CALIFORNIA
reports
Report #90 – Santa Barbara’s Sta. Rita Hills: An Update - (27pp)
- Introduction
- Winery Profiles and Tasting Notes
- Annex 1: Vineyards of the Sta. Rita Hills
- Annex 2: Map of Sta. Rita Hills
Read the free introduction to Santa Barbara’s Sta. Rita Hills: An Update .
Report #87 – California Chardonnay: Terroir & Winemaking in Sonoma - Double Issue - (54pp)
- Introduction
- California and Sonoma Chardonnay History
- Sonoma County Terroir
- Making Premium Chardonnay Today
- Sonoma County Growing Regions
- Styles of Sonoma Chardonnay
- West Sonoma Coast
- Russian River Valley & Its Neighborhoods
- Los Carneros
- Sonoma Valley & the Petaluma Gap
- Alexander Valley
- Winery Profiles & Tasting Notes
- Annex: Premier Grower Vineyards of Sonoma Chardonnay
Read the free introduction to California Chardonnay: Terroir & Winemaking in Sonoma Report.
Report #82 – Sta. Rita Hills: A New Look - (22pp)
- Introduction
- The Sta. Rita Hills AVA
- Climate and Soils
- The Vineyards
- Winemakers & Their Wines: Then and Now New Investors
- Recent Vintages
- Winery Profiles, Tasting Notes and Ratings
- Annex Selected Sta. Rita Hills Vineyards
Read the free introduction to Sta. Rita Hills: A New Look Report.
Report #87 – California Chardonnay: Terroir & Winemaking in Sonoma - Double Issue - (54pp)
- Introduction
- California and Sonoma Chardonnay History
- Sonoma County Terroir
- Making Premium Chardonnay Today
- Sonoma County Growing Regions
- Styles of Sonoma Chardonnay
- West Sonoma Coast
- Russian River Valley & Its Neighborhoods
- Los Carneros
- Sonoma Valley & the Petaluma Gap
- Alexander Valley
- Winery Profiles & Tasting Notes
- Annex: Premier Grower Vineyards of Sonoma Chardonnay
Read the free introduction to California Chardonnay: Terroir & Winemaking in Sonoma Report.
Report #79 – The Wines of Anderson Valley - (41pp)
- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- Anderson Valley Geography
- The Sub-Regions
- Recent History
- The New Generation
- The Vineyards
- Pinot Noir Styles
- Marketing
- Winery Profiles and Tasting Notes
- Annexes:
- Navarro River Watershed
- Main Vineyards of Anderson Valley
Read the free introduction to the Wines of Anderson Valley Report.
Report #54 – Wines of Mount Veeder - (22pp)
- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- History
- Geography, Soils and Climate
- The Mount Veeder Vinyard
- Wisse and Winemaking
- Summary
- Winery Profiles & Tasting Notes
- Annex: Mount Veeder Appellation Map
Read the free introduction to the Wines of Mount Veeder report.
Report #53 – The American Sparkling Wine - (38pp)
- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- The History of American Sparkling
- The Grapes of the Sparkling Vineyard
- Terroir and Viticulture
- Making Sparkling Wine
- Sparkling Wine Style
- Pairing Food and Sparkling Wine
- Sparkling Wine Producers and Their Wines
- Annex: Producers by Region
Read the free introduction to the America Sparkling wine report.
Report #48 – The Wines of Los Carneros - (31pp)
- Introduction
- A Brief History
- Geography, Soils and Climate
- The Vineyards
- The Grapes
- The Sparkling Wines of Los Carneros
- Los Carneros Producers and their Wines
- Annexes
- Map of Los Carneros
- Selected Vineyard Profiles
Read the free introduction to the Wines of Los Carneros report.
