Wednesday, April 7, 2010 as of 11:14 AM ET
Life is good in the California Wine Country. Eating and, above all, drinking are cultivated as high arts. Have you been daydreaming about driving through vineyards, stopping here and there for a wine tasting or a picnic?..
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The growing popularity of French wines
The foodie answers all your of vino questions!
Biking: Cycling is one of the best ways to see the Wine Country—the Russian River and Dry Creek valleys are particularly beautiful. Browsing the farmers' markets: Almost every town in Napa and Sonoma has a seasonal farmers' market, each rounding up an amazing variety of local produce.
Napa Valley Mustard Festival, Feb.-Mar. When Napa is at its least crowded, and wild mustard blooms in between the vines, locals celebrate wine, food, and art with exhibitions, auctions, dinners, and cooking competitions. (707/938-1133www....
Spas in Napa and Sonoma have two special angles. First, there are the local mud baths and mineral-water sources, concentrated particularly around Calistoga. Admittedly, no one loves dipping into a thick, muddy paste. But once you've had a few ...
Well more than 50 varieties of grapes are grown in the California Wine Country. Although you don't need to be on a first-name basis with them all, you'll see the following dozen again and again as you visit the wineries. WHITES Chardonnay. Now as firmly associated with California wine making as it is with Burgundy, where it's used extensively. California chardonnays spent many years chasing big, buttery flavor, but the current trend is toward more restrained wines.
Like any activity, wine making and wine tasting have specialized vocabularies, and most of the terms are actually quite helpful, once you have them down. Here are some core terms to know: American Viticultural Area (AVA). More commonly termed an "appellation," this is a region with unique soil, climate, and other grape-growing conditions. When a label lists an appellation—Napa Valley or Mt. Veeder, for example—at least 75% of the grapes used to make the wine must come from that region.
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