Californian Wine

California has a long tradition of wine making going back to 1788. Almost as large as France, if California was a separate country, it would be the world's fourth-largest wine producer! The mid-19th century saw the wine industry take hold in Northern California in the counties of Sonoma and Napa. By the beginning of the 20th Century worldwide recognition seemed imminent, but then Prohibition arrived. Vineyards were uprooted and cellars destroyed.

By the time Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Californian wine making had been decimated. It took time to recover from this setback, but a new wave of winemakers helped usher in a renaissance with an emphasis on quality. In 1976 Californian red and white wines finally arrived when they beat French offerings at a tasting event – the Judgment of Paris. Today there are more than 1,200 wineries in the state, ranging from small boutique operations to large corporations. The quality, variety and standard of California wines matches the best available.