California Variety

2/25/15 -

We’ve never had such a dynamic (and delicious!) selection of Californian wines. Between classics and new producers, if you haven’t been paying attention to what’s going on on the West Coast then you are missing out on a heap of excitement. Winemakers are interested in grape varieties outside of the Cabernet Sauvignon – Pinot Noir – Chardonnay – Sauvignon Blanc paradigm. California wine sage Jon Bonné writes in his fantastic book, The New California Wine: “the current diversity in California vineyards is perhaps unparalleled since before Prohibition.” Back then, a diverse mix of grapes were planted to try to gauge which ones the New World’s soils would support. Some varieties such as Petite Sirah and Carignane have survived from before the 1900s, whereas others such as Piedmont’s Nebbiolo or Jura’s Trousseau don’t have as documented a history. The American risk-taking spirit is rewarding those willing to experiment with fascinating expressions of Californian wine. Here are some fresh examples of what’s coming from the West. John Rankin