Is there any better pairing than wine and travel? If there is, then we can’t think of it. Just picture enjoying the sun’s rays with a golden glass of white or complementing the sunset with a crimson red tipple. It’s certainly the stuff of most people’s dreams and, while many of us typically consider the vineyards of European regions like France’s Provence or Spain’s Rioja as the best options for a wine-based visit of any kind, US travelers can easily enjoy just as luxurious a wine-drinking time when they turn their attention to the state of California.
Famed for its sun, sand, and the Golden State Bridge among other icons, California might not be at the top of your wine-based wishlist, but we’re here to tell you that it should be. In fact, the state is by far America’s most revered wine region, and it has crop varieties and year-round growing capabilities to rival vineries anywhere in the world, including France!
In this article, we’re going to consider exactly what California’s wine scene has to offer, and why you’ll be left wanting to whine on to anyone about the wines that you encounter here for a long time after your visit.
Fact 1: California produces more wine than any other state
Washington, Florida, and Michigan all make wines, but California’s output significantly outstrips any of them, with the state producing 81% of all US wines. Yes, really! Four out of every five bottles of American wine comes from the Golden State. Perhaps even more interestingly, California is ranked the fourth-largest wine producer in the world after Italy, France, and Spain. That’s an impressive accolade, and it means that wine-loving Americans and tourists alike will by no means be disappointed when they head here.
Fact 2: Winemaking is rooted in California’s history
California’s rich winemaking history can be traced back as far as the 1700s, when ‘mission grape’ vines were brought over by Spanish missionaries seeking to protect their communion wine. In 1848-1855, settlers heading north for the Gold Rush began laying the groundwork for famed wine regions like Sonama, making California an epicenter for American wine production. After ranking higher than even French wines during the 1976 Judgement of Paris, California’s wine-making capabilities and reputation went from strength to strength, and remain at an all-time high today.
Fact 3: California is home to the most luxurious wineries in the country
Wine holidays aren’t about drinking as much as you can and forgetting half of your time away. Rather, they’re about embarking on elegant wine tours, tasting phenomenal varieties, and generally enjoying the finer things in life. This is a goal that California wineries like the Wiens Cellars Temecula winery understand well. From hands-on workshops in Napa’s wineries to the sleek tasting rooms that can be found across the state, there really is nowhere better for sleek, sophisticated winery experiences by the handful.
Fact 4: California climates are perfect for all varieties
Lengthy summers are a large part of what makes California so great for growing grapes, and it also means that lovers of almost any wine variety are sure to have their needs met here. That’s because, unlike famously year-round hot climates like Florida, regions across the state of California enjoy pretty diverse climates throughout the year. Yes, there are long summers that make California perfect for the long growing seasons of most grapes, but, in areas like Santa Barbara and the Sierra foothills, weather variances including fog and wind can make for a balanced crop across a wide variety of wines.
Fact 5: California offers a wealth of knowledge for budding winemakers
Any budding winemaker in America could benefit from heading to California, either for a short stay or in the long term. The country’s best wineries, alone, have a whole lot to teach about what successful vineyards should look like. Fittingly, California is also home to the best and most comprehensive education programs in the industry, across universities like Sonama state.
California has a lot going for it, and its astounding vineries can often act as the cherry on top of the cake. Whether you like the idea of an all-out wine trip that incorporates visits to a variety of America’s best wine destinations, or whether you simply fancy slipping a winery visit into your California stay, then you won’t be disappointed. When pairing America’s best wines with California’s great climate, there’s no way that you’ll regret your choice to dive into the state’s wine-rich history to at least some degree!
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