California

If California were a country it would be the 4th largest producer in the world. With over 1200 wineries, and the vast amount of wine that it produces, California is known for everything from its extremely affordable wines to its collector cult cabernets. While the rest of the world was making advances in grape growing and wine making the United States was enjoying prohibition. This 14-year temperance period set American winemaking back 100’s of years.

It wasn’t until the 1976 Judgment of Paris, a French wine tasting competition where California beat out French wines in a blind tasting, that the wines of California were respected internationally. California wines are known for their oak aging, malolatic fermentation, higher alcohol and fruit forward flavors; all techniques that make California wines highly enjoyable.