|
||||
|
Out of the 865,000 acres of vines, a little more then half are used for the purpose of wine. Most of the remaining regions produce raisins, and 10% are picked as sugar-rich table grapes. By comparison, California has about 50% more land devoted to wine than Bordeaux, and produces three times as much wine. This is because the grapes yield of 95- 190hl/ha in the interior valley. Napa and Sonoma average around 50hl/ha; similar to Bordeaux.
The diversity of California’s wines is a product of the almost unlimited array of growing sites; i.e.: grapes are grown in 47 of the state’s 58 counties. California can be divided into three main climate zones. They are from west to east:
As far as quality wine production goes, the coastal region would be the most important; which include the regions close to the Pacific, such as: Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Lake County, Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, Livermore Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains around San Francisco Bay, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County. The ocean is a tremendous blessing to these areas, providing bay and river fogs that keep daytime temperatures down. This allows the natural acidity in grapes to be retained, so that the quality in grapes is retained, and, therefore, the quality table wines- crisp and lively- can be produced. The greatest proportion of land tied up with vines, and the highest concentration of wineries can be found in Napa and Sonoma.
Standard table wines (“Jug wines”) come from the Central Valley. Up to 85% of California wines originate in this fertile farmland that stretches from Bakersfield to just north of Sacramento. The great valley is also the source of superb dessert wines. California is also home to the world’s most productive winery- Gallo, which is in the Central Valley. We at Valerie Fitzgerald and Associates realize that you are in the information gathering stage of your purchase and we respect your privacy. Should you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@valeriefitzgerald.com or call us directly at 310-285-7515. If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home, please note that we can provide detailed information and access to:
You can count on the services of Valerie Fitzgerald and Associates to provide you with information you can trust.
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
