California crushed almost 450,000 tons of Cabernet grapes, an amount roughly equal to one bottle per person for the entire US population.
Thierry Lesparre
“Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life's most civilized pleasures.”
American Wine
The United States has confidently come of age as one of the world's top wine-producing nations. Its reputation may be found on the global fame of Napa and Sonoma, but the U.S. is home to countless lesser-known wine regions producing world-class wines (obvious examples include Oregon's Willamette Valley and the New York Finger Lakes). The wine has been made in The States for around 400 years, but it is only in the last 40 that American wine really began to earn respect on a global scale. The U.S. is now the world's fourth-biggest wine-producing nation (behind France, Italy, and Spain) and produces roughly 18.5 million hectoliters each year.
Welcome to Inglenook, Historic Napa Valley Wine Estate (Link to one of my favorite wineries in the USA)
All 50 U.S states produce wine to some extent, although 95 percent of it comes from just four of them. California is by far the most prolific, producing five times more than the combined total of the next three: Washington, Oregon, and New York. The 5 percent that comes from the other states, led by Texas and Virginia, is produced largely for local consumption rather than national or international markets. The topographical, geological and climatic diversity of the American continent has provided the states with all manner of vine-growing conditions, from higher-altitude, continental climes to coastal, fog-laden areas (e.g. Edna Valley).
Virginia Wine with Oz Clarke - YouTube
The wine has been produced in the U.S. since the early 17th century when European colonization began in earnest. Repeated attempts were made by the early settlers, who brought with them the winemaking knowledge and practices of their European homelands. The various vine species native to North America (such as Vitis labrusca) were known to be both robust and high-yielding, so very few vine plants accompanied these migrants on their voyage across the Atlantic. Unfortunately, these native vine species produced wines which matched neither the style nor the quality to which European settlers were accustomed.
European vinifera vines were not shipped to the Americas in any quantity until the mid-17th century. These invariably suffered at the hands of native pests (e.g. phylloxera) and fungal diseases. Over the next three centuries, it became clear that vine breeding and grafting were the keys to establishing a balance between manageable vines and palatable wines. Today, almost every wine-bearing vine in the U.S. is either a hybrid variety (e.g. Seyval Blanc) or a vinifera vine scion grafted onto the rootstock of a native (phylloxera-resistant) variety.
The United States’ wine industry has had something of a rollercoaster ride ever since the Californian gold rush of the 1840s, which created massive demand for wine and led to widespread vineyard plantings all over the state. This knee-jerk reaction sparked a volatile cycle of surplus and deficit which lasted for several decades.
The first half of the 20th century brought Prohibition, economic depression, and war, collectively suffocating the American wine industry. It wasn't until significant social, cultural and economic development set in after World War 2 that things began to change. In the 1970s, the leading lights of the Californian wine industry brought about renewed winemaking interest across the U.S., ultimately sparking the national wine renaissance. This period saw a proliferation of new, small-scale wineries throughout the country and the upscaling of longer-established operations and created significant momentum, which carried the industry well into the 21st century.
Regional identity is as important to wine in the U.S. as it is in Europe. The concept is embodied by the country’s 200 or so officially demarcated AVAs. Although these are similar to European-style appellations, there are crucial differences: where most European appellations directly govern geographical, viticultural and oenological factors, AVA titles are less restrictive and indicate only the region of origin (i.e. where the grapes were grown). The AVAs, more than half of which are in California, vary in size from one-quarter of a square mile to almost 30,000 square miles (77,700 square kilometers).
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon has been referred to as the king of red wine grapes. Cabernet Sauvignons and blends where the variety predominates are some of the most prized wines produced in California. The grape is also the main ingredient in blends for many of the famous red wines in the world. Cabernet Sauvignons are dry, full flavored and made to be long-lived for many labels. The aging potential can be upwards of 10-20 years, though five to nine years is more usual and many can be enjoyed upon release. Fans of Cabernet Sauvignon are familiar with the wine’s common descriptors: berry, currant, and cassis or herbaceous, bell pepper and toasty oak aromas and flavors. For traditional California table wine volume sold in U.S. food stores, Cabernet Sauvignon is the second leading varietal after Chardonnay, according to the Nielsen Company & Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates.
