A Gift Of California White Wine

European countries like France...Chardonnay has remained the most popular white
...have been famous for fine wines for severalwine in the United States for close to fifty years.
hundreds of years so many people overlook theChardonnay grapes are extremely hardy and are
newer wine producers of California. Just becauseresistant to most horticultural diseases. This
their wineries are less than a century old does notmakes them very easy to grow and therefore
mean that they don't have some wonderfulthey are widely available for wine making. This
wines. In fact, California is now ranked fourth inease of growing in large quantities keep the prices
the world for wine production with only France,of the wines very reasonable so are suited to all
Italy and Spain producing more.budgets.
California is actually one of the ideal grape growingChardonnay is a white wine which is appealing to
regions of the world and close to a hundredmany palates due to it's full-bodied fruitiness. It's a
different grape varietals grow well there. Thisvery versatile wine and is often used for blending
state diverse micro-climates and varying soilto create many different vintages. Chardonnay is
conditions contribute to the great variety ofalso a dry wine which is heavily influenced by the
grapes that can be grown. Close proximity to thematerials used in the barrels during the aging
Pacific Ocean as well as the many bodies of freshprocess. Oak is popular for aging Chardonnays as
water found in California also plays an importantit lends a nutty, buttery note to the resulting wine.
factor in the quality of the grapes that growSauvignon Blanc grapes are growing on almost
there.14,000 acres of land in California's wine country.
California wine producing regions are separatedSince it is not as commonly known to wine
into five major regions, with a number of smallerdrinkers, you will find very economical vintages of
sub-regions (called appellations) within the fiveSauvignon Blanc that make it very inexpensive to
main areas. North Coast, Central Coast, Southerngive as a gift. It makes a wonderful hostess gift
California, Central Valley and the Sierra Foothillsoption due to it's ease of pairing with many food
are all excellent regions for wine grape growingcombinations.
and wine production. In order for a specificThis white wine tends to be intensely flavorful
appellation to be listed on the wine's label, at leastwith a tang often noted. While you can find
75% of the grapes used in production must haveSauvignon Blanc with classic flavor notes such as
originated in that sub-region.melon and passion fruit, it takes exceptionally well
Although California produces many varieties ofto herbal notes like lemongrass and gooseberry.
wine, it's reputation has been earned with the highThis wide range of flavors gives it mass appeal as
quality white wines that it creates. There arewell as lending itself well to blending.
several fine red wines that originate in CaliforniaEither of these lovely white wines will make a
but it they are really overshadowed by thesophisticated gift option while living within your
exceptionally fine white wines like Chardonnay andbudget.
Avignon Blanc.