, California provides nearly every single style of wine, including sparkling, fortifies and dessert wines.
About the author:
Doug has written articles online for over 3 years now. Although he specializes in economic section that commodities and equities, you can check his latest TheWineSpot.orgsite, which describes the different types of wines from around the world, such as Italian, French and California wine and wine accessories you need for your next wine tasting party!
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