Report #44 – The Wines of Sonoma County - Double Issue - (71pp)
- Introduction
- Top-Rated Producers
- Highlights of Sonoma's Wine History
- Geography, Climate and Soils
- Vineyards, Vines and Vintages
- The AVAs of Sonoma County
- Coastal Cool Climate AVAs and Their Wines
- Coastal Warm Climate AVAs and Their Wines
- Future Challenges and Opportunities
- Annexes
- Wine Map of Sonoma County
- The Soils of Sonoma County
Read the free introduction to the Wines of Sonoma County report.
Report #36 – Wines of Santa Barbara - (46pp)
- Introduction
- Santa Barbara's Top Producers
- The Geography of Santa Barbara
- Historical Highlights
- Climate and Soils
- Viticulture and the Vineyards
- The Grapes and Wines
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Syrah
- Sauvignon Blanc
- The Restaurants of Santa Barbara Wine Country
- Tasting Notes and Ratings
- Annexes
1. The Vineyards of Santa Barbara
2. Map of Santa Barbara County Wine Regions
Read the free introduction to the Wines of Santa Barbara report.
Report #33 – The Wines of Paso Robles - (38pp)
- Introduction
- A Brief Wine History
- Geography and Terroir
- Viticulture in Paso Robles
- Wines of Paso Robles
- Fine Dining in Paso Robles
- Marketing Paso Robles Wines
- Tasting Notes and Ratings
- Annexes:
- Map of Paso Robles Wineries
- The Vineyards of Paso Robles
Read the free introduction to the Wines of Paso Robles report.
Report #29 – The Wines of Monterey County - (38pp)
- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- The Wine History of Monterey County
- Monterey: The Region
- The AVA's
- Viticulture
- Trends in Viticulture
- Managing the Wind
- The Clones of Monterey
- Monterey Wines
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Other Varieties
- Tasting Notes and Ratings
- Annex: Selected Estate and Single Vineyards
- Annex: Monterey's Innovative, Young Winemakers
Read the free introduction to the Wines of Monterey County report.
Report #20 – The Wines of Santa Lucia Highlands: Unique Terroir, Marvelous Wines (31pp)
- Introduction
- The Highlands and Monterey: An Historical Note
- Santa Lucia Highlands: The Region
- Viticulture in the Highlands
- The Vineyards of the Highlands
- Wines of the Santa Lucia Highlands
- Economics of SLH Wines
- Tasting Notes and Ratings
- Annexes:
- Selected Vineyard Profiles
- Table–SantaLuciaHighlandsVineyards
- Map of Santa Lucia Highlands Vineyards
Issue #12 – California Petite Sirah II
Syrah Update:
California and the Northwest
Selections from
California and Washington State (27pp)
- To-Rated Producers
- The Grape
- Petite Sirah in the Vineyard, Winemaking
- Durif in Australia
- Serving and Pairing Petite Sirah with Food
- Petite Sirah in the Markplace
- Tasting Notes and Ratings (175 wines)
Issue
#4 - Syrah from California and the Northwest - Red Hot
and Cool (25pp)
- The Origin of Syrah
- Syrah in the US
- Acreage Reports, Trends and Important AVAs
- Working with Syrah in the Vineyards
- of California, and the Pacific Northwest
- Climate and Styles of Syrah
- Ripeness, Harvest Parameters, and the
- Issue of Alcohol
- Working with Syrah in the Winery
- Pairing Syrah with Foods
- The Future: Whither Syrah from California and the Pacific Northwest
- Tasting Notes for California and Pacific Northwest Syrah (250 wines)
Report #3 - Grenache
Wines of Australia, California, France and Spain (28pp)
- Background and History of Grenache
- Food and Wine Pairing
- Styles
- California-WA State Grenache Tasting Notes
- Australian Grenache Tasting Notes
- French Grenache Tasting Notes
- Spanish Grenache (Garnacha) Tasting Notes
- Italian Tasting Notes
- Grenache Wines by Rating and Pricing
Report #1 - California Petite Sirah (8pp)
- The IWR Tasting
- The Results
- Background on the Grape
- Petite Sirah in the vineyard
- Severing and Pairing with Food
- Tasting Notes (35 Wines)