Think California wine, and no doubt what comes to mind is buttery Chardonnay, fruity Pinot Noir, barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc or trophy Cabernet Sauvignon. Stereotypes, sure, but they all have something in common, something that reveals... Read More

Think California wine, and no doubt what comes to mind is buttery Chardonnay, fruity Pinot Noir, barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc or trophy Cabernet Sauvignon. Stereotypes, sure, but they all have something in common, something that reveals a truth about Californian wine: that Californian wine is, for the most part, French grape varieties that have been transplanted to our State. 

There is, of course, no reason to assume that French grapes are the best for California’s soils. We grow them mostly for historical reasons. When California developed its wine industry, the best wines in the world were French. It is always a good strategy to copy what seems to be working for a competitor.

But read a book about climate, and you’ll see that California is described as “Mediterranean”. None of the grapes described above are grown in the portion of France that would fit that description. But you know what country is thoroughly Mediterranean, and where virtually all the wines could be described thus? Italy.

This is the central insight of Jupiter Wine Company. Their website points out that 93% of all Californian wine is made from just 8 varieties, 7 of which are French. They want to focus on Italian grapes. In an organic, all-natural, low-sulfur style, of course.