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Varietal:
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Carignane
- This red grape goes by many names, including Carignane, Carignano, Cariñena, Mazuelo, Moestal, Roussillonen and Samsó, which can make things confusing. A native of northern Spain's Cariñena DO, this grape is also found all over France, particularly in the Languedoc-Roussillon, and is also planted in substantial amounts in Italy and California. A bold, spicy, tannic grape, you'll frequently find Carignan blended with softer, fruitier varieties like Grenache. |
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Country:
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United States
- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world. |
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Sub-Region:
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California
- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year. |
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Specific Appellation:
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Central Valley/Lodi
- With a reputation for bulk wine and table grapes, little to no quality wine has emerged from the expansive Central Valley since companies like Franzia and Gallo staked their claim here. The exception are new wine ventures in sub-AVAs Lodi and Clarksburg, home to jammy zinfandels and surprisingly distinguished chenin blancs respectively. |
