Winemaking Has a Long History in the State
California’s winemaking history began as early as the 1700s, when missionaries from Spain brought vines with them in order to produce wine for communion. The variety, known as the mission grape, thrived until about 1880. Although Southern California was the epicenter for wine throughout the first half of the 1800s, settlers were inspired to head north during the Gold Rush (1848 – 1855), laying the groundwork for today’s famous regions such as Napa and Sonoma.
Prohibition nearly destroyed the industry; a loophole in the law allowed for home winemaking, but with demand for grapes rising, growers ripped out the high-quality, pricier varieties in favor of cheaper grapes. Once the law was repealed, a new Viticulture and Enology program at the University of California Davis sought to revive the damaged industry. Growth was slow, but after the 1976 Judgment of Paris — where California wines received high accolades and bested their French counterparts — the state received a shot of confidence as well as adrenaline and the industry flourished.