The Cabernet Sauvignon Grape
DNA genetic fingerprinting research at the University of California at Davis has revealed Cabernet Sauvignon to be a cross between the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The variety is California’s most widely planted red wine grape with 90,782 acres reported in 2016. Napa Valley, San Luis Obispo County, Sonoma, and Lodi/San Joaquin County are the regions with the most plantings.
2016 California Wine Sales in U.S. Hit New Record: 238 Million Cases with Retail Value of $34.1 Billion
May 1, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO — California wine shipments to the U.S. reached an estimated retail value of $34.1 billion in 2016, up 4.6%. The state shipped an all-time high of 238 million cases to the U.S. in 2016, up 2% from the previous year.
California wine sales to all markets, including shipments to the U.S. and exports, also set a record of 285 million cases in 2016.
“Consumers worldwide recognize the high quality of California wines from diverse regions across the state,” said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, Wine Institute President, and CEO. “As consumers in the U.S. and around the world continue to trade up to premium wines, California is ideally positioned.”
“California wines in the U.S. market have increased from 191 million cases shipped in 2006 to 238 million cases in 2016,” said Jon Moramarco, founder and managing partner of BW166, who purchased The Gomberg-Fredrikson Report with partners last year. “The growth trend has been driven by population, which is up more than 12% over the last decade, and by the fact that baby boomers, traditionally the large population segment of frequent wine consumers, have been joined by millennials aged 21-38 who are also driving the growth in wine consumption,” Moramarco explained.
“The estimated retail value for wine was calculated with an updated methodology that uses a wide variety of government, private, and other statistical data that have not historically been available, such as the direct-to-consumer sales report and Dept. of Commerce data,” Moramarco continued. “Consumer expenditures had been growing at a 6.1% annual rate as opposed to the historical estimates of 5.5% previously published, so the retail value was reset for more recent years. The new data sources provided a more comprehensive methodology for calculating consumer expenditures.”
American Viticultural Areas
The legal designations used for California wine regions are American Viticultural Areas or AVAs. The US Government began these AVA designations in 1978 to keep pace with similar wine appellation designations used in Europe for many years.
For the average wine lover, AVAs may not matter at all. If this describes you, feel free to skip over this section and go directly to our California wine country map that discusses California wine regions in more generic terms.
All AVAs are designated by The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a US Treasury Department, upon the request of a winery or other petitioner.
To be considered, the petitioner must present evidence that growing conditions such as climate, soil, elevation, and physical features are distinctive to that AVA.
As of 2008, California wine regions encompass nearly 200 AVAs. Many sub AVAs are designated within major AVAs.
An AVA is distinguished by geographic features, so in theory, all wine produced by the grapes in that AVA should possess similar qualities. However, like many government regulations, there is an ongoing debate about the effectiveness of this system.
Studies are underway to possibly change the US AVA system to make it more similar to the European model. Europe has the benefit of relying on decades of experience deciphering terroir (French for “soil”).
For a California winemaker to specify an AVA on its label, at least 85% of the grapes used to make that wine must be grown in the specified AVA. California AVAs do not specify the type of grapes to be grown there, or the process to be used to grow those grapes.
By comparison, a French designation (Appellation D’Origine Controlee – AOC or AOP) identifies the grape varieties to be grown in a geographic area, the maximum production per acre, the minimum level of alcohol required for wines produced in the area, etc.
Here is a complete list of California wine regions or AVAs, at the time of this writing.
Central Coast AVA
The Central Coast AVA is the largest in the state stretching roughly 250 miles from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. It is home to approximately 360 wineries and covers more than 5M acres. Paso Robles AVA is the largest at over 600,000 acres.
All the AVAs listed below are actually contained within the Central Coast AVA, with the exception of and Santa Cruz Mountain and Ben Lomond Mountain AVA.
