CALIFORNIA WINE HISTORY
California’s wine history spans over 250 years, beginning with Spanish missionaries and evolving into a global powerhouse. Spanish missionaries introduced grapevines to California, planting the first vineyards in what is now Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sonoma. The Mission grape, used primarily for sacramental wine, dominated early viticulture. Challenges like phylloxera and Prohibition were overcome through innovation and resilience. Today, California is synonymous with premium wines and continues to influence winemaking worldwide.
The 1976 Judgment of Paris:
California wines achieved global fame when Napa Valley Cabernets and Chardonnays beat top French wines in a blind tasting in Paris. This event transformed California into a world-class wine region.
Growth and Innovation:
• Vineyards expanded across Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, and beyond.
• Modern techniques in viticulture and winemaking, including temperature-controlled fermentation, barrel aging, and precise varietal selection, boosted quality.
• California became a leader in sustainable and organic wine practices.
Economic and Cultural Impact:
Today, California produces roughly 90% of U.S. wine, with regions like Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, and Paso Robles recognized globally. Wine tourism has become a major economic driver, and California wine culture is celebrated worldwide.
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Winemaking
DISCOVER OUR GRAPES
At Make Wine With Us, our goal is to obtain grapes from the very best grape growing regions of the world. The varietals from regions in California, Italy, and Chile represent some of the finest grapes known to winemakers. You will find grapes varying in body, acidity, and tannins. Let us help you find the perfect grape to fit your palate, from full-bodied reds to crisp white wines. Our objective is to assist you, our winemaker, in turning those grapes into wines you’ll continuously enjoy!
Winemaking
CALIFORNIA GRAPES
Raise your glass to our California grapes! Procured from the Mediterranean climate and sandy soil of Lodi, in Central Valley, to the rich soil of Amador County in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, discover varietals from Barbera to Tempranillo. These grapes are aromatic, fruit-forward, and perfect for pressing during the fall harvest.
Winemaking
ITALIAN JUICES
Italian juices, made from premium grapes, produce extraordinary wines. Varietals include Brunello, Dolcetto, Lambrusco, Black Malvasia, Meritage, Montepulciano, and Valpolicella. Additionally, popular white wine varietals are available. Choices abound!
Winemaking
SPRING REGION: CHILE
As spring enters the northern hemisphere it is harvest time in the southern hemisphere! Most of Chile’s premium wine regions acquire water from the melting snow caps of the Andes Mountains. And, with diverse soil composition, Chilean grapes grow in granite rich soil that’s perfect for award-winning reds.
Winemaking
Learn More About Our Spring Regions: Chile
For value conscious connoisseurs looking for a great wine, they need to look no further than Chile. With diverse soil composition, Chilean grapes grow in granite rich alluvial soil that’s perfect for award-winning reds. Join us to learn more about this region and why your next spring pressing may just be from Chile.
