California
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Wine arrived in California via the Spanish Mission chain, working its way northward from South America. Over the next four centuries the Golden State would strive to prove that it was the true Oenotria. By the second half of the 20th century, California was firmly established as one of the very best wine regions in the world.
      With 480,000 vineyard acres and 1200+ wineries producing an amazing 560 million gallons of wine annually, California is only exceeded by the national outputs of Italy, France, and Spain.
      Today, vineyards cover the state from north to south, and include just about every conceivable microclimate, with hospitable conditions for the cultivation of every classic wine variety, as well as a host of Californian originals. With such diversity, California can not be taken seriously as a "distinct" region. Within the state, almost 90 different American Viticultural Areas have already been officially recognized by the TTB, with many more pending. California vintners can produce every wine type and style imaginable, from dry to dessert, fortified, and sparkling. For the wine consumer, California is the one-stop-shopping destination with a wine for every palate. For this same reason California, used as an appellation, can only be a guarantee of broadest-origin (and nothing more), and wines carrying the California appellation are likely to be blends of fruit originating from a number of more specific (and distinct) appellations within the state.

Current Feature

In the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Georgia vineyards are small and few, yet the establishment of the Upper Hiwassee Highlands could bring much more.  [>] continue


Appellation Features

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Best of Appellation

See the best wines of California

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California

BLUE BOOK PROFILES

Blue Book Taste Profiles for the California State Appellation

Chardonnay

Dry Rosé

Petite Sirah

Alive & Well here


Chardonnay: You are the world’s greatest star. Your fame has infiltrated every nook and cranny of the globe, regardless  [>] continue

Recommendations

Quick Finds

Q: What are the most recognized grapes grown here?
Q: What wines are produced here?

The AppellationAmerica database identifies 1177 wines labeled with the California designation.

[>] see the complete California Wine List.
Q: What wineries are based here ?
Q: What other wineries source fruit here ?
Q: What are the overlapping appellations ?

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Featured Wines



Thomas Fogarty Winery 2003 Barbiolo Taking our inspiration from the blends of the Langhe in the Piedmont Region of northern Italy, this blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo has aromas and flavors of earth and dried cherries balanced by firm tannins and great acidity.
buy wine $35.00

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Winery Sponsors

Winery sponsors of Appellation America’s coverage of the California appellation.