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BECAUSE OF THE WIDE VARIETY OF CLIMATE ZONES AND TERRAIN, THE HILLSIDES OF CALIFORNIA ARE DISTINCTLY SUITED FOR PREMIUM GRAPE VARIETIES. WITH THE WARM DAYS, COOL EVENINGS AND MOIST RICH SOIL - GRAPES WITH DEEP, VIBRANT COLORS AND FLAVORS ARE GROWN ABUNDANTLY IN THE VALLEYS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, OREGON AND WASHINGTON. ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE MAKE CALIFORNIA AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THE LARGEST GRAPE PRODUCING STATES IN THE COUNTRY, WITH OVER 440,000 ACRES DESIGNATED FOR GRAPE PRODUCTION. THESE ELITE GROWERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNVEILING SOME OF THE MOST FLAWLESS WINES IN THE WORLD.
LIKEWISE, EASTERN LONG ISLAND AND NEW YORK STATE IS HOME TO OVER 18 WINERIES AND 150 GRAPE PRODUCERS WHERE YOUR TASTE BUDS CAN SAVOUR FINE CHARDONNAYS, MERLOTS, CABERNETS, REISLINGS AND MUCH MORE.
IN ADDITION, THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND FINE WINES GO HAND-IN-HAND. PREMIUM GRAPES GROWN FOR WHITE WINE VARIETIES SUCH AS SAUVIGNON BLANC, CHARDONNAY, JOHANNISBERG; RED WINES SUCH AS CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT AND BLUSH WHITE ZINFANDEL SHOW REMARKABLE CHARACTER.
INCOME FROM THESE PRODUCERS RANGE FROM SMALL AND INTIMATE TO ENORMOUS AND ECCENTRIC.
MOST OF THE VINEYARDS HAVE BEEN, AND CONTINUE TO BE, FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED. SOME OF THESE PRODUCERS GROW GRAPES FOR NEEDS OTHER THAN WINE. |
