by
Shannon Porter, Personal Wine Consultant with The Traveling Vineyard
When people
think of California wines, they generally think of Napa or Sonoma –
by far the most popular wine destinations for travelers to visit. However,
if you go east of San Francisco, into the interior of California, there
are many, many more wine “appellations” or growing areas,
to be discovered.
The following appellations are inland, in the north and central parts
of California.
El Dorado County
Red wine grapes account for 75% of production in this area. Boasting
some of the highest elevation vineyards in the state, this appellation
borders Nevada near Lake Tahoe. The primary grapes grown here are Syrah,
Zinfandel, Petite Syrah and Chardonnay.
California
Shenandoah Valley
The country’s “other” Shenandoah Valley, this area
is known for its earthy Zinfandels, Rhone and Italian reds.
Amador
County
In the heart of Golf Rush country, Amador County owes its wine history
to miners who turned to winemaking when the mines went bust. Some of
the vines planted in the 1850s still produce grapes today. Small, family-owned
wineries dominate and you will find hearty, intense Zinfandel, Syrah,
Barbera and Sangiovese.
Lodi
The emerging star of California winemaking, Lodi enjoys terroir ideal
to winemaking. Lodi has established itself as a leading producing of
premium grapes used in the creation of world-class wines. However, they
also offer many good quality value wines.
Calaveras
County
In 1870 during the Gold Rush, Calaveras County boasted more wineries
than Napa and Sonoma combined! When the gold ran out and Prohibition
set in, a depression set into the area, but winemaking rebounded in
the 1960s. Primary yields today are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and
Zinfandel.
Sierra Foothills
This region saw a wine renaissance in the early 1970s and it is dominated
by small, family-owned boutique wineries. Nearly three dozen varieties
of grapes are grown in this region, with the most successful reds being
Mediterranean grapes.
So the
next time you decide to take a trip to the wine country – think
outside the Napa/Sonoma box. Visit one of the areas above and you will
be treated to a less crowded, more intimate wine experience… one
where you can still taste some excellent wines!
For
more information go to:
www.sierrawineguide.com
www.calaveraswines.org
www.lodiwine.com
Shannon
Porter is an independent wine consultant for The Traveling Vineyard.
She has been interested in wines since the 1980s and began conducting
in-home wine tastings in 2003. She has been featured in 5280 magazine
and to date has conducted over 200 wine tastings. For more information
call 303.888.9283 or visit
www.myttv.com/shannon5290
