By Lauren Westerfield
California's 107 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) and 2,000 wineries produce 90 percent of the nation's wine and attract 14.8 million tourists every year. A wine country tour may include wine tasting and education, distinctive scenery and seasonal events.
Regions
California's coastal and inland winemaking regions span the length of state and include Amador County, Lodi, Monterey County, Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz County, Sonoma County, Livermore and Santa Barbara.
Varietals
According to The Wine Institute and The California Grape Crush Report, the top three California varietals are Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The state produces 110 wine grape varieties in total.
Seasons
Visitors travel to California wine country year-round. High tourist season lasts from April through September, when lush vines and visible grapes draw crowds in spite of the heat. After the fall harvest, vines are bare and crowds decrease; but wildflowers, mustard blossoms and a mild climate make this November through March "off season" nonetheless appealing to visitors.
Events
California's wineries and winegrowing regions routinely host seasonal tastings, festivals and events. A complete and regularly updated calendar is available at WineCountry.com.
Cost
California wineries may require reservations and/or tasting fees ranging from $5 to $45; as of 2009 the average starting cost of a chauffeured tasting tour was between $69 and $99 per person. For a more affordable trip, consult the California Winery Advisor's 2009 directory of the 180 statewide wineries that offer free tastings.
Resources
About the Author:
Lauren Westerfield began her career as a freelance writer and editor in 2007. Upon graduating from Middlebury College with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature, Westerfield completed yoga teacher training at Yandara Yoga Institute and became a certified yoga instructor in 2008. She currently writes about yoga practice and lifestyle for a variety of print and online publications.
Photo Credits:
"Autumn in the vineyards" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: John-Morgan (John Morgan) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
