Why West Coast Wineries are the Best in the World
Californian wine is renowned for being some of the best in the world. The Golden State creates almost ninety per cent of American wine production with over two thousand five hundred wineries located in different regions of California. These vary from large, well known corporations such as Gallo and Franzia to family owned, boutique vineyards. The Sunshine Mountain Vineyard is based in Southern California between San Diego and Temecula, above the community of San Marcos, where its southern facing slopes benefit from the morning sun and evening breeze.
But why is California in general such a popular and productive place when it comes to wine making? Some say that it is down to the perfect combination of weather, terrain and soil needed to grow the special grapes that produce Californian wine. Indeed, it certainly seems to possess all of the essential criteria detailed below.
Weather – Sun and Fog
Despite an array of varying micro climates that differ from region to region, it is fair to say that California in general boasts moderate temperatures all year long and is a habitually sunny state. The warmth of the sun is essential when growing grapes as it encourages the vines to metabolize and opens the pores of the leaves which then begin to produce sugar. This sugar is transferred into the grapes where it begins to convert into different flavours. Being heavily exposed to sunlight and high temperatures allows both red and white grapes to mature thereby increasing the quality of the wine and making them fuller bodied.
Similarly, fog is also an important component in wine making as the moisture within fog helps the grapes recuperate from water lost during the long, warm days.California is well known for having foggy, humid mornings particularly on the coast and in the valleys. This is due to the coolness of the Pacific Ocean conflicting with the daytime heat and provides an ideal climate for grape growing.
Terrain – Slopes and Hills
California is a diverse state in terms of geology. It holds lots of flat, agricultural farmland throughout Central Valley, but there are also areas of terrain that are made up of slopes, hills and ripples. These slopes are ideal for vineyards to grow on as they can aid in water drainage which will ensure that vines will not sit in soil that is too wet. This is important because a lack of water is needed to encourage the roots to delve deep underground to seek out water and nutrients. This makes the vines stressed so that they focus their energy and sugar into the grapes rather than the leaves.
Vines that grow on slopes will also receive a higher volume of sunlight because the rays hit the slope at a perpendicular angle whereas on flat terrain they are diluted over a greater area mass.
Earth – Soil Conditions
There are few places on earth where you can find glaciers and deserts, mountain ranges and beaches and farmland and cities all in one state. Like everything else in California, the soil conditions are diverse and varied and this doesn’t just apply to different regions – often several types of soil can be found in one vineyard and even on the same slope. People are often surprised to learn that wine grapes do not thrive best in particularly fertile soil and Californian vineyards are mostly found on land that couldn’t support other crops.
Californian wine makers are able to recognise the distinctions, qualities and minerals within different types of limestone, clay and other soils and utilise them to make the best Californian wines.
So it appears that the West Coast is rich in all of the elements needed to produce fine wines. Of course there are other areas of the world that have similar qualities such as Bordeaux in France which is still classed as one of the best wine making regions in the world. However during a blind wine tasting competition called The Judgement of Paris in 1976, Californian wine beat French wine in both the red and white categories which caused surprise as, at that time, France was considered to be the country in which the world’s best wines were produced. This, along with the twentieth century wine renaissance and its ongoing success as a wine producing region, has seen Californian wine soar in popularity.
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Sarah Chubb is a freelance writer from England who specialises in writing about self improvement. She also writes on behalf of a number of good causes including drug treatment and alcohol rehabilitation facilities. Wine has many great health benefits, but only when consumed in moderation.
Can You Recognize A Wine’s Small Imperfections?
The finer points of fine wine: imperfections
Alterations of the wine’s properties do not automatically entail that the winemaking processes was flawed. In fact, most of the time, modifications in the wine’s taste, color and smell are the result of improper handling and inappropriate storage conditions. While most wine enthusiasts regard the minor flaws as a plus to the wine, it is necessary to underline that the acceptable threshold is very low. Here is a list of the most common imperfections and how you can recognize them the next time you take a wine tasting San Diego trip.
