There are plenty of reasons to love California wine. TNTC,
as microbiologists might say (too numerous to count). For those lucky enough to
live in California, there’s probably a winery within easy driving distance. If
not, you’re still likely to find a Golden State bottle worth a pop at your
neighborhood grocer, not to mention the great prices and choices that abound at
wine boutiques and big-box warehouses.
Kenneth Volk wines from Santa Barbara and Paso Robles include many rare heirloom varieties.
With only a week left in September, designated by the Wine Institute as California Wine Month, you can still find wine events worth
attending up and down the state. If you'd rather stay put, tap into your wine stash or
drop by a favorite California wine seller to enjoy a more intimate taste of
California wine.
No matter where you choose to sop up all that California
goodness, here are five more things to love about California wine, listed in no
particular order.
How green are our valleys?
California wineries and vineyards have embraced
sustainability with 1,800 now participating in the California Sustainable
Winegrowing Alliance. Altogether, they represent nearly three-quarters of all
winegrape acreage and case production. Consumer choice is also driving greater sustainability
efforts. A recent study showed that one in three wine consumers considers the
environmental or sustainable impact of the wines they purchase.
We are family
The vast majority of the state’s 3,800 bonded wineries – up
from 1,700 in 2002 – are family-owned businesses. They have the stories,
and the drama, to prove it.
Show us the money
California winegrowing activities have a huge impact on
economic metrics, whether you count dollars-and-cents, tourism, employment or
all of the above. More than 330,000 California jobs and 820,000 jobs nationwide
are linked to California wine production. The Wine Institute’s 2012 California
wine profile reported a statewide economic impact of $61.5 billion, which soars
to nearly $122 billion on a national scale.
Variety, volume and value
California winegrapes are sourced from 116 diverse
winegrowing regions or American Viticultural Areas. By next year, there may be
11 additional AVAs drawn from the Paso Robles appellation alone. Beyond regional differences, the state’s
winegrowers aren’t content to stay with the top white and red varieties, Chardonnay
and Cabernet. California grows more than 25 white grape varieties and another
35-plus types of red grapes. Catarratto or Negrette, anyone?
2012: Another great California vintage
Despite climate change, California wines tend to show less
vintage-to-vintage
variation than those from other parts of the world, be they from
Old or New World regions. California’s
2012 vintage was marked by an ideal growing season. The result was a larger
grape harvest than the low-yielding 2011 crush from that chilly and more
extreme vintage. Abundant sunshine in 2012 gave grapes what they needed to
achieve excellent ripeness while the benign weather allowed flavor development that
drinkers will appreciate in balanced and structured wines with excellent
concentration.
We can all look forward to drinking to that.
With thanks to all California wine growers, pickers, producers,
bottlers, makers, scientists, tillers, testers, retailers, publicists, supporters,
drinkers, sommeliers, educators, writers, tasting room staff, cellar rats and
everyone in between.
