Top 100 wines of California - Page 4

Discover the top 100 best wines of California as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of California and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of California

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.

Discover the grape variety: Pinot gris

Pinot Gris is a grey grape variety mutated from Pinot Noir. It has its origins in Burgundy, where it is called pinot-beurot in reference to the colour of the grey robes worn by the monks of the region. Established in Alsace since the 17th century, pinot gris was called tokay until 2007. It is made up of bunches of small berries that vary in colour from pink to blue-grey. It is particularly well suited to the continental climate because it is resistant to the cold in winter and to spring frosts. This variety also likes dry limestone soils with plenty of sunshine in the summer. Pinot Gris is well suited to late harvesting or to the selection of noble grapes, depending on the year and the concentration of sugars in the berries. Pinot Gris wines are distinguished by their aromatic complexity of white fruits, mushrooms, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, etc., and their great finesse. In the Loire Valley, pinot gris is used in the Coteaux-d'Ancenis appellations. It gives dry or sweet wines with pear and peach aromas.

Food and wine pairing with a wine of California

wines from the region of California go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of green lentils strasbourg style, baked mackerel or broccoli and blue cheese quiche without pastry.

Organoleptic analysis of wine of California

On the nose in the region of California often reveals types of flavors of cherry, strawberries or black cherries and sometimes also flavors of plum, raspberry or non oak. In the mouth in the region of California is a powerful.