California is the largest and most important wine region in the United States. It represents the southern two-thirds (850 miles or 1,370 kilometers) of the country's west coast. (Oregon and Washington make up the rest. ) The state also spans nearly 10 degrees of latitude.
With its mountains, valleys, plains and plateaus, California's topography is as Complex as its Climate, offering winemakers a bewildering array of terroirs. California wines have only gained worldwide recognition in recent decades (especially after the 1976 Paris ruling). However, the state's wine history goes back more than 200 years. European vines were first planted in the 18th century, when settlers and missionaries moved up and down the West Coast.
Taking place over a month, between the 11 December and the 10 January, the unique Decanter at Home online event provides the perfect opportunity to sample a range of fine wines and access a series of curated videos from leading winemakers and experts at a time that suits you. A limited number of tickets are available for six world-class wine tasting masterclasses, including Bordeaux’s Château Angelus and Burgundy’s Bonneau du Martray, as well as general non-tasting tickets unlocking ...
Inside the April 2022 issue of Decanter Magazine: FEATURES: South American Bordeaux blends: my top 20 Winemaking tradition informs many of South America’s top-flight reds, says Alejandro Iglesias Bordeaux 2019 in bottle Reappraising this excellent vintage, with Georgie Hindle’s selection of 27 top wines Vintage preview: southern Rhône 2020 Matt Walls’ regional round-up and pick of 40 standout wines from another hot but successful vintage South African Sauvignon Blanc: 10 top winemakers Malu Lam ...
Despite the lowest number of barrels going under the hammer in 15 years, the 2021 Hospices de Beaune charity auction broke per-barrel price records, reaching an impressive total sales figure of €12.5m (£10.48m/$14.09m), excluding buyer premiums. The total was not too far behind last year’s high tally – close to €13.44 million – where almost double the number of barrels were sold. This year’s sale, with 362 lots, including seven barrels of spirits, reached an average price per lot of €34,980 (£29 ...