California Wine Weeks - Discover California Wines

During the spring 2023 we are promoting California Wines across 13 countries in 300 restaurants

May-June 2023

Enjoy a glass of California Wines at your favorite restaurant and book online.

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Where to join the event

The event takes place in thirteen different countries.

Austria

Austria

Belgium

Belgium

Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Denmark

Denmark

Finland

Finland

France

France

Germany

Germany

Netherlands

Netherlands

Norway

Norway

Poland

Poland

Sweden

Sweden

Switzerland

Switzerland

Where to find restaurants

Find your favorite restaurant and book online.

Restaurants

Sunshine & Smiles

About California Wines

Did you know that California is the 4th largest wine producer in the world. We have such a diversity of wine styles to offer, from crisp whites to full bodied reds and everything in between. Our natural wonder and constant sunshine makes it easy to smile and it shows in our wines. With California Wine Weeks we support the restaurants to share a special California Wine menu, so enjoy a glass of California Wines in a restaurant near you.

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Get in touch

Questions or comments, send us an email

europe@discovercaliforniawines.com

@californiawineseurope

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Soak up the final days of summer with crisp and vi

Soak up the final days of summer with crisp and vibrant California Sauvignon Blanc! 🥂🌞 @wine.gini suggests it as the perfect, zingy partner for fresh fish, seafood and more…

"The fresh taste will impress everyone, while the fruity aromas and textures will complement the warm air. From starters, main dishes to desserts it’s perfect with everything! It pairs with seafood, chicken, green vegetables, herb-forward sauces!"

In her glass is the fan favorite @cannonballwines Sauvignon Blanc from SHARE A SPLASH Wine Co. This award-winning take on a French classic is sourced from distinctive Golden State sites, shaped by morning fog and cool breezes that slow down ripening and preserve its signature acidity.

Check out @wine.gini's full tasting note below:

“White flowers, citrus, lime, melon, green apple, grapefruit! Crisp acidity keeps the palate lively and uplifting with an attractive lingering flavor and mineral slightly honey finish!”

Find it in Europe 🇪🇺 at @californianwines_eu.

🎥 @wine.gini • #CalfiorniaWines

Postcards from Poland 🍷🇵🇱 @trojmiejscy_wy

Postcards from Poland 🍷🇵🇱 @trojmiejscy_wyjadacze takes us on a trip down memory lane to our #CaliforniaWineWeeks campaign with this special Napa Valley blend from @paraduxxwine, enjoyed in the thousand-year-old port city of Gdańsk on the Baltic coast.

Paraduxx is known for its unconventional approach, inspired by world-famous blends like Italy's “Super Tuscans” and Australia's Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Its Proprietary Napa Valley Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache, and Malbec. The result? A smooth, rich red with soft tannins that beautifully frame the flavours of ripe red berries, cassis, violet, leather, and cocoa powder.

Find Paraduxx in Europe 🇪🇺 at @californianwines.eu, @8wines and other select retailers.

🎥 @trojmiejscy_wyjadacze • #CaliforniaWines #NapaWine

Getting into the groove! 🍇 All across the Golde

Getting into the groove! 🍇 All across the Golden State, vineyards are finding their harvest rhythm. The Californian outpost of Champagne Louis Roederer, @roedererestate, is busy picking Pinot Noir grapes on its cool-climate Anderson Valley estate.

When it comes to deciding when to pick, the sparkling wine experts at Roederer Estate use both high-tech equipment and their own finely-tuned senses. As the harvest approaches, the team will monitors grape maturity daily to find that perfect balance of qualities.

Roederer Estate only uses estate-grown fruit from its eight main sites, capturing the distinctive terroirs of this Pacific-influenced AVA, from the warm eastern side in Boonville to the cool western areas in Deep End.

🎥 @roedererestate • #CaliforniaWines #WineHarvest

"I have always admired Newton Vineyard." • Journ

"I have always admired Newton Vineyard." • Journalist @kathleenwillcox celebrates her love for one of Napa Valley's iconic vineyards and its inspiring journey of resilience after the 2020 wildfires.

