California Wines: Adventurous Winemakers of The Golden State

What is California Wine Country?

California Wine Country is a term which most of us have heard of. Often thought by many to refer to the whole of the Californian wine growing region, this term in fact only relates to one sub-region – the Northern Bay Area. This sub-region is the most well-known, which is unsurprising considering it’s where you will find many of California’s most celebrated areas, such as Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. With the coolest climate in California, over half of the wineries in the state can be found here.

However, when it comes to California wine, it is so much more than just this one area. The California wine region also covers the Central Coast, Sierra Foothills, the Inland Valleys and finally Southern California.

Central Coast begins with San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge in the north and runs for 500km all the way to Santa Barbara. With heaps of natural beauty, the climate evolves from cool to moderate. The proximity of this region to the Pacific Ocean means a gentle coastal breeze flows through the valleys, cooling the Californian heat promoting a long growing season, allowing vines to thrive in all their glory.

Heading further east, you will discover the Inland Valleys. The breeze from the coast also travels through here allowing the climate to be kept moderate, producing some real unsung heroes in Californian wine. The Sierra Foothills are close by, an area which homes some of California’s finest examples of breath-taking beauty such as Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. Wines here are abundant in flavour and variety.

And finally, we head south to Southern California. We’re talking star-studded Los Angeles, the beautiful beaches of Malibu and Orange County, all the way down to the relaxed, laid back city of San Diego. Unbeknown to most, SoCal is dotted with vineyards, tucked away in rolling hills and valleys. Being the warmest part of Cali, this area benefits from year-round sunshine and soaring temperatures meaning those classic warm climate reds thrive here.

Winemaking Centred Around Sustainability

Winemaking in California is all about sustainability. Founded in 2003, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance have worked tirelessly with winemakers across the state to promote sustainable and responsible winemaking that’s kind to the environment. It is fair to say, with a staggering 85% of all wineries in California certified sustainable, the Alliance have been doing a pretty good job.

But what does sustainable winemaking actually look like in California? Well, everything from maintaining soil health to restoring surrounding habitats and encouraging biodiversity. Protecting the ecosystems within the vineyard is a high priority for winemakers. Natural forms of pesticides are used such as allowing chickens to roam the vineyard to eat insects and pests. By steering away from the use of chemicals, the impact on the environment is greatly reduced.

Water is another precious resource in this part of the world which must be used wisely by winegrowers. Most vineyards use drip irrigation whereby the exact amount of water given to each vine can be controlled to help preserve water. It’s pretty clear winemakers from California are going to pretty great lengths to put sustainability at the centre of everything they do – which is something we love to see!

What Wine is California Famous For?

So, you are probably wondering what wines is the Golden State famous for? When it comes to reds, think big bold and fruity. Cabernet Sauvignon is commonly produced here, particularly in the Napa Valley region. These wines are characterised by their concentrated black fruit flavours, high tannins and full body. Shiraz is another grown here that shares similarities to Cabernet Sauvignon. The Shiraz from Cali is bold and complex, with a smooth, rich feel packed with dark fruit flavours with hints of pepper and smoke.

If a lighter red is more your thing, Pinot Noir is another favourite found in California, generally grown in the Central Valley region where temperatures are kept cooler. The Pinot Noir produced here is bright and fruity with juicy cherry flavours, complemented by earthy notes. It does exceptionally well here, producing some rather sought-after wines.

And finally, California’s signature grape, Zinfandel. Bold and packed full of raspberry and cherry notes, along with hints of black pepper and liquorice, Zinfandel really is a Californian classic. It is enjoyed equally as much in the form of a rosé as well, which is very popular around the world. Known as White Zinfandel, this rosé is generally more medium in sweetness and bright and refreshing on the palate, making the perfect summer vino.

Turning to the whites now, Chardonnay is a popular grape in California. Found commonly in northern parts of the region such as Los Carneros and Santa Maria Valley where the fog rolls in to keep the vineyards cool, Chardonnay here is delicate with green fruit flavours such as apple and pear, along with some buttery tones which can come about from oak ageing. It’s fair to say there are some real hidden gems to be found when it comes to this classic white grape.

It’s also important to mention Sauvignon Blanc when discussing whites from this part of the world. This light and refreshing grape produces wines here with hints of tropical fruits. However the acidity is still maintained keeping the wine fresh. In fact it will keep even the most discerning Savvy B drinkers suitably impressed.

The Californian wine scene really is one full of excitement, diversity and forward-thinking winemakers. With such a varied climate, soil types and grape varieties, there really is a wine here for everyone! And if you need any further convincing, check out our Wine Buyer, Sophie Lord showing us just how diverse the styles of wine produced in California really are.

Our friends at Capstone California – a platform where you can become a certified expert in Californian wine – have kindly given us an exclusive VIP code for their Introductory Level 1 Capstone California Wine Certification Program. Simply click here, or scan the QR code below, if you fancy registering yourself on the course for free!