Europeans and the French in particular are a bit snobbish about their wines. Of course they have good reason to be. For years it was generally accepted that wines produced in the regions of France were unmatched. This theory is changing, but it's been a long and hard struggle. California wine history is filled with triumphs and failures, but the assumption that good wine can only come from France has literally been blown out of the water.
Wine is made in almost all US states. California however produces the most and the best.
It has taken a long time to reach this point. In fact the first vineyard in California was started well before the US even became a country. It was in 1769 that a Franciscan missionary first did his planting. By the time the 20th century rolled around there was a commercial enterprise set up for California wines. Then came prohibition. Naturally this was devestating to the entire wine industry. During the "dry" period from 1920 to 1933, only a few producers were issued exemptions. And only if they could prove they provided sacramental wine for the church, or if they could show they were in the health tonic market. The vast majority however went out of business. There were some who secretly made wine on a small scale in back rooms to service bootleggers, but for the most part wine making as an art was no longer practiced.
By the time prohibition was repealed, it was way too late for most suppliers. The entire industry had to be rebuilt from the ground up.
But it was rebuilt with a renewed sense of purpose. Producers were determined to put California wines on the map. By the 1960's California was producing world class wines, but no one seemed ready to admit it except the producers themselves. These wines were nothing more than intruders on the international wine scene. What was needed was a stage, and that stage was provided in 1976 at the Paris Wine Tasting competition. The judges were all French, and the tasting was done blind. California outshined the competion, with superior entries every time. It was then that the attitudes began to change. Respect was hard earned, but it was earned.
And the results of 1976 were no fluke either. Those same wines were tested again in contests in 1986 and 2006. The results showed the California wines actually aged better than the French equivalents. Most experts now agree that California wines are at least equal to French wines, and many believe them to be superior. The word quickly spread, but not resting on it's laurels, the California wine industry also came out with a carefully crafted marketing plan. The result is that California wines are best sellers around the globe.
The fact that the snobbish attitudes are diminishing has not only opened a door for California wines, but for wine makers around the globe. Wine producing countries like Chile, Australia and South Africa are now riding on the coattails of California's great success. Why not check out some great California wines and see for yourself.
 WineClubWestCoast - $ 39.95 Take a West Coast wine tour from the comfort of your own home. California, Oregon and Washington wineries showcase the best of what America has to offer. |
