California
California – The North Coast
The Napa Valley remains central to the Californian wine industry. It lies just north of San Francisco Bay, and is home to many of the Cabernet Sauvignons for which the state has become famous. Many of these wines match or exceed classed growth claret for price. Such highly prized, highly sought after ‘Cal-Cabs’ are often referred to as ‘cult wines’, and they reach phenomenal prices at auction. The prime example is Screaming Eagle, running to a production of just 500 cases annually. Top wines come from the AVAs of Rutherford, Oakville, St Helena, Howell Mountain and the Stag’s Leap District. Abutting San Francisco Bay and lying partly in the Napa Valley and partly in Sonoma is the cooler Carneros AVA, responsible for some good Pinot Noir.
Nearby, Sonoma also produces some fine wines, with reds again predominating. Top AVAs here include the Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley. The Russian River Valley and Carneros have developed a reputation for Pinot Noir, their cooler climates suiting this variety.
Further north are the less significant Anderson Valley and Potter Valley AVAs, in Mendocino, and the Clear Lake AVA in Lake.
California – Further South
Not far south of San Francisco Bay are the Santa Clara Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains. The latter is home to one of California’s most eccentric winemakers, Randall Graham of Bonny Doon, working with all manner of varieties including those of the Rhône, such as Grenache and Viognier, as well as some Italian grapes. Also to be found here is Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards, who raises excellent wine from a number of different sites in California.
Moving further south through Monterey are the less significant regions Carmel Valley, Arroyo Seco, Paso Robles and Edna Valley. These seem to be a real jumble of wine regions with, as far as can be seen, no great identity of their own. There are a few appealing wines produced here, though.
More significant is Santa Barbara, incorporating the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley AVAs. There is a mixture of wine styles produced, including varietal Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as some Rhône like wines.
Further inland is San Joaquin, a region of little interest save for the interesting dessert and fortified wines produced here by Andrew Quady.
Much further south, near the Mexican border, there are vineyards at Temecula and the San Pasqual Valley.
Please see Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours California holidays below: –
Fair, 21C, Los Angeles
California
13 - 19 March 2011
