California Love

I am a proud California girl, so I would like to dedicate this post to the greatness that is California. Sure our state has its issues, but wine is not one of them.

California…

• …is the fourth largest wine producer in the world.
• …makes 90 percent of American wine.
• …is responsible for $18.5 billion in retail wine sales in the U.S.
• …ranks first in wine consumption in the U.S., followed by Florida, then New York.
• …has more than 60,000 registered wine labels.

Here’s a random fact about wine that interested me: It takes about six to eight clusters, or approximately 600 to 800 wine grapes (2.4 lbs.) to make a bottle of wine. One barrel of wine contains 740 lbs. of grapes, equivalent to 59 gallons or 24.6 cases of wine.

I found this list of “10 Reasons to Love California Wine” on www.pasowine.com, text used courtesy of Wine Institute.

1. A living national treasure, with history and entrepreneurial spirit. California wines have been around for nearly 250 years, and the industry is the fourth largest producer of wine in the world. After Prohibition, California has led a wine quality revolution by combining art, science, innovation and tradition.
2. A leader in sustainable winegrowing and winemaking practices. With its statewide Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP), establishing strong environmental standards and practices from ground to glass, California vintners and winegrape growers are a model for other agricultural products and other wine regions in the U.S. and the world.
3. Comprised largely of family businesses. The vast majority of California’s 4,600 winegrape growers and 2,800 wineries are family-owned and operated businesses, many involving multiple generations.
4. Offers immense choice for wine drinkers, because of diverse growing regions, soils, climates, winemaking styles and people. With winegrapes grown in 46 of the state’s 58 counties, California counts 108 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Starting with the Spanish missionaries, to German, Swiss, French and Italian immigrants, to the modern day entrepreneurs and researchers, all have made their mark on California wines.
5. Inspired a culinary revolution. As the popularity of California wines has risen, so has the national focus on fresh seasonal cooking and dining. Many of America’s top chefs work in California’s wine country.
6. Provides careers for thousands. The California wine industry generates 820,000 jobs nationwide, with wages totaling $25.8 billion. The overall economic impact of the wine industry in the U.S. economy is $121.8 billion.
7. Creates beautiful travel destinations throughout the state. California is the most visited state in the U.S. for food and wine-related activities, with 19.7 million tourists visiting the state’s wine regions each year.
8. Offers unprecedented opportunities for women. Women have played a critical role in the California wine industry’s past, and today are taking lead positions in viticulture, winemaking, sales, marketing, hospitality and distribution. In the U.S., you’re just as likely to see a female as a male sommelier.
9. Keeps land in agriculture. Although less than 1 percent of California land is planted to vineyards, California wine is the number one finished agricultural product in retail value in the U.S. Winegrapes ensure that land stays in agriculture, and preserves open space and scenic pastoral landscapes.
10. Has driven a new “wine culture” in the U.S., inspiring people in all 50 states to establish wineries. Wine consumption has risen for 14 consecutive years in the U.S., and the proliferation of wine magazines, websites, blogs and yes, even a reality television show about wine, attests to the fact that wine is becoming more a part of mainstream American culture. California’s success in wine quality, production and innovation has helped inspire winemaking ventures in all 50 U.S. states.

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