Oxygen-related flaws
Most modifications associated with exposure to oxygen result from improper storage of the wine bottles. Essentially, if you decide to store the bottles in an upright position, then the cork can dry in time and allow air into the bottle. The contact with air for prolonged periods will first modify the original taste of the wine, turning it sherry-like or dull. Moreover, excessive exposure to air will also alter the color of the wine – mostly noticeable for white wine – which will take on a dark yellow or brownish color.
Very rarely, the wine can begin to develop a nail polish remover or vinegar odor. The main cause for this phenomenon is related to the presence of a type of bacteria species found on grapes and winemaking equipment. In other words, the contact of the bacterium with air will cause the wine to oxidize. While some connoisseurs prefer a small level of volatile acidity in their wine, others might consider the beverage spoiled.
Cork-related imperfections
In the eventuality that the wine spreads a scent of basement mildewed or humid cardboard, then the most probable cause is that the smell is associated with a tainted cork. The off-aroma is common for corks that have been accidentally tainted with TCA, a powerful compound that can be transferred from the wood wine equipment to the cork. Even though the odor might lead you to believe that it is unsafe to drink, it does not pose any health threats. Nonetheless, TCA ruins the taste of the wine and it is not acceptable in any quantity.
Heat-related alterations
In general, wine that has been exposed to heat is often dubbed by connoisseurs as maderized. Even though in Madeira exposing wine to heat is a common practice that is believed to nurture its character, not many people from the rest of the world appreciate the brown color and cooked-like smell proprietary to maderized wine. Therefore, unless you are a big fan of the Madeira wines, we strongly recommend you avoid storing the wine at excessive temperatures and ensure the storage room does not experience severe fluctuations in short periods of time.
Yeast-related blemishes
If the wine emits a barnyard odor, then the most likely cause is the presence of a specific yeast known as brettanomyces. The brett yeast – as it is widely known – is proprietary to vineyards and will basically grow on grapes, vines and winemaking equipment. For the time being, as eradicating this wine yeast is basically impossible, most winemakers install special filters to reduce its growth. With regards to the bouquet and taste of the yeasted wine, some wine enthusiasts state that in small amounts the yeast gives a certain complexity to the aroma.
Drinking Wine Outside A Vineyard – Why Is It Different?
More often than not, people who enjoyed an excellent glass of wine the last time they visited wineries in San Diego, decided to acquire a few bottles for special occasions. However, when they open the bottle and sip from the glass, what they see and taste is very different from the wine they had at the vineyard. The main reason of the transformation resides in the fact that wine is in general a versatile beverage that changes over time. Don’t worry though, as this guide will tell you how to prevent this unpleasant situation by revealing the proper storage methods, the glasses you should use and secrets of opening a bottle.
The storage conditions for wine
Even though an old saying goes that wine gets better with age, you need to do your part and make sure you are storing the bottles properly. Essentially, you need to prepare a wine storage room with optimal temperature (less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit), make sure you position the bottles on their sides and in an area clear of sunlight. While most of these conditions can be met by purchasing a wine refrigerator, it is important to note that some wines are worth storing in the cellar. In general, if you want to learn more about the proper way to store a specific wine, then it is best to ask the representatives of the wineries.
Opening the wine bottle
Despite the fact that winemakers are starting to introduce screw tops to make the process of opening a wine bottle easier, most of the fine wines on the market will include corks. While you may not find it important, the means you use to open a bottle of wine can affect the quality of the beverage. It is very simple: if you decide to open it with whatever tool you have at hand, then you risk breaking the bottle and wasting the beverage or having pieces of the cork floating around the glass of wine.
Moreover, while using the right utensil to open a wine bottle will make you look elegant and sophisticated on a special dinner occasion, breaking the bottle or serve wine with pieces of cork will make you look clumsy and will offend your guests. Considering there are so many specialized utensils for opening bottles of wine, does it worth ruining your evening because of such details?
