Which California County Grows The Most Chardonnay?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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County 2017 Total Acres
Monterey

16,969
Sonoma 15,617 San Joaquin 13,148 Napa 6,914

Where is Chardonnay grown in California?

The regions of

Alexander Valley, Los Carneros, Santa Maria Valley, Russian River Valley, and other parts of Sonoma County

have shown success in producing that reflect more Burgundian styles. Other regions often associated with Chardonnay include Napa Valley, Monterey County, and Santa Barbara County.

What county produces the most wine in California?


Napa County

Although easily the most famous wine region in California, Napa Valley produces just 4% of all California wine. It's home to 16 AVA's, 600 wineries, and arguably some of the best restaurants and finest wines in the country.

Where is the best Chardonnay grown?

The world's most revered Chardonnays come from

Burgundy

, the noncontiguous region in eastern France that also produces pricey, prestigious Pinot Noirs known simply as “Burgundy.” Here, Chardonnays go by many names because they're labeled by geography, not by grape.

How many acres is Chardonnay in California?

County Total Acres Other 11,485 State Total

90,684

What is the best wine region in California?

  • Livermore Valley. East of San Francisco Bay, find vineyards, pastures, wineries and sunny days in charming Livermore Valley. …
  • Lodi. …
  • Napa Valley. …
  • Sonoma. …
  • Escondido. …
  • Temecula Valley. …
  • Tehachapi. …
  • 7 Interesting Facts about the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

What is the largest AVA in California?

Often referred to as “the undiscovered wine country” of Northern California, it is named for

Clear Lake

, the largest natural lake in California. Sharing borders with Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties, this 1,329-square mile California wine region is fast gaining ground among winemakers in the know.

Why do you swirl wine in a glass?

Swirling the wine in the glass

enables some evaporation to take place

, which means more of the volatile compounds will dissipate. Some of these compounds include sulfides (matchsticks) and sulfites, (rotten eggs). 3. … More space in the wine glass means the wine gets more surface area, and thus more exposure to oxygen.

Who first made wine in California?


Father Serra

founded eight other California missions. Hence, he has been called the “Father of California Wine”. The variety he planted, presumably descended from Spain, became known as the Mission grape and dominated California wine production until about 1880.

How much of America's wine comes from California?

California produces an average of

81 percent

of total U.S. wine production.

What is a good brand of Chardonnay?

Best Overall: 2018

Benovia Chardonnay Russian River

Royally complex and under $50, this golden straw-colored bottle drinks like a wine twice its value. Oaky and lemony with great minerality, there are notes of pear, citrus and vanilla.

What is a good buttery Chardonnay?

  • Eden Road “The Long Road” Chardonnay. …
  • Stag's Leap Chardonnay. …
  • Au Bon Climat “Los Alamos” Chardonnay. …
  • Cakebread Chardonnay. …
  • Stuhlmuller Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay. …
  • Radio-Coteau “Savoy” Chardonnay. …
  • Far Niente Winery Napa Valley Estate Chardonnay.

What is the world's best Chardonnay?

Wine Name Score Ave Price
Kongsgaard The Judge Chardonnay

, Napa Valley 95 $559
Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Les Gouttes d'Or, Meursault Premier Cru 95 $2513 Marcassin Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 95 $398 Peter Michael Point Rouge Chardonnay, Sonoma County 95 $403

What is the leading white variety in acreage in California?

The popularity of

Pinot Grigio

has risen in recent years and remains strong. In terms of acres planted, the grape is California's third-leading white variety behind Chardonnay and the blending grape French Colombard. Pinot Gris is now grown in nearly all of the state's major winegrowing counties.

What is the most widely planted white grape in California?

If Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of red grapes,

Chardonnay

is the queen of whites. The variety is California's most widely planted winegrape, with 93,452 acres reported in 2017.

How many grape growers are in California?

California's 2019 grape acreage totaled 918,000 acres. Of the total grape acreage,

860,000

were bearing while 58,000 were non-bearing. The wine-type grape acreage is estimated at 635,000 acres. Of the total acres, 590,000 were bearing and 45,000 were non-bearing.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.