Shop all wines from California Add a comment Get updates on this region

Californian Wine

View / Add Images

Viticulture in California began in the 1700s as Spanish missionaries worked their way north from the South American colonies. Grapes (of the Mission, a.k.a. Pais, variety) were originally planted with the intention of producing ceremonial wine and the first wineries were established for the cultivation of Mission grapes. From these beginnings, Parisian oenologist Jean Louis Vignes is credited with being the first person to import European vines for general consumption to Los Angeles in 1833.

This was followed in the 1850’s with Hungarian businessman Agoston Haraszthy, who came to California after establishing businesses in Wisconsin. Finding the prevalent Mission grape to be of inferior quality, he began to select high quality vines from Europe and established vineyards in Crystal Springs outside San Francisco with the help of a government viticulture grant. Though found culpable for some shady business practices outside the wine industry, he was able to relocate his vines from Crystal Springs to a vineyard in Sonoma, which he renamed Buena Vista. He joined forces with General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, who had relocated from Baja and planted more vitis vinifera as well as the first Zinfandel plantings in the state. Haraszthy is credited with starting hillside planting as well as using a Chinese immigrant labor force to dig the first caves for cool temperature cellaring.

The 1860s marked tragedy for the European wine industry as the Phylloxera crisis took hold and destroyed most of the vines, and this spread to the vitis vinifera in the states. After discovering that precious grapes could be salvaged by grafting native American root stock to European vines, California rebounded quickly as Europe began its slow recovery into the 19th century. This was an opportunity for the expansion and export boom of California wine until the Prohibition put an abrupt halt on the industry from 1919 - 1933. And the rest of the world drank on.

But the California wine industry came back as American Viticultural Areas (AVA’s), akin to the European appellation system, were established. The 1950s - 1980s marked an era of divurging tastes. This was a time of cheap jug wine, bastardization of European grapes and places (Fume Blanc and Rhine wine anyone?) and the proliferation of super fruity blush wines, or “white Zinfandel,” to mass produce releases that were considered more suitable for the average American palate. At the same time, wine-makers began cultivating high quality wines that matched, and in many cases, exceeded the reputation of big name labels from overseas. The real turning point came in 1976 in the infamous Judgement of Paris in which wines from California producers bested some of the finest French wines to win the competition in blind tastings. This is also the era of the “Rhone Rangers” movement to advance the quality production of Rhone varietals which had previously been underused in favor of Bordeaux grapes.

Today, California is still a mix of mass production and artisanal wine-making, and there is debate over what can be considered a distinctly “California” style of wine. For every oak-driven Chardonnay there is another producer finding ways to vinify Italian or Spanish varietals, previously unknown to US soil, using native yeasts and judicious oak treatment. For every $1000 bottle of cult Cabernet there are humble wineries churning out accessible small productions for the sheer purpose of maximum enjoyment. With its various microclimates and terroirs and the range of grapes and styles being implemented, California has proven to be a region with something for every palate. ~Amanda Schuster

– Description from Amanda Schuster (hide)

Add description View 2 descriptions »

View more
Popular wines made in California under $20

Browse similar wines in your zipcode:Submit

Interested in this topic? Curate this page. (?)

People getting updates on this region

http://www.snooth.com/profiles/tmpape/ tmpape
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/kate+statton/ kate statton
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/tiztiz/ tiztiz
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/Lgolini/ Lgolini
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/ShipFaced/ ShipFaced
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/cbb494sgf/ cbb494sgf
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/snappytime/ snappytime
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/krph/ krph
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/SONNYS/ SONNYS
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/brizzer1/ brizzer1
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/Roulee+Lescano/ Roulee Lescano
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/Jennifer+S+Kilburn/ Jennifer S Kilburn
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/suziecunha/ suziecunha
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/assessor/ assessor
http://www.snooth.com/profiles/sdswfla/ sdswfla

View all followers

Related profiles

Popular subregions in California

Popular Varietals from California

Updates to California

Aug 18, 2011 at 10:58am

870341Amanda Schuster edited a description for California
Aug 16, 2011 at 2:34pm

870341Amanda Schuster added a description for California
Aug 1, 2011 at 10:59am

803609Hana Choi added a description for California

Page 1 of 1,000
California on Snooth

May 2012

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Laurène Pinot Noir Red Hills Estate 2008

Snoothrank: Starting at $32^.99

(my wine said "Dundee Hills" not "Red Hills") look = 6/10, smell = 12/20, taste = 13/20; total = 31/50

Wine review by mistersplice
May 2012

Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon

Snoothrank:

Decent Cab for the price. Light bodied and easy to drink. Not too much structure but a decent Cabernet to enjoy with friends.

Wine review by Stallion
May 2012

Trahan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Snoothrank:

Pours a bright and rich purple-ish red color. Lots of dark berries and dark fruit with some cedar and mocha undertones. Starts off with a rich amount of black and blueberries. Very fruit forward. In the middle, the mocha and cedar undertones come through nicely. Finishes with a... Read more

Wine review by steve16046
May 2012

337 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Snoothrank:

Easy drinker. Very balanced with soft tannins and light acidity. Much lighter body than I expected as well.

Wine review by Eric Tinch
May 2012

Had the pleasure of atending the 2nd annual Historic Vineyard Society Vineyard ... of Zinfandel. Considered a California wine she traced its roots, and for that matter DNA, back to Italy and then across the Baltic to a small town on the coast of Croatia where the original planting... Read more

Forum post in the topic Sonoma Zinfandel / Historic...
May 2012

Saxum Syrah Broken Stones 2004

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by jamlani
May 2012

Beaulieu Vineyard Zinfandel Coastal Estates 2010

Snoothrank:

Upon opening had a very strong aroma of what reminded me of mixed berry jam with a hints of oak. As to the taste I got an initial hint of raspberry's the changed into a warm black peppery taste with hints of chilli's and finished with notes of black cherries. I'm usually not a very... Read more

Wine review by Casey84
May 2012

Signaterra Sauvignon Blanc Shone Farm Vineyard 2010

Snoothrank:

Crisp and refreshing

Wine review by kells277
May 2012

Michael and David Phillips Earthquake Zinfandel Lodi 2010

Snoothrank:

Contained fruitbomb that is oaky and decadent, this goes great with baby back ribs

Wine review by aronowm2
May 2012

Kendall Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve 2010

Snoothrank:

Its okay.

Wine review by DEReam13