California Wine Country Travel Agent Expert

  I savor being California’s wine country travel agent professional for the state has gained a reputation of wine-making that is next to none. Not only is the region revered, but it allows you to learn more about how the Golden State has influenced the art of winemaking over time. Indeed, the history spans back a long time - to the early eighteenth century. That is when Spanish missionaries carried vines from their European home and planted them for wine production and communion. A variety of grape, the mission grape, grew abundantly until about 1880. While southern California was a hub for wine through the first half of the nineteenth century. Gold Rush settlers headed north (from 1848 to 1885) to famous wine-making areas, such as Sonoma and the Napa Valley. Prohibition almost caused the industry to fold; however, a glitch in the law at the time permitted winemaking at home. After  a legal loophole was repealed, the University of California’s Viticulture and Enology program worked at restoring the damaged industry. In 1976, California wines received praise for their vintages when competing against famous French wines. From that time, the industry has flourished. The state, as of May 2019, boasts 139 American Viticultural Areas or AVAs. Grapes are grown from the Temecula Valley in the south to Shasta in the north.  Under the law, California wines must contain only grapes grown in the state. If an “AVA'' name is tagged on a label, at least 85% of the grapes must originate from an AVA area. In California, over 100 varieties of grapes are grown, with the number expanding. Chardonnay is the most popular wine with Cabernet Sauvignon coming in second.  Grapes, indigenous to other countries, such as Spain’s Albarino, wine, Portugal’s delectable Touriga  Nacional, and Italian Barbera, are scattered through California wine country vineyards. Vineyards of Zinfandel, the U.S. heritage grape, contain vines--some over a century old. As the largest maker of U.S. wine, California logged 4,282 thousands tons of wine in 2018. Most of the wine was made of red grapes, or 2,448 thousand tons of the fruit, while 1,834 grapes were used to produce white wines.  In addition, California has the most wineries nationwide - just over 4,500. Oregon and Washington also have wineries, but to a much lesser degree - around 800 wineries. Because California has a vast array of vineyards and wineries, it has created a haven for anyone who wishes to retreat to this serene and lovely area. Wine country offers the visitor an abundance of bed-and-breakfasts, luxury resort locations, and spas that pamper and rejuvenate. If you’re a wine lover, I insist you take  a look at the holiday offerings in this beautiful region. You can take part in wine tastings and other rewarding epicurean activities. Restaurants offer unique dining experiences that feature seasonal cuisine. Moreover, the surrounding area comprises the highest volume of three-star Michelin restaurants in the country. You will love California’s wine country once you get a taste of it. Call me or email me about planning the ideal wine country vacation. I look forward to serving as your travel agent and advisor.