Why California wine is the best
America ranks fourth worldwide, in terms of wine production; thanks to the substantial quantities produced in the Golden State of California. Amazingly, California wine production accounts for about 90% of all US wine production. To be specific, California produces over seventeen million gallons of wine annually.
The following are the major US states known for wine production.
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California (2025 wineries)
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Washington (451 wineries)
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Oregon (295 wineries)
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New York (239 wineries)
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Virginia (140 wineries)
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Texas (136 wineries)
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Pennsylvania (115 wineries)
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Michigan (112 wineries)
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Ohio (108 wineries)
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Missouri (86 wineries)
That said, when many people talk about California wine, they mostly talk about Napa Valley wines, forgetting that there are other notable wine-producing regions like Santa Barbra, Sonoma, and California’s central coast.
So why is California wine so highly regarded?
- Tasty and great on the tongue. – California wine is rich in fruit. The state’s year-round beautiful weather allows your drinks to feature some of the tastiest fruit in the world. The fruity flavors of the California production are very noticeable to the extent that even a novice can distinguish the sensation from other wines.
- High quality – The California wine industry is over 250 years old. Over the years, California’s talented winemakers have incorporated tradition, art, science and innovation to create quality products. In addition, California’s climate and geography are also ideal for growing vines, making the grapes that are produced stand out from the rest.
- Awards and international recognition – Over the years, the quality of California wine has greatly improved and this has led to greater international recognition. In an event marked as The Judgment of Paris, California wine surprised the world by winning the wine competition in both the white and red wine categories. In 2006, in a blind tasting event known as the Rematch of the Century, the same California wines were tested again and came out winners. Shock hit everyone once again at the 2013 Tête de Cuvée when California sparkling wines took the day. To appreciate these award-winning sparkling wines, every United States presidential administration has served them at official state events, since 1972.
- choice and variety – Chardonnay is a California favorite, but the Napa Valley also produces tasty Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sonoma area is renowned for its collection of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and sparkling wines. Simply put, there is a plethora of great varietals for all kinds of wine enthusiasts in California.
All said and done, although other states like Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington produce this specialty drink, California is way ahead of them.