| So full disclosure, I'm not a native of California | | | | tradition. In many parts of France winemaking has |
| (although by some accounts I should be counted as | | | | not changed much, if at all in the 1,600 years wine |
| such), but I've lived here for the past twenty two | | | | has been being made there. Often Americans are |
| years....so I am partial to big, robust, powerful wines | | | | shocked by their wine tasting experiences in France |
| from Napa and Sonoma. | | | | because they arrive to find an old musty, dirty wine |
| For the record, this is the classic comparison in the | | | | cellar that is producing some of the greatest wine |
| wine industry, largely because Bordeaux and Napa are | | | | they have ever had the opportunity to taste. They |
| the two preeminent wine regions in the world today | | | | are also shocked when they find that tasting often |
| and both focus on exactly the same type of grapes. | | | | comes directly from the barrel, with any unused wine |
| The differences are vast between the wines | | | | being poured back into the barrel. |
| themselves though, largely because of the conditions | | | | Compare this type of picture to what you can find in |
| that they are grown and produced in. To start | | | | Napa where wineries have state of the art facilities. I |
| weather is a vital concern in France as their grapes | | | | do find it interesting that perhaps the most |
| can, in some years, struggle to reach full ripeness | | | | expensive facility in Napa, Vineyard 29, has spent so |
| because of inopportune cold spells in the summer. In | | | | much money in order to produce wine in the most |
| Napa, there is no such cause for concern. The | | | | historic way possible. Their goal is to have a wine |
| summers are almost always hot during the day and | | | | made without pumps, totally gravity driven....which |
| mild at night, perfect ripening conditions for grapes | | | | despite all this technology is amazingly similar to what |
| like Cabernet Sauvignon. | | | | the French winemakers produce on a yearly basis in |
| All of this is not to say that colder weather makes | | | | their antiquated facilities. |
| for bad wine, in fact far from it. Many people, myself | | | | Add it all up, which wines do I prefer? Simple, |
| included, believe that grapes which need to work | | | | depends on what I am eating. Honestly I do enjoy a |
| harder to ripen often carry more intense flavors | | | | great Bordeaux, especially when paired well with |
| because they grow in small quantities as well as in | | | | food, while I find it hard to believe that anything |
| smaller bunches. | | | | tastes better with a piece of grilled meat then a |
| The biggest difference between the two regions is | | | | great California Cabernet Sauvignon. |