The wine glasses are more than recipients
If you have carefully stored away a special bottle of wine for a special occasion then you cannot simply serve it in plastic glasses. After all, you want the wine to sing and complete the festive atmosphere of your joyous occasion. Whether or not you want special glasses to compliment your favorite types of wine is a decision totally up to you. However, until you establish if you have the storage space and budget for various wine glasses, it is advisable to stick to a set that is clear, thin, tulip-shaped and stemmed. For maximum taste, make sure that you respect the recommended temperature, let the sediment settle and allow the wine to breathe before you serve it.
Great Wines are Synonymous with Great Vineyards!
The popular belief states that it is unlikely to create an unforgettable bottle of wine if you don’t have the right quality fruits at your disposal. Granted, you cannot make good wine without the right assortment of grapes. On the other hand, the end product is the result of proper farming, maintaining the long-term health of the vineyard, responding to conditions that affect the quality of the grapes and making sure the vine benefits from the best soil. Moreover, the best vineyards in the world are always grown in an optimal geographical location, namely between 30 to 40 degrees south and between 30 and 50 degrees north latitude.
Even though nowadays there are up to 10,000 assortments of vines, only a fraction of those are utilized to create great wine. The grounds for this peculiar decision resides in the fact that from the great Vitis family, the Vitis Vinifera is the sole specie capable of producing exquisite Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and other popular wine categories. While these wine assortments are irrefutable associated with Europe and France, in the past decades you probably noticed great wine produced in the US on the shelves of specialized stores. So, how did quality wine get to be produced in the North American continent?
When Vinifera was brought to America in the 1870s, it adapted rather quickly and was able to produce the superb wine everybody loved so much in Europe. However, the chances of producing great wine on American soil were soon dissipated by the discovery of Phylloxera, an insect that loves to feed on the roots of Vinifera. Even though American winemakers managed to eradicate Phylloxera from their plantation, in the 1980s the insect reappeared and destroyed more than half of the vineyards in California.
While unpleasant and very costly, the infestation actually took to the production of quality wine in North America to a whole new level. After realizing that the grapevines are adaptable and can be grown on Vitis rootstocks, growers managed to determine innovative new characteristics in vines. And, the results are fantastic, as the California and San Diego vineyards have proved in the past several years. In fact, due to growers’ ingenuity of dealing with Phylloxera, the vineyards in California are now able to produce quality wine comparable to their notorious European counterparts.
However, that is not the sole reason why the California and San Diego vineyards are highly appreciated today. As mentioned in the beginning of the article, great wine is not all about the right grapes. Even though the region is known as sunny California, the vineyard areas benefit from sufficient sunshine to aid the development of red grapes, but not as much as to turn them into raisins.
Moreover, the temperature and rain create the perfect environment for growing even the most delicate types of grapes, such as those used in Riesling or Pinot Noir. Lastly, California has more than thirty soil types and, if you take the present climate variations from north to south into account, you have the perfect background for quality variations of wine.
Wine Tours: When, Where And How Do You Plan A Visit To The Vineyard?
Even though people have been making and drinking wine for thousands of years, only recently they have discovered the unique experience provided by the San Diego wine tours. Back in the days, only certain wine lovers were allowed to take a tour of the wineries’ premises. However, all that changed starting with the 1950s, when winemakers opened their doors to the broad public.
Nowadays, in the United States alone there are over 6,000 wineries providing accommodations and activities for all ages. If you are tempted by the idea of planning your vacation at one of the beautiful California vineyards, then advanced preparation is a must.
What do the preparations imply?
Planning San Diego wine tours implies more than calling the vineyards and booking a visit. First off, since it is very likely that you will not resist taking some sips from the fine wines you find in the tasting room, you should establish a designated driver for your group. However, if all the members of the group are wine enthusiasts, then a better idea is to rent a limo especially for the tours. Take note that even though you have a designated driver, you cannot be too ambitious and plan on visiting all the wineries in the San Diego area in a single day. Remember that this is a vacation and therefore, take the time to relax and admire the beauty and personality of each vineyard.
Because not all vineyards receive tourists, it is advisable to call and learn the tasting room hours to make an appointment. This approach will allow you to make an appropriate schedule for each day of the trip and make sure your wine enthusiast companions will have a great time. In the eventuality that the San Diego wine tours include vineyard walks, then make sure everyone in the group is dressed comfortably. Lastly, it doesn’t hurt to bring a cooler with you as it is improbable you will leave home empty-handed.
