Nappa Valley & California Wines
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Contemporary wines from America only started production around the early 19th century. Wines made from grapes grown in American soil are not the typical European variety which is the Vitis vinifera, but from wild grapes like the Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia and Vitis rupestris and wine made from these varieties often have a strange animal smell to them.
One of Americas key wine pioneers was Agoston Harazthy, that some considered the godfather of California wine. Harazthy was responsible for shipping cuttings of different European grape varieties into the region.
In 1983, United States implemented its own version of the appellation system which consists of geographically defined American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). The system is used to inform consumers that the wines using the individually designated AVA names must contain no less than 80 percent of grapes grown in that area.
California can be considered the epicenter of the American wine industry, this is because 90 percent of American wines are made in California. California is also known as Americas wine country. California wine made history in 1976 when during a comparative blind taste-off in Paris, the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay (1973) and Stags Leap Cabernet (1973) came out as winners beating all other wines from Europe. The victory was given by an all French judging panel which caused quite an outcry and sparked a tidal wave that swept California wines into Europe. Sonoma is reputed to have Californias oldest wineries like the Buena Vista that was established by Agoston Haraszthy in the 19th century and Sebastini.
Napa Valley is the regional frontrunner of Californian wines. The land of Napa Valley has been planted with vines to a capacity that forms a virtual grape monoculture. Napa Valley to California is what Cote dOr is to France. Napa Valley stretches about 20 miles but has an amazing degree of climatic variations from cool and foggy in Sonoma to dry and hot in Calistoga. In 1990, the Napa AVA was further organized into smaller appellations based on the two main towns along the valley, they are Calistoga, St.Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville and Napa. Some of the very best Chardonnay, Merlots and Cabernets are made in Napa Valley and they vary in styles according to the individual winemakers philosophies and traits. Some of the great winemakers are based in this region, like Heitz Cellars, Niebaum-Coppola, Robert Mondavi, Beringer and Swanson. Meanwhile Stags Leap District north of the town of Napa is home to the Stags Leap Winery that produces the finest Californian Cabernets and Merlots. Towards the east of the valley is La Jota that makes one of the most concentrated Cabernet to the pleasure of Cabernet lovers followed by Mount Veeder, sharing borders with Napa and Sonoma. Mount Veeder has the Hess Collection which produces the most distinguished Chardonnays and Cabernets. Other good Napa wineries are Silverado, Newton, Joseph Phelps, ZD, Vichon, Grgich Hills, Trefethen, Caymus and Cuvaison.
Cuvee Napa and Schramsberg are the two leading producers of sparkling wine which utilizes the champagne method.
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