Founded in 1977 by the legendary winemaker Peter Newton, this sprawling Spring Mountain estate, just north of Rutherford, stretches across 260 hectares, fostering an environment rich in biodiversity. What sets it apart? The 112 parcels, each planted with specific grape varieties – Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Petit Verdot – all perfectly suited to their respective terroirs.

Kathleen shares here tasting notes for two of the @newtonvineyard releases:

"Newton 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District Napa Valley: This is cerebral, rich and deep. Cassis, blackberries, figs, cedar, brimming with flavor and opulence. An opera."

"Newton 2019 Napa Valley The Puzzle: Captivating and complicated. Blackberries, raspberries, black currants, violets, earthy, sage-y, bingy-boingy energy in the best way. A symphony."

Available in Europe at:
🇨🇭@moevenpick_weinkeller_bern
🇩🇪 @winecom.de,
🇩🇰 @finewines.dk

📷 @kathleenwillcox

Lessons from a legend! 🍇 Join renowned winegrow

Lessons from a legend! 🍇 Join renowned winegrower Cathy Corison of @corisonwinery in her vineyards in St. Helena, Napa Valley, where she demonstrates the essential process of pruning less-optimum grapes from her “gnarly ladies”.

“It’s the one time of the year when we can see any unevenness in the crop,” says Corison, referring to the period halfway through véraison in the vineyards. “We will drop any of the fruit that’s seriously lagging behind its cohort, because we want to be able to pick uniformly ripe grapes.”

She also shares her insights on the 2023 vintage:
”We’re very excited about this vintage; we broke the drought, got good rainfall last year, have a decent crop out here, and we’re all starting to get really excited.”

🎥 @napavintners • #Winegrower #NapaValley #WineHarvest

Dive into the diversity of the Golden State! 🍇

Dive into the diversity of the Golden State! 🍇 Did you know that the California grows over 100 grape varieties? Beyond the all-stars like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel, you will find a rich array of grapes, from Chenin Blanc to Tempranillo, many of which were originally brought over by European farmers from their homelands when they settled in the United States.

Sweden-based food and wine connoisseur Masha (@stockholm) explored some of them during our #CaliforniaWineWeeks campaign, which saw over 300 wine bars and restaurants across 13 countries in Europe showcase top wines from the Golden State. She headed to @combovinbaren, awarded with the Best Wine List by @starwinelist, and boasting a glittering selection of #CaliforniaWines.

Her wine choices included an unusual skin-contact Chenin Blanc from Ballard County by @stolpmanvineyards, a rich and oxidative Palomino from Cucamonga Valley by @scythianwineco, a project by a sommelier-turned-vigneron Raj Parr, and a lively and light Grenache from Santa Barbara County by @gracewine.

Meet the feathered friends of California’s wineg

Meet the feathered friends of California’s winegrowers 🍇🦉 Birds of prey such as owls, hawks and falcons are the secret saviour of winegrowers when it comes to protecting their precious bounty around harvest time.

Luscious grapes, ripe for harvest, can be an irresistible treat for vineyard pests such as rodents and small birds. Instead of using harmful pesticides to keep these nibblers at bay, an increasing number of California’s winegrowers are turning to natural predators for assistance.

Advocates of this nature-led approach include @jacksonfamilywines, one of California’s most influential family-owned wine companies, @wente, a multi-generational sustainable wine producer in Livermore Valley, and @frogsleap, a pioneer of organic and regenerative farming in Napa Valley.

📷 @calpolyhum.barnowls @carmelroad @frosgleap

An endless summer with DAOU Estate Sauvignon Blanc

An endless summer with DAOU Estate Sauvignon Blanc from Paso Robles 🥂🌞 @daouvineyards showcases the lighter side of this Bordeaux classic, and it thrives on the calcareous soils of DAOU Mountain; "a jewel of ecological elements" on the slopes of Adelaida District.

