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.
A very old grape variety, most likely originating in Italy, now cultivated mainly in the central and central-eastern parts of this country, registered in France in the Official Catalogue of wine grape varieties, list A1. Montepulciano has long been confused with sangiovese or nielluccio, an A.D.N. analysis has shown that it is different.
red wines from the region of California go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of boles de picolat (catalan meatballs), caramelized lamb mice or duck breast with black figs.
