California’s climate is dramatically shaped by two mountain ranges, both running roughly north-south; the Coast Range, a series of low peaks hugging the Pacific and the much higher Sierra Nevada some 200km inland. In between the two ranges is the Central Valley, home to ¬many of the grapes that go into the state’s budget wines. Along the western side of the Coast Range, the climate is dominated by the Pacific Ocean and here you will find the best wine counties such as Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara.
And, as May is Californian Wine Month at Corks Out with tastings in all of our stores it seems appropriate to talk about some real gems. There are over 1100 wineries in California ranging from the mighty Gallo to many minnows.
I recently visited the Napa Valley and was very impressed with the changes since my last trip over 5 years ago. The whites, particularly the Chardonnay’s were very elegant and quite European in style, none of that overblown oaky character that makes you feel like you’re chewing on a plank of wood! And I tasted some superb wines from the famous Shafer family, the old boy John was a real hoot and they certainly make classic Merlot and prized Cabernet, some of the best I have tasted, it’s hardly surprising that his Cab beat some of the top Bordeaux growths in a blind tastings.
Then there’s the Kendall Jackson stable, a company with a philosophy to allow small wineries to flourish as individual under their ownership, thus propagating the “micro-winery” concept. The Highland Estates range is made by oddball winemaker Randy Ullom (he is not allowed to leave the US!) and his Taylor Peak Merlot from Bennett Valley in Sonoma is stunning. His own tasting note reads: “Rich and round, with Santa Rosa plum and chocolate flavours.”
So, it is time to stock up with Governor Schwarzenegger in the celebration of Californian wines. Hasta la Vista Baby!
Yours in wine,
Ruth
Last updated: April 30, 2010