A quintessential rendition of Paso Robles Sauvignon Blanc, it’s brimming with varietal aromas of wet stone, grapefruit, lemongrass and basil leaf. The firmly structured palate follows up with flavours of peach, apricot, passionfruit, lemon zest, lime pie and bright acidity. One to sip all summer long, and beyond…

Find DAOU wines in the EU 🇪🇺 at @californianwines.eu, @winecom.de, @best_of_wines and other select retailers.

🎥 @daouvineyards

Napa Valley is buzzing with activity as the 2023 h

Napa Valley is buzzing with activity as the 2023 harvest season commences! 🍇 Just last week, @stsupery rounded up its Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the Dollarhide Estate Vineyard from the northeastern hills of the valley.

Winegrowers all over the Golden State are getting ready to harvest the fruits of this vintage. Both Napa and Sonoma were blessed with much-needed rainfall during the winter and spring, and cooler temperatures have stretched out the growing season.

"Thus far, this year's conditions remind me most of 2010, a great vintage marked by concentration and balanced acidity," shares Maya Dalla Valle of @dallavallevineyards, multigenerational Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc specialists in Oakville, for a recent harvest forecast by @decanter.

"As we have seen in other late years, the added hang time and protracted late season ripening often plays to our favour," added winemaker Paul Hobbs of @paulhobbswines, creator of coveted, terroir-driven wines from some of the top vineyards in California.

Stay tuned for more harvest updates! #CaliforniaWines

🎥 @stsupery

Picture yourself on a sun-filled terrace, surround

Picture yourself on a sun-filled terrace, surrounded by nature, with a beautifully chilled glass of California Chardonnay 🌞🥂 @thecitizen.nl visited Bij de C restaurant in the Netherlands, enjoying @claycreekvineyards Chardonnay with ocean perch, and other delicious dishes, as part of #CaliforniaWineWeeks.

This full-flavoured Chardonnay comes from some of California’s top vineyards, bottled at the Clay Creek Vineyards family-run and sustainable winery. Expect a generous and mouthfeel, with balanced acidity and rich flavours of ripe pear, peach, hints of vanilla and toasted hazelnut. The perfect choice for an alfresco lunch.

Bij de C was one of the partners for our two-month-long #CaliforniaWineWeeks campaign, encompassing 300 wine bars and restaurants across 13 countries in Europe, showcasing top wines from the Golden State.

Clay Creek Vineyards Chardonnay is available in Europe 🇳🇱 from @wijnhuisoktober

📷 @thecitizen.nl

“All along the way, I was told that my ideas had

“All along the way, I was told that my ideas had never been done before.” 💡 @wineenthusiast “American Wine Legend” David S. Stare tells of how he came to open the first winery in Dry Creek Valley after prohibition, @drycreekvineyard.

Founded in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyard championed Zinfandel among other world-class wine grapes, and pioneered the appellation’s very first Fumé Blanc, driven by David’s passion for Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé wines. Today, @drycreekvineyard stands as one of California’s premier family wineries, now under the skillful guidance of the second generation, David’s daughter, Kim Stare Wallace.

The estate’s 185 acres of 100% certified sustainable vineyards produce flagship Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, as well as classically styled, terroir-driven Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Bordeaux varietals, and “Meritage” (Bordeaux-style) blends.

📹 @drycreekvineyard

Ageworthy Chardonnay from a California first growt

Ageworthy Chardonnay from a California first growth 🥂💎 Famously the winner of the Cabernet competition at the 1976 ‘Judgement of Paris’, @stagsleapwinecellars also crafts sublime and sophisticated Napa whites.

Fully living up to its Greek name, meaning "noble" and "graceful", KARIA is an elegant expression of California Chardonnay, made from cooler climate sites in Napa Valley. It spent nine months aging in oak barrels sur lie.

Get a taste of the 2018 KARIA release, shared here by @german_wine_enthusiast: "Complex, full-bodied, elegant white wine with aromas of apple, pear and quince with an appropriately long finish.”

Available in Europe:

🇩🇪 @bacchusvinothek · @moevenpickwein_deutschland
🇨🇭 @moevenpickwein
🇪🇺 @californianwines.eu

📷 @german_wine_enthusiast

It’s a family affair! 🍷 California is famous

It’s a family affair! 🍷 California is famous for its mighty multi-generational family wine estates. In Napa Valley alone, an astonishing 95% of wineries are family owned, many of which extend across the generations. Discover some of California's great wine families below.