When should you plan the visits?
Essentially, determining the best time to take a trip to the vineyards depends on why you want to see it in the first place. If you are there for tasting the wine, then you could schedule the tour in winter, as the traffic is minimal. On the other hand, if you want to see the refreshing green of the vines and the lazy grapes lying under the sun, then summer is the best time for the wine tours. In general, the busiest time of the year for wineries is during harvest time in autumn, when most vineyards organize special events to mark this celebratory occasion.
As the dead of winter in the Northern Hemisphere marks the beginning of summer in the Southern one, you could theoretically plan your wine tours any time of the year. With so many far and near options, sometimes choosing the vineyard region to visit is the hardest thing you have to do. However, if you want a simple way to narrow your options, then a good strategy is to select a vineyard based on your favorite wines.
Learn How To Maintain Your Health With A Fine Glass Of Wine!
Question: Do you know why French people eat so many cholesterol-laden foods and still manage to have the lowest rate of heart disease compared to other countries?
Answer: Their secret is what the popular media calls the French paradox and was discovered in the early 1990s.
Apparently, French people make a habit of ingesting wine with most of their meals. However, the low percentage of cardiovascular disease in France is not only explained by the fact that they are drinking wine, but also resides in the way wine is consumed. In short, the French always enjoy a glass of fine wine with meals and not on an empty stomach. Moreover, they sip and drink their wine slowly throughout the week.
About wine and health
Recent research has revealed that wine incorporates antioxidants responsible for inhibiting the oxidation of the LDL cholesterol in the blood. On a side note, the oxidation of the LDL cholesterol has been linked to blood clot formations, tumor growth and clogged arteries. Grapes, and later on wine, include phenolic compounds such as tannis, flavonoids (especially high levels in red wine) and resveratrol. The latter has received a lot of attention from the scientific community lately because of its preventive and curative properties in inflammations, high cholesterol, heart disease, cancer and atherosclerosis.
Scientific research confirm wine’s health properties
In order to get a clue about the potential health properties of wine, it is enough to mention that various studies have pointed out that moderate consumption reduces the chance of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis, dementia and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, the American Cancer Society concluded after a nine years research that moderate drinkers have a 21% lower risk of mortality than heavy drinkers or abstainers. It is necessary to mention that moderate drinking implies a maximum of 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per women.
If wine is healthy, why can’t I drink more?
Because wine is an alcoholic beverage, drinking too much will lead to drunkenness. Essentially, once you ingested the wine, a large percentage is broken down into enzymes and processed by the liver. As the human liver cannot process more than a drink per hour, enjoying more than a glass of wine will lead to mild alcohol poisoning and withdrawal symptoms and hence, the drunkenness. And that’s not all, since 8 to 12 hours after you had your last glass of wine the body reacts to the poisoning by displaying the hangover symptoms. In time, overindulging will have more severe effects on the body such as shrinking the frontal lobe, the brain component responsible for most of the cognitive functions.
What if wine gives me headaches?
If you are experiencing headaches and rashes after enjoying a glass of wine, then it is very probable that you are sensitive to sulfites, histamines, congeners, tyramines or prostaglandins. While these compounds can be found in most of the foods we eat, the concentration of sulfites in San Diego wines are usually higher. However, because the law mandates that wines including more than 10 ppm should carry the warning on the label, next time you purchase a bottle of wine you should opt for assortments with a lower concentration of sulfites.
How to Market a Winery
There are many vineyards in America that make their own wine on the premises, and these also include the many wineries San Diego has to offer. However, once the necessary permits have been given to make the wine, it is necessary to find an outlet for the wine. Many San Diego vineyards sell their own wines to those who attend tours or wine tasting sessions, but that may not be enough to support the business as a whole. Therefore, it is necessary to find another outlet for the wine. This can take very careful consideration and marketing to appeal to the right market.
