CALIFORNIA
Many of the vineyards in Mendocino County
focus on chardonnay and pinot noir.
WINE CENTRAL
Introducing California
Wine Central
The complete source for
information on California's wine
regions and varietals
C
heers focuses on helping full-service
restaurants and bars develop and execute a
stellar beverage program. Wine is a huge part of a
full-service operator's beverage alcohol offering,
and California wines are playing an increasingly
important role. That's why Cheers is pleased to
announce a new supplement for 2013: California
Wine Central.
Throughout this year in Cheers, you'll find
overviews of California's distinct wine regions,
complete with information about the grapes
and brands within that geographic area. These
snapshots will provide the details you need to
better understand California wine and sell it to
your customers.
Plus, you'll have access to a wealth of knowledge
at www.CAWineCentral.com, our new source for all
things California wine. The site will include images,
videos, podcasts, exclusive feature stories, and
data from The Beverage Information Group, the
research arm of our parent company.
So be sure to visit the new site, check out the
exclusive digital content and "like" our California
Wine Facebook page. And please do tell us what
you think of the supplement.
14
| JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
The North Coast
Elegant, cool-climate wines
beyond Napa and Sonoma
By Liza B. Zimmerman
T
he entire North Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA)
in California covers more than 3 million acres. It officially
includes Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties,
as well as portions of Marin and Solano Counties, according to
the San Francisco-based Wine Institute. The region has been a
winemaking hub since the mid-19th century.
While Napa and Sonoma are by far the best-known regions in
the area, smaller AVAs, such as Mendocino and Lake County, are
also making elegant, cool-climate wines at competitive price points.
The diversity of wine offerings—both single varietal, blends and
sparkling—the value, and small-volume production are all part of
what makes these Northern California growing areas unique.
Mendocino is home to more than 90 wineries and 10 AVAs,
according to the Wine Institute and the Ft. Bragg, CA-based
tourism agency Visit Mendocino County. Much of the region's
production is focused on chardonnay and pinot noir; about
25% of its total vineyard acreage is certified organic.
Lake County's most planted grape is cabernet sauvignon,
followed by sauvignon blanc. The region's acreage is also
expected to double in the next few years.
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