@wente has championed Chardonnay in Livermore Valley since 1883! Today it continues its mission, with a tight focus on the sustainability, aided by fourth and even fifth generations of the Wente family.

@veritewines in Sonoma County boasts award-winning Bordeaux blends created by a father-daughter partnership between the sixth-generation French vigneron Pierre Seillan and his daughter Hélène Seillan, the assistant winemaker.

In Sacramento River Delta, @boglevineyards, which witnessed the birth of the Clarksburg AVA, now sees sixth-generation farmers and third-generation winegrowers Ryan, Jody, and Warren Bogle at the helm.

@rameywinecellars continues the pioneering legacy of “the Professor of California Chardonnay”, David Ramey, with brother and sister co-presidents Claire and Adam Ramey making the final blending selections alongside the winemaking team.

📷 @wente @veritewines @boglevineyards @rameywinecellars

California vineyards are transforming! 🍇 Vérai

California vineyards are transforming! 🍇 Véraison, a pivotal stage in the growing season, brings the magical transformation as the berries of California’s 118+ diverse grape varieties ripen and change colour.

"Véraison is the point in the season where the grapes turn from green to red, if they're red grapes,” explains Jason Haas from @tablascreek in Paso Robles. “So up until that point in the season, they've just been getting bigger. And from véraison until harvest, they actually shrink a little bit, but they get sweeter.”

These changes herald the approach of harvest, just a few weeks away! "Harvest is just around the corner, and we are particularly excited for this year's vintage after back-to-back challenging vintages,” reports @hydevineyards in Napa Valley.

📷 @tablascreek • @hydevineyards

“A taste of the future and of the past” 🍷🎓 Last month, Germany hosted the Institute of Masters of Wine's 10th international symposium, with #CaliforniaWines as a proud sponsor. On the final day attendees were treated to a tasting of Ridge Monte Bello 1977, shared here by @konstantinbaum_mw.

This Californian Cabernet icon is a precious piece of West Coast wine history. A top-five wine in the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting, its legacy was forged by visionary vintners. Osea Perrone, an Italian immigrant, first planted the vines atop the Pacific-kissed Monte Bellow Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains back in 1886. In the 1960s, the legendary winemaker Paul Draper, joined the project and succeeded in elevating Ridge’s Monte Bello to be one of California’s finest cru.

According to Draper, this single-site of Cabernet Sauvignon, with 3% Merlot, finds its full expression in a climate "as cool as Bordeaux but without the rain." The estate's signature 'pre-industrial' winemaking techniques, including native yeast, gentle pressing, short macerations, and a deliberate choice of American oak, culminate in a slowly-unfolding masterpiece.

"The wine was slow to develop and not until its second year in wood did it show the multiplicity of facets that give it unusual depth of character.,” said @ridgevineyards on the 1977 vintage.

📷 @konstantinbaum_mw

Welcome to Lodi, a historic Delta wine region wher

Welcome to Lodi, a historic Delta wine region where ancient vines reign and grapegrowing families thrive together. Discover three things to know about this vibrant AVA in the heart of California's Central Valley…

Location, location, location 📍 Situated just 40 miles south of Sacramento and 90 miles east of the San Francisco Bay, Lodi benefits from a prime winegrowing position. The largest gap in California's Coast Ranges allows for refreshing breezes and relief from extreme temperatures.

Where old vines rule 🍇 Lodi wine country boasts the largest collection of old vines in North America. Among these treasured vineyards are gnarly, ancient Zinfandel vines and the world's oldest Cinsault plantings. Many date back to the late 19th century, having survived phylloxera, in part, thanks to the pockets of bug-resistant sandy soils.

Terroir triumphs 🌱 Lodi is celebrated for its mild Mediterranean climate and diverse soils, shaped by geological events and the rivers originating in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Lodi’s varied terroirs allow vintners to grow over 125 grape varieties, from favourites like Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, