| Wine making in California, otherwise known as the | | | | flavour of the grapes, as well as the general condition |
| Golden State, can be traced back to late in the 18th | | | | of the vineyard are important to the wine maker, |
| century, when Spanish missionaries from Mexico | | | | and as such close lines of communication must be |
| arrived in California with knowledge of the wine | | | | kept between the growers and the wine makers |
| making process. California has the perfect climate for | | | | from the time the grapes are growing till when they |
| growing grapes, and with some two and half | | | | arrive at the wine press. Many times the wine maker |
| centuries of experience the region produces some of | | | | and vineyard manager work together with a common |
| the best wines in the world, much to the delight of | | | | goal and idea of what type of wine they will produce. |
| American wine enthusiasts. | | | | After Italy, France and Spain, California's production |
| Indeed California's wines are in high demand, with an | | | | of wine is the fourth largest in the world. Eighteen |
| average increase in international sales of just under | | | | percent of all wine produced in this region is exported |
| 20% per year over the last twenty years. Even | | | | to 125 countries around the world, including Britain, |
| recent years have shown the immense growth in | | | | Canada, Germany and Japan. There are wines |
| Californian wine making, with 850 wine cellars in 1998, | | | | produced to cater for all price brackets, from wines |
| steady growth in the industry means that today | | | | lining supermarket shelves to exclusive wines that are |
| there are over 1,300 wineries in the Golden State. | | | | harder to get hold of. |
| More than forty red wine grape varietals and over 26 | | | | Reliable quality standards and diversity are what |
| white wine grape varietals are produced in California. | | | | California wines are known for. This is because of a |
| Some experts point to a trend in Californian wine | | | | combination of elements; the wine makers in the |
| making over the last two decades which has shown | | | | region have a strongly developed sense of |
| a marked shift in the attitude of wine makers | | | | individuality, coupled with international experience in |
| concerning the importance of the vineyards and the | | | | many cases, and the variety of micro-climates and |
| wine grape. Today the wine maker's knowledge of a | | | | soil types also play a large role in creating a diverse |
| the vineyard from which grapes will be sourced is | | | | wine producing area consisting of almost 100 grape |
| considered to be one of the most important aspects | | | | varietals. |
| of the wine maker's job. The ripeness, acid levels and | | | | |