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Saturday, February 2, 2008

All You Need to Know About California Wine Country

Do you enjoy drinking wine? If you do, you may be interested in learning more about it. After all, many wine drinkers are curious about the drink that they know and love. Many want to know about its history, how it is made, and what impact the future will have on wine. If you are one of those individuals, you will want to consider visiting California wine country. When doing so, you will likely get answers to all of your questions, as well as have an amazing time.

As nice as it is to hear that you should visit California wine country, you may be looking for more information on why. Many individuals wonder what is so great about California’s wine country. Many know that other areas in the United States are also commonly referred to as wine country, such as the Finger Lakes Region of New York. For that reason, many wonder what sets California wine country apart from the rest. For more information on California wine country, as well as why you should visit it, please continue reading on.

California wine country is a phrase that is used to describe a region in Northern California. This region is known for its wine production. Due to having perfect weather conditions and a great climate, California is perfect for wine production. In keeping with location, wine country is used typically to describe the Napa Valley and the Sonoma Valley, which, as previously stated, are both located in Northern California.

As for the history of wine country, wild grapes have pretty much always been found in Northern California, but it took time and knowledge before the potential was realized for these wild grapes. According the websites of many wine country wineries, George Calvert Yount was the first person to plant a vineyard in the Napa Valley Region. Later, in 1861, the first commercial vineyard was developed and opened, also in Napa Valley.

Although wine country got off to a small start, the number of wineries in the area more than doubled in size in the early 1900s. Today, there are over four hundred wineries and vineyards in California’s wine country. In fact, that is why the region is so popular with tourists, as they have so many options. There are so many things for visitors and wine lovers to do and see.

Speaking of things to do and see, you will never find a moment of boredom when visiting California wine country. That is just one of the many reasons why you are encouraged to visit the area, especially if you are a wine lover. Many of the local wineries and vineyards have tours available of their properties, as well as wine tasting available everyday of the week. On the other hand, area wineries often have special scheduled events. For example, the Wineries of Napa Valley offers a course in Fine Wine and Artisan Cheese. This event is designed to prove that it is easy to pair wine with food, especially California cheese.

As for overnight accommodations, visitors will find no shortage of accommodations in wine country. With that said, it is still important to make your overnight accommodation reservations, should you decide to visit the area, well in advance of your trip. As wine country tours increase in popularity, the best hotels and resorts quickly fill up with reservations. In addition to traditional hotels and vacation resorts, other options for overnight stays include inns, vacation homes, vacation cottages, bed and breakfasts, RV parks, and public campgrounds.

As an important side note, the wine country area of California is most well know for its wine themed activities. With that said, there is much more to both Napa
Valley and Sonoma Valley. Other popular activities and attractions include shopping, hiking, camping, and sightseeing. Perhaps, that is one of the greatest reasons why you should at least consider traveling to California wine country. If you are traveling with a large group and for an extended period of time, wine tours can be just a small portion of your vacation.

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