You can buy wine in a variety of locations, specialist shops and in restaurants as well as other kinds of eateries. In fact, you will find wine just about everywhere. Many people, who do not know a great deal about wine, will buy it at supermarkets or other shops. If you ask people about the criteria for buying wine, very often you will find that many are just attracted to the picture on the bottle, or even the bottle shape, rather than by any special knowledge about the wine.
Some people even choose wine by randomly picking it from the shelf, others will see which wine has the least number of bottles on the shelf and choose that thinking it must be a good wine as more people have bought it! Some people will buy wine purely on price alone. There are so many factors to consider!
Therefore, when the time comes to marketing your wineries you may want to pay special attention to the visual image you prepare for your wines. This branding may be essential to the success or otherwise of your product. You may think this sounds rather simplistic, but it really does matter to many people. However, you should ensure your marketing material has a good representation of your business, as it will also serve to attract people onto tours, which may be essential to raise the interest and profile of your product, whether it is white or red wine.
Of course, there are wine connoisseurs that will not be swayed by a pretty bottle or picture, and if this is the market you are hoping to break into, then you should pay more attention to the ingredients and description of your wine that you will put on the back label.
So, as you can see, you should appraise the market carefully to ensure you get your strategy right. This will give you the perfect market and showcase for wineries. Feedback is always important, so if you are looking for ideas, try to get a cross section of people and listen to what is said. Of course, you can pay for marketing experts to design and advise you in this capacity, but very you can arrive at the same result by asking many different people whether they would buy products from wineries San Diego based on your proposed design and price.
Celebrate Your Love With Wine Tasting!
San Diego is home to some of the best wines available, which is why you can find a variety of vineyards that offer wine tasting San Diego tours, just waiting for your visit. However, not all San Diego vineyards will accept visitors, so the first thing you need to establish is which ones are happy to accommodate you and which ones will not.
Some vineyards will provide reading literature and you can find all you need on there about times of visits and available wine tasting tours. However, as the internet is being used for so many businesses, much of the information and marketing can be found there.
San Diego county is a large area, with more than 3 million residents, so the first thing to establish is how far you want to travel to the San Diego vineyards of choice. If travel is no problem, then you may want to choose one of the vineyards that offer wine tasting tours. If you are happy to go along with a large group of people then you should look for wine tasting tour offering this service.
Many have pick up services, others allow you to arrive at the vineyard under your own steam. Don’t worry if you dislike large groups of people, there are a large number of San Diego vineyards to choose from that offer wine tasting afternoons to a small select group, and even just couples. This may prove ideal, especially if you are celebrating an anniversary or on honeymoon.
In fact, newly married couples can take advantage of the many honeymoon packages available as they are becoming very popular for wine tasting events. If you choose to take advantage of these you can be sure of an excellent wine tasting session comprising of some of the very best wine tasting San Diego has to offer. Some hotels will automatically include a trip to San Diego vineyards within the honeymoon package; others may have it as an added extra that you can take advantage of, should the mood take you.
Of course, there are some vineyards that do not need a reservation for you to visit them, but many do require advance notice, after all they are a business first and foremost, and their business is taking care of the crops of grapes to give their excellent tasting wine.
What can be better than waking up in the endless sunshine to a spectacular view and after a leisurely breakfast taking a short trip to one of the most magnificent grape growing vineyards? After an informative tour at some of the best scenery San Diego has to offer, you can then take advantage of some of the best and most comprehensive wine tasting San Diego can give.
The reputation of the vineyards of San Diego is growing quickly and there are many established wineries in the area are enjoying a revival that wine tasting San Diego residents can take full advantage of. That is, of course, if they can fight off the growing numbers of overseas visitors flocking to the wine tasting San Diego region. So for the two of you, celebrate your love by going on a wine tour for wine tasting!
How to Create a Successful Vineyard
Building a successful San Diego vineyard seems like a great idea… doesn’t it? But it may not be quite as simple as you think. Of course the climate is conducive to grape growing, but it takes a lot of work and patience to get the best out of your crops. Many San Diego vineyards have been established for some considerable time and they no longer have to worry about what kinds of grapes to grow and whether they will require a lot of hard work, nurturing and tending. They have gathered the required experience over the years, but let’s consider for a moment some of the hurdles they have had to overcome.
