California is widely regarded as one of the best places to live, not just in the U.S, but in the world. A spate of American television series such as The O.C, One Tree Hill and Laguna Beach depict the state in a warm fuzzy light. California is in some ways set apart from the rest of the U.S in that it is more democratic, diverse, open minded and health conscious. California for example was one of the first states to embrace restrictions on smoking in public places. It is not all sunshine and lollipops however; L.A still suffers from over-crowdedness, pollution and crime problems, while the Hollywood region is associated with narcissism and over-indulgence. California also has a booming wine industry, although its reputation has also been tarnished by inferior brands such as Blossom Hill and Echo Falls.

While these mass-produced budget wines, chastised by critics are often the first that come to mind when we think about Californian wine, it would be a mistake to write off the area as there are some fantastic varieties currently being made in the sunshine state. J.Lohr are an up and coming producer with over nine-hundred acres of vineyards in Monterey and Paso Robles churning out some stunning grapes including Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Merlot. Jerry Lohr, founder of J.Lohr Wines really put the Californian central coast on the wine producing map, planting 280 acres of grapes in 1972 in this region with one of the longest growing seasons in all of California.

J.Lohr has gone from strength to strength as a specialist boutique winery offering some unique flavours; one such example is the award winning Merlot Los Osos from 2007. This hails from the warm Paso Roubles region which offers wonderfully ripe varieties, this particular red spends eleven months in primarily American oak giving a ‘turbo-charged’ experience of cherry and blackberry with undertones of earthy oak. A medium to full-bodied wine, this would perfectly compliment a roast pork dish or duck with Plum sauce. Ignore the stigma associated with Californian vino and give J.Lohr a whirl, you might be pleasantly surprised!

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