Home » Food & Cooking

White Wines of California

Ranked #16,608 in Food & Cooking, #292,206 overall

All you need to know about California White Wine

The renaissance of the California wine industry began only about forty years ago. Within that short period of time, some 1,700 new wineries have been established in California. Today, there are more than 1,900 wineries in California, most of them making more than one wine, and the price differences are reflected in the styles.

This lens should help familiarize you with the best white wines of California, a brief history of the state, the trends and more!

Learn more about California's incredible rise

No winegrowing area in the world has come so far so quickly as California. It seems ironic, because Americans historically have not been very interested in wine. But from the moment Americans first became "wine conscious," winemakers in California rose to the challenge.

Thirty years ago we were asking if California wines were entitled to be compared to European wines. Now California wines are available worldwide - exports have increased dramatically in recent years to countries such as Japan, Germany, and England. California produces more than 90 percent of U.S. wine and there are more than 60,000 wine labels registered in California. If the state were a nation, it would be the third leading wine producer in the world!

Overheard at a restaurant in Napa

"How do you make a small fortune in the wine business?" "Start with a large fortune and buy a winery."

Best Bets for California Chardonnay

What are the best vintages in California Chardonnay?

When purchasing a bottle for dinner or a special occasion, remember that the major regions for great California Chardonnay are Carneros, Napa, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma. Here are the best years from these spots:

- 1999
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005

After several great years, all of these are exceptional vintages. 2005 especially is an exceptionally good year.

Kevin Zraly's Favorite California Chardonnays

Some 800 different California Chardonnays are available to the consumer - here are some of the best producers.

1

Vote Up
Vote Down

wineresource

Wine Types, Storing, and Pouring2 points

2

Vote Up
Vote Down

Different Types of Wines

Robin Garr's Wine Lovers'It's a 'snob-free zone' f more...1 point

3

Vote Up
Vote Down

History of Wine

Robin Garr's Wine Lovers'It's a 'snob-free zone' f more...1 point

4

Vote Up
Vote Down

wine definitions

Robin Garr's Wine Lovers'It's a 'snob-free zone' f more...1 point

5

Vote Up
Vote Down

Chardonnay

A simple explanation1 point

11

Vote Up
Vote Down

Beringer

0 points

13

Vote Up
Vote Down

Arrowood

0 points

14

Vote Up
Vote Down

Acacia

0 points

18

Vote Up
Vote Down

Brunello di Montalcino

1997 CAMIGLIANO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RESERVA MAG more...0 points

19

Vote Up
Vote Down

banfi chianti

Banfi Wine, Banfi Chianti, Banfi Cabernet Sauvigno more...0 points

20

Vote Up
Vote Down

barolo wine

barolo wine, Banfi Chianti, Banfi Cabernet Sauvign more...0 points

21

Vote Up
Vote Down

Wine by the Month

Wine by the Month is a wonderful way to explore ne more...0 points

22

Vote Up
Vote Down

Wine Club|Wine Clubs|Wine of the Month Club

|Join one of Uncorked Ventures three wine clubs an more...0 points

23

Vote Up
Vote Down

Cheap Replica Louis Vuitton Handbags

Welcome to our cheap replica louis vuitton handbag more...0 points

24

Vote Up
Vote Down

Types of Wine

How do you classify wines? If it's just on the bas more...0 points

Other major California white wine grapes

Try something new at the table

Sauvignon Blanc

Sometimes labeled Fumé Blanc. This is one of the grapes used in making the dry white wines of the Graves region of Bordeaux, and the white wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in the Loire Valley of France, as well as New Zealand. Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc makes one of the best dry white wines in the world. It is sometimes aged in small oak barrels and occasionally blended with the Sémillon grape.

Chenin Blanc

This is one of the most widely planded grapes in the Loire Valley. In California, the grape yields a very attractive, soft, light-bodied wine. It is usually made very dry or semi-sweet; it is a perfect apéritif wine, simple and fruity.

Viognier

One of the major white grapes from the Rhone Valley in France, Viognier thrives in warmer and sunny climates, so it's a perfect grape for the weather conditions in certain areas of California. It has a distinct fragrant bouquet. Not as full-bodied as most Chardonnays, nor as light as most Sauvignon Blancs, it's an excellent food wine.

Raise a Toast!

Share your thoughts on California White Wine

Have you had a great glass and willing to share? Want to give this lens a hearty cheers? Post here!

Show All

by

KevinZraly

Kevin is the winner of the '06 Wine Literary Award, European Wine Council's Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been featured in the NYTimes, Newsweek... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags