The "Father Of Wine" Junipero Serra, planted the first vineyard in California in 1769 at Mission San Diego de Alcala. The varietal he planted was from Mexico and was known as the grape. Since that time the wine industry has boomed throughout California. Of course the most popular area for California wine production is Napa Valley with Sonoma running in 2nd.
The climate in Napa makes it a prime location for growing grapes. The hot, sunny days and cool damp nights make the skin of the grape pungent and moist which increases the sugar int the fruit and in turn make a perfect wine grape. Northern California is well known for it's Cabernet Sauvigon, Merlot and Pinot Noire produced from the red grape, also the Chardonnay and Sauvigon Blanc produced from the green grape.
During the period of Prohibition, 1919 through 1933 the wine industry was forced to produce the "blood of the Gods" in basements of homes due to a loop hole in the law that allowed a family to produce 200 gallons on "non-intoxicating fruit juice" in their homes. This turned entire families to into bottling workers.
Thankfully today we are all entitled to drink wine freely. If you haven't enjoyed visiting some of our local wineries, you are missing out. Take a day to tour a winery and watch the process of wine making, it is an art. Cheers!
Here is a web-link of local wineries and events: http://www.wineroad.com/
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