? Arroyo Grande Valley ? Arroyo Seco ? Ben Lomond Mountain ? Carmel Valley ? Chalone ? Cienega Valley ? Edna Valley ? Hames Valley ? Lime Kiln Valley ? Livermore Valley ? Monterey ? Mt. Harlan ? Pacheco Pass ? Paicines ? Paso Robles ? San Antonio Valley ? San Benito ? San Bernabe ? San Francisco Bay ? San Lucas ? San Ysidro District ? Santa Clara Valley ? Santa Cruz Mountains ? Santa Lucia Highlands ? Santa Maria Valley ? Sta. Rita Hills
? Santa Ynez Valley ? York Mountain
Central Valley Wine Growing Region
There is no large regional AVA designation that includes the entire Central Valley wine growing region. So within the Central Valley Wine Region are the following AVAs. Lodi AVA is the largest.
? Alta Mesa ? Borden Ranch ? Capay Valley ? Clarksburg ? Clements Hills ? Cosumnes River ? Diablo Grande ? Dunnigan Hills ? Jahant ? Lodi ? Madera ? Merritt Island ? Mokelumne River ? River Junction ? Salado Creek ? Sloughhouse ? Tracy Hills
Klamath Mountain Region
These AVAs are located in the southern Klamath Mountains Region of far northwestern California:
? Seiad Valley ? Trinity Lakes ? Willow Creek
North Coast AVA
All of these AVAs are included within the geographic boundaries of the six-county North Coast AVA. The Sonoma Coast AVA is the largest covering over 500,000 acres.
? Alexander Valley ? Anderson Valley ? Atlas Peak ? Bennett Valley ? Benmore Valley ? Chalk Hill ? Chiles Valley ? Clear Lake ? Cole Ranch ? Covelo ? Diamond Mountain District ? Dos Rios ? Dry Creek Valley ? Green Valley of Russian River Valley ? Guenoc Valley ? High Valley ? Howell Mountain ? Knights Valley ? Los Carneros ? McDowell Valley ? Mendocino ? Mendocino Ridge ? Mt. Veeder ? Napa Valley ? North Coast ? Northern Sonoma ? Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
? Oakville ? Potter Valley ? Red Hills Lake County ? Redwood Valley ? Rockpile ? Russian River Valley ? Rutherford ? Solano County Green Valley ? Sonoma Coast ? Sonoma Mountain ? Sonoma Valley ? Spring Mountain District ? St. Helena ? Stags Leap District ? Suisun Valley ? Wild Horse Valley ? Yorkville Highlands ? Yountville
Sierra Foothills AVA
All of these AVAs are contained entirely within the geographic boundaries of the Sierra Foothills AVA. El Dorado AVA, with over 400,000 acres, is significantly larger than any of the others.
? California Shenandoah Valley
? El Dorado
? Fair Play
? Fiddletown
? North Yuba
? Sierra Foothills
South Coast AVA
The South Coast AVA includes all grape growing regions in Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties. There are not a lot of grapes grown in this region, and the largest and most well-known grape growing region within South Coast is Temecula Valley.
This large appellation also includes a number of smaller sub-appellations.
