| The association of the California style of wine with | | | | first European table grape varietals plantation |
| deep flavors, forward fruits, high alcohol and a hint of | | | | cultivated by Jean-Louis Vignes, in 1833. Richard |
| oak, is a thing of the past. However, its a common | | | | Henry Dana discussed the wine of early California in |
| belief that America witnessed an increase in the | | | | his historic account of life on the California coast, in |
| revenue of the wine industry, in recent times. The | | | | 1934. George Calvert Yount planted the first vineyard |
| U.S. and Canada were previously accused of favoring | | | | in Napa Valley, in 1836. |
| beer and spirits over wine, till the magical effects of | | | | In the mid nineteenth century, most of the table |
| wine were discovered by the present generation. | | | | wines consumed in California were Portuguese |
| The burgeoning California wine industry has an origin, | | | | imports. Portuguese red wine, cooked in the sun on |
| prior to the Prohibition in the 1920s. Over 140 | | | | sailing ships and inadvertently oxidized, was made |
| wineries had sprouted all over the Napa Valley alone, | | | | palatable by sweetening them. This led to the |
| in 1889. | | | | commercialization of Madeira wines, one of the most |
| The Spanish government banned wine grape | | | | preferred wines in America. Till date, whenever wines |
| cultivation in Mexico after the wine industry started | | | | take on a tinge of brown because of being old or |
| competing with Spanish imports, in the late 16th | | | | due to poor cellaring, they are said to be maderized. |
| century. The effects of the prohibition were evident | | | | However, consumerism has played a significant role in |
| in Mexico till the 20th century. The California missions, | | | | determining the quality, quantity and even the |
| throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, needed wine | | | | process involved in wine making. The English designed |
| on a regular basis. Fr. Junipero Serra at the Mission | | | | a rating system for French wines in the eighteenth |
| San Diego de Alcala planted the first vineyard of | | | | century and also created Sherry and Madeira. |
| California in 1769. Fr. Serra brought the Mission grape | | | | Consumerism steered the California wine industry and |
| to California, supposedly from cuttings brought from | | | | later the market determined that the wines should be |
| South America. Though, initially this grape was not | | | | a little sweet and smooth on the palate. In addition, |
| considered to be ideal as a table wine, by the mid | | | | the market demanded that the acid level should be |
| nineteenth century over 4,000 acres were cultivated | | | | low. Thus, owing to these requirements, the wine |
| around the missions. | | | | industry had to turn grapes used for making table |
| Immediately after the Santa Cruz Mission, in 1804, | | | | wines for processing several base wines. |
| vineyards were planted throughout California. Owing | | | | Unlike cheese lovers, wine lovers have better |
| to the deforestation by the lumber industry, | | | | options, as they can find good wines in the |
| vineyards sprouted up on the Santa Cruz Mountains | | | | supermarkets, provided they know which ones to |
| in the following years. Padre Jose Altimira planted | | | | choose. The market is the most powerful factor that |
| several thousand grape vines at the northernmost | | | | determines not only which varietals will sink or swim, |
| mission, twenty years after that. Los Angeles had its | | | | but also which ones will thrive. |