Page 26 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

CA.WINE COUNTRY
BY MARCY GORDON
Festivals in Wineland
A year-round celebration
MENDOCINO
WINE TASTING
Sampling local wines is a popular
activity, whether in Mendocino,
above, or in the many wine growing
regions up and down the state.
California wines became famous
when a Chardonnay from Chateau
Montelena in Napa Valley won the
Judgment of Paris in 1976. It was an
event that rocked the wine world,
and the quality of California wines
has only grown since then.
There are so many wines, varieties and
regions in California (the fourth largest
wine producing area in the world after
Spain, France and Italy) that figuring out
where to go and what to taste can be
daunting. Aside from taking a tour, one of
the best ways to get acquainted with an
area is by attending a local wine festival.
Think of it as Wine-Recon, a most
delightful way to gather insight and infor-
mation on local wineries in a short span of
time. From large-scale food and wine fests
to small, quirky events focused on specific
wines such as Pinot Noir, sparkling, or
Rhônes, wine festivals can cater to both
the casual wine fan seeking a few hours of
food and fun, as well as to the experienced
wine enthusiast determined to discover
the next great grape producer.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST
Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Livermore,
Santa Cruz Mountains
The most famous California wine region
by far is in Northern California. Napa
Valley is known around the world for
its exceptional wines, and draws more
visitors than any other area. The quintes-
sential wine country experience was
perfected here, with more than 300
24 2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
ERIC LINDBERG. OPPOSITE: ALEXEY U/SHUTTERSTOCK; LEONARD ZHUKOVSKY/SHUTTERSTOCK; VICTOR MASCHEK/SHUTTERSTOCK