California wines - a selection of fine wines

The California wines account for more than seventy percent of the country's wine production. Within this state, it is the Napa county and the Sonoma county that lead the California wines list of honours by generating the lion's share.

The unique soil and climatic condition of these regions, referred to as the "terroir" by the French, are the prime driving factors behind this bounty. The undulating, wide mountains, and the spread-out valleys have been formed after a long geological process that saw repeated submerging of vast tracts of land in the oceans, leading to sedimentation rich in content covering the crust. This sedimentation has been further fortified by the magma thrown out of the earth's mantle, as a result of earthquakes and volcanoes. This is borne out by the fact that the topography of the state is younger than the soils that cover it.

One can see the glory of the California wines beginning from the Oak Knoll area in the Napa county. A major chunk - about thirty five thousand acres - of the entire Napa Valley appellation is covered by the trellises of the vineyards. There are more than a thousand owners who own pockets of this vast acreage, with about sixty-six percent of them carrying out their businesses in vineyards that are smaller than forty acres.

In the list of California wines that have won hearts the world over, Chardonnay occupies prime space. Several varieties of Chardonnay are grown here - one can find fresh, crisp Chardonnay sitting next to a bottle of rich,
complex Chardonnay. This diversity of variety , along with its buttery roundness,
enables Chardonnay to become a best accompaniment for any number of food preparations.

The Zinfandel was the predominant grape grown in Californian valleys till the late nineteenth century. Even today, of the total acreage of this varietal in the world, the highest area can be found in this state. The Zinfandel has the distinction of being vinified into both a red and a white wine, thus catering to every category of wine lovers. In its red avatar, it comes across as a light wine; while in the white color, its flavor is rich and complex. This gives the wine a must-have status in parties and get-togethers.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex grape. One can still come across California wines made from this grape belonging to the nineteenth century if one is fortunate enough. Aged Cabernets pair best with many different kinds of cheeses, and the younger wines go along quite well with red meat.

Wines made from Merlot hit the popularity charts of Californian wines in the late sixties. They have a very delicate cherry-like aroma, with soft tannins; thus making them an attractive wine at a relatively young age. Merlots give dishes such as pork and veal that extra dosh.

The Sauvignon Blanc is also sold by the California vintners under the name of Fume Blanc. This wine has a certain kind of tautness about it. Fermented in barrels, the most distinctive flavour of this wine is that of green herbs and
herbal tea.

The Sangiovese varietal was introduced to the Californian vineyards from Italy.The wine gives the delicious taste of cherries and spice, and can enhance the experience of a wide spectrum of mushroom and cheese dishes.

Among the list of Californian wines can be included such varietals also, as the Cabernet Franc, the Pinot Noir, and the Rhone varietals such as the Syrah and Viognier. The harvesting season every year begins with a lot of rituals and pomp that bless its practitioners with prosperity during the entire year.

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