Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley Wines
Written By: Brian Freedman on Wed, Jul 12th 2006
Napa and Sonoma are America's answer to the great wine regions of the world: The variety of grapes that are grown there, and the quality of wine that results, can and do rival those of any region in the world. From the blockbuster Cabernet Sauvignons and Zinfandels to the famously full-bodied Chardonnays to the elegant Pinot Noirs, there is little that Napa and Sonoma can't do beautifully.
Traditionally, Napa and Sonoma are known for bucking the French and Italian model of focusing on blends. Instead, California's winemakers tend to highlight each individual grape variety. The Cabernet Sauvignons, for example, were (and are) so good that the winemakers felt they didn't have to blend them with other grape varieties to produce a truly great wine. This led to what has been called 'the varietal revolution' - that is, the American obsession with varietal wines. And though this still continues today, there are now some excellent blends as well. Of particular note are Meritage wines, which are Bordeaux-style blends. Notable ones include Joseph Phelps Insignia and Opus One, a collaboration between California's Robert Mondavi and Bordeaux's Rothschild family.
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