? Cucamonga Valley ? Leona Valley (proposed) ? Malibu-Newton Canyon ? Ramona Valley ? Saddle Rock-Malibu ? San Pasqual Valley ? South Coast
DownloadsSize AVAs_for_California_-_Copyright_2016_Wine_Institute_3.21.16.pdf
California Cabernet Sauvignon - The Wine Institute
Cabernet (Blends & Meritage) from the USA
Cabernet-Sauvignon/Cabernet-Franc/Merlot/Petit-Verdot/Malbec
Bond “Pluribus” from Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, California USA 2004
Bond “Melbury” from Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, California USA 2004
Bond “St. Eden” from Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, California USA 2011
Harlan Estate, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 1996-1997-1998-1999-2000
Opus One, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 1992-1998-2001-2003-2004-2006-2007-2008-2009-2010-2011
Shafer Vineyards “Hillside Select” Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California USA 2000-2002-2003
Staglin Family “20th Anniversary Selection” Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 2002
PlumpJack Winery “Estate” Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2003-2004
PlumpJack Winery “Reserve” Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2002-2003
Beringer Vineyards Private Reserve, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2002-2003
Bacio Divino Cellars, Napa Valley, California USA 2003
Cain Vineyards "Cain Five" Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California USA 2008
Cade Winery, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California USA 2010-2011
Cain Vineyards- Concept "the Benchland" Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California USA 2009
Clark-Claudon Vineyards “Estate” Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 2001-2002
Peter Michael Winery “Les Pavots” Knights Valley, Sonoma, California USA 1997-2000-2001-2003
Stephen Zellerbach Vineyard, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California USA 1979
Spottswoode Family Estate, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2003-2011
Long Vineyards, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2003
Kenward Family “Durell Vineyard” Carneros, Napa Valley, California USA 2002
Trefethen Reserve, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California USA 1999-2002-2003
Dunn Vineyards, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California USA 1987-1999-2001-2010
Quintessa, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 2000-2001-2005-2010
Fischer Vineyards “Coach Insignia” St. Helena, California USA 2004
Paul Hobbs “Beckstoffer, To Kalon Vineyards” Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2003-2005
Paul Hobbs “Stagecoach Vineyard” Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2004
Caymus Vineyards “Special Select” Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 1998-2000-2005-2010-2011
Beaulieu Vineyards “Georges de Latour” BV Private Reserve, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 1968-1970-1996-1997-2009
Girard "Artistry" Yountville, Napa Valley, California USA 2010
Beaulieu Vineyards “Clone 6” Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 2010
Nickel & Nickel “Sullenger” Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2004
Araujo Estate “Eisele Vineyard” Calistoga, Napa Valley, California USA 2001
Chappellet Vineyards “Pritchard Hill” St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 1974-1976-1979-1999
Heitz Wine Cellars “Martha’s Vineyard” St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 1991-1995-1996-1997-1998-1999-2001-2002
Ridge Vineyards “Monte Bello” Santa Cruz Mountains, Cupertino, California USA 1977-1988-1991-1994-1996-2003
Cardinale Winery, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 1999-1998
Merryvale "Vineyard X" "Beckstoffer Vineyards" Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2001
Schrader "Las Piedras Vineyard" "Beckstoffer Vineyard" Napa Valley, California USA 2012
Dalle Valle Vineyards “Maya” Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2000
Diamond Creek Vineyards “Volcanic Hill” Calistoga, Napa Valley, California USA 1998
Diamond Creek Vineyards “Gravelly Meadow” Calistoga, Napa Valley, California USA 1998-2008
Diamond Creek Vineyards “Red Rock Terrace” Calistoga, Napa Valley, California USA 2001
Far Niente "Cave Collection" Estate Bottled, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 1991
Spring Mountain Vineyards, Napa Valley, California USA 1979-1985-1987
Lokoya, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley, California USA 1999-2000
Lokoya, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California USA 2001
Pahlmeyer, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 1998-1999-2010-2011
Hartwell Vineyards, Stag's Leap District, Napa Valley, California USA 1998-2000
Joseph Phelps Vineyards “Insignia” St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 1999-2010
Joseph Phelps Vineyards “Backus” St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 1997-2000
Robert Mondavi Reserve, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 1992-1995-1996-1998-2000-2004-2007
Livingston “Moffett Vineyard” 14th Anniversary, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 1998
Lail Vineyards “J Daniel Cuvée” Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 1998-2000
Stonestreet Winery “Legacy estate Bottled” Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California USA 1996
