White Wines of California

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!

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.

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.