California wine facts for kids
California wine is wine made in the U.S. state of California. California is almost as big as France. It makes nearly 90 percent of all American wine. If California were its own country, it would be the fourth largest wine producer in the world!
People have been making wine in California since the 1700s. Spanish missionaries first planted grapevines. They used the grapes to make wine for church services. Today, California has over 1,200 wineries. These range from small family businesses to large companies that sell wine all over the world.
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History of California Wine
People first started making wine in California in 1769. Missionaries from Mexico brought grape plants with them. They needed wine for their church ceremonies. Later, people from Europe came to California. They brought their own types of grape plants. These new plants helped improve how wine was made.
More and more wine was made each year until 1920. That's when a time called Prohibition began. During Prohibition, it was against the law to sell alcoholic drinks in the United States. This almost stopped all wine-making in California. It took a long time for the wine industry to get back on its feet.
In 1990, the U.S. sent very little of its wine to other countries. After that, California started sending much more wine overseas. Today, the USA is one of the biggest wine industries in the world.
Types of California Wines
Wine comes in many different colors. Most wines are called "red" or "white." White wine isn't truly white. It just has a very light, clear color. About 54 percent of California wines are white wines. Some popular white wines are Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Some well-known red wines include Zinfandel, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
Growing Grapes in Cooler Places
Grapes for wine used to need very warm weather to grow well. But people wanted to grow more grapes. So, they learned how to grow them in places that weren't as warm. This way of growing grapes is called "cool climate viticulture." Viticulture is the science of growing grapes.
Now, grapevines are planted in colder areas. They can even be grown high up, about 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level. Monterey County was one of the first places where this new method was used successfully.
California's Wine Regions
California has more than 800 wine cellars. Wine cellars are large rooms where wine is stored. They are usually part of a winery, which is the place where wine is made.
Two of the most famous places for growing wine in California are Napa County and Sonoma County. The wines from these areas are known as some of the best in the world. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are two examples of wines made there.
California's wine regions are often divided into four main areas:
- North Coast - This region includes most of the area north of San Francisco Bay. It has famous wine places like Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Other areas here are Mendocino and Lake County.
- Central Coast - This area stretches along the coast from San Francisco Bay down to Santa Barbara County. Important wine regions here include Santa Clara Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains, and Paso Robles.
- South Coast - This part covers coastal areas south of Los Angeles, all the way to the border with Mexico. Temecula Valley is a well-known wine region here. It has about 35 wineries that you can visit for tastings.
- Central Valley - This region includes California's large Central Valley and the Sierra Foothills. A notable wine region in this area is the Lodi AVA.
Images for kids
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Spanish mission of St. Carlos founded near Monterey
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The Robert Mondavi Winery was designed to reflect the winemaking history of the Spanish missions.
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Landmass and elevations of California
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General locations of California's wine regions
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A California Zinfandel.
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A barrel-fermented California Chardonnay.
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A Sauvignon blanc from California.
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Sparkling wines produced by Domaine Carneros
See also
In Spanish: Vino de California para niños