Veraison “Stagecoach” Synchrony, Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, California USA
Vérité Estate “La Joie” Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma County, California USA 2000-2002
Vérité Estate “La Muse” Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma County, California USA 2000-2002-2003
Scarecrow - M.Etain, J.J Cohn Estate, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 2008
Anakota "Helena Dakota Vineyard" Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California USA 2008
Anakota "Helena Montana Vineyard" Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California USA 2008
Silver Oak Cellars, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2000
Palmaz Vineyards, Napa Valley, California USA 2002-2005
Hewitt Vineyards, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 2003-2006-2008-20011
Viader Vineyard & Winery, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California USA 1993-2000
La Jota Vineyard “19th Anniversary Release” Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California USA 1993-2000
Kenwood Vineyard ‘Artist Series” Sonoma County, California USA 1979-1997-1998-2002
Dominus Estate, Yountville, Napa Valley, California USA 1985-2000
Long Meadow Ranch, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 1999
Bryant Family Vineyard, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 1995-2003
TOR Kenward Family Wines “To-Kalon, Mast, Cimarossa Vineyards” Napa Valley, California USA 2009
Philip Togni “Tanbark Hill” Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California USA 2008
Philip Togni "Estate" Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California USA 1991-1993-1994
Cain Five Estate Grown, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California USA 2008
Anakota “Helena Dakota Vineyard” Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California USA 2008
Colgin Cellars “Herb Lamb Vineyard” Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, California US 2003
Del Dotto “Ca’ Nani Vineyard” Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2010
Freemark Abbey “Bosché Vineyard” Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 1994
Freemark Abbey “Sycamore Vineyard” Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 1996
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Fay Vineyard” Stag's Leap District, Napa Valley, California USA 2006
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Cask 23” Stag's Leap District, Napa Valley, California USA 2000- 2006-2012
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “SLV” Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California USA 1994
Pine Ridge "Andrus Reserve" Mayacamas Foothills, Napa Valley, California USA 1998-1999
Dominus Estate, Napanook, Yountville, Napa Valley, California USA 2000-2006
Betz Family Vineyards “Père de Famille” Columbia Valley, Washington State USA 2007
Reninger, Walla Walla, Washington State, USA 2006
DeLille Cellars “Grand Ciel” Columbia Valley, Washington State USA 2006
Saviah Cellars ‘Une Vallée’ Walla Walla, Washington State, USA 2008
Woodward Canyon “Artist Series #17” Lowden, Washington State USA 2008
l’Aventure Estate, Paso Robles, California USA 2003
Geyser Peak Winery “Ascentia Estate Vineyard” Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California USA 2002
Ferrari-Carano, Prevail “Back Forty” Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California USA 2003
Rubicon Estate Winery or Inglenook (previously Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery) Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 2003
Wattle Creek Winery, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California USA 2003
Antinori & Chateau Ste Michelle “Col Solare” Columbia Valley, Washington State USA 2006
Rubissow-Sargent Estate Wines “Trompettes” Mt Veeder, Napa Valley, California USA 1999
Justin Vineyards & Winery “Justification” Paso Robles, California USA 2011
Rudd Estate “Jericho Canyon Vineyard” Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2000
Chateau Montelena Estate, Calistoga, Napa Valley, California USA 1997-1998
Duckhorn Vineyards Estate Grown, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2000
Duckhorn Vineyard "Monitor Ledge Vineyard" St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2000
Duckhorn Vineyard "The Discussion Vineyard" St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2010
Duckhorn Vineyard "Patzimaro Vineyard" St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2000
Trinchero "Cloud's Nest Vineyard" Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley, California USA 2008
Trinchero "Haystack Vineyard" Atlas Peak, Napa Valley, California USA 2008
Trinchero "Mario's Reserve" St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2008
Ramey Wine Cellars "Annun" Oakville 60%, Napa Valley, California USA 2010
Smith-Madrone, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California USA 2009
St. Supéry “Dollars Hide, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California USA 2006
Venge Vineyards "Silencieux" Calistoga, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 2012
Guarachi Family Wines, Napa Valley, California USA 2002
Cosentino "M Coz" Yountville, Napa Valley, California USA 2000-2002-2003
Continuum Estate, Pritchard Hill, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California USA 2008
Wine Country & Napa County, California - YouTube