| In the United States, California accounts for the | | | | California were equalized with a cooling system |
| largest share of wine producers, including Napa | | | | that was first employed in Algeria. The cooling |
| Valley, Sonoma Valley, Monterey, Paso Robles, | | | | system is basicallya series of pipes that circulates |
| and Santa Ynez. Of these, Napa Valley is the | | | | iced water through the vines. Pure culture yeast |
| most popular wine region. | | | | that is derived from many of the European |
| California's coastal winemaking regions are blessed | | | | vineyards has also contributed to improving the |
| with generally pleasant weather, fewer tourists | | | | quality of California wine. |
| than in summer, and subtle shades of gold and | | | | The shift in Chardonnay styles that began a |
| orange creeping over the vineyards as vines go | | | | couple of years ago is accelerating, and more and |
| dormant for the winter. | | | | more wineries are choosing to make tighter, |
| Among the wines produced under the California | | | | livelier wines whose brisk acids separate them |
| wine Label are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, | | | | from the fuller, fleshier style that has ruled for |
| assorted reds and Cabernet Sauvignon. California | | | | some years now. Not to worry though, California |
| wine is often pitted against its French | | | | will always make deep Chardonnays because that |
| counterparts. | | | | is what the grapes give the wineries. |
| Wine Cultivation has grown in the U.S. during the | | | | In the U.S. and abroad, California winery sales |
| last sixty years. In the 1850s, the production | | | | totaled about 437 million gallons in 1998, up three |
| amounted to a little more than a million in gallon. | | | | percent over 1997. Consumers in the U.S. |
| At present, the production will not fall short of | | | | purchased most of this volume as California |
| fifty million gallons. But this does not mean that | | | | wineries shipped 388 million gallons nationwide for |
| European wines will be displaced very soon, since | | | | a seventy-three percent share of the U.S. wine |
| the characteristics of delicacy and breed they | | | | market, or roughly three out of every four |
| have in their reputation cannot be simply replaced. | | | | bottles consumed in America. The estimated retail |
| California wines have introduced the latest | | | | value of the state's winery shipments to the U.S. |
| scientific methods in vine and wine making, | | | | was $12 billion, up five percent from the previous |
| High temperatures that prevail in some parts of | | | | year. |