Position
One of the first considerations for a vineyard is the location as well as the position. There are so many things that affect the growth of grapes that you need to get all elements combined perfectly to get the best from your crops. The amount of sun available to the plants is an essential component to consider and the overall climate needs to be considered too. San Diego vineyards luckily have a very temperate climate all year round and the area is not plagued by harsh winters or springs. Many San Diego vineyards have south facing crops planted on a slope, which allows the optimum amount of sunshine to favor them.
Soil & moisture
The soil in which you plant your grapes is very important, as this will determine the kind of grapes you can plant. In addition, the plants need to have access to a good amount of water to ensure they grow to their ultimate best.
Inspection
The crops will have to be regularly inspected to ensure there is no rot of fungus affecting the crops. In addition, any dead or diseased plants needs to been removed quickly before they can infect other plants around them. Consideration is given at the time of planting to ensure the right amount of room is available for each vine. However, this also means close proximity to other vines, which is excellent access for disease or fungus too, as well as giving a larger yield of wine producing crop. It may also be necessary to spray the crops and in times of drought enough water should be available to irrigate the crops.
All of these and more are required for San Diego vineyards to be successful. You will not see the toil and care that goes into producing the best grapes, and if the vineyards have done their job well, all you will see on a wine tasting tour is happy crops of abundant grapes. This means the growers have got all the elements consistently right and have a good regime in progress.
Some of the tours may be happy to talk about some of the difficulties or negative aspects of growing grapes, and this will appeal to those interested in the agricultural side as well as the wine making side of the operation. Always ask questions on your tour, as usually your tour guide will be happy to explain in depth as much as they can about their passion and their San Diego vineyards.
Drink To Your Health!
If you’ve ever been to San Diego, you will know the climate is so temperate that there is no wonder it has a wide variety of San Diego vineyards producing quality San Diego wines. Hours of sun are just perfect for grape growers and many of the best wines are produced in this region. For this reason, wine tasting is fast becoming an Olympic sport! Let’s take a closer look at a couple of the quality San Diego wines on offer.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a very popular grape and the wine can have such a large variety of tastes. Many wineries will mix or blend it with other grapes to give their own unique tasting wine. If you’ve ever had Cabernet Sauvignon you will be aware of just how different each wine growers’ variety can be. Very often the grapes are seasoned or aged in oak barrels, so you will find many varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon have an oak flavor. Cabernet Sauvignon is wine to be savored with an evening meal and goes well with many meats dishes including, pork, beef and lamb
Cabernet Sauvignon is more recognized as a full-bodied red wine; however, you can also obtain the wine in a white variety too, Cabernet Blanc, which is lighter and crisper. Cabernet Blanc is a great wine to complement a wide variety of dishes including curries, pastas, salads and a whole host of other types of spicy dishes.
Shiraz
Shiraz, also known as Syrah, is one of the popular San Diego wines on offer, and although its country of origin is France, there are many great bottles produced by San Diego vineyards. Shiraz is a wine that is dryer than many other red wines and is widely used to produce other types of wine, such as rose or fortified wines. Again the taste can vary according to the region and the available blossoms, soil, etc. Shiraz can be a super accompaniment to many meat dishes, including most red meat dishes. It also goes down very well with stews and casseroles.
Health benefits of red wines
If you’re not completely sold on the idea of red wines yet, have you considered the health benefits? There is research and evidence to suggest that red wines, particularly San Diego wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon is good to keep your heart working well. This is due to the high density of favinoids, also known as antioxidants. These antioxidants have been proven to reduce cholesterol in the blood, thus averting some heart diseases.
Additionally, fairly recent research has indicated it can also help in the war against some types of cancer too. However, before you get too carried away, this does not mean you should drink copious amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, as clearly this can have an adverse effect on your body. Everything in moderation, as the saying goes, and you can help your body fight against some of the more devastating diseases and illnesses. With everything going for it, there is no surprise that more and more people are choosing to sample the delights on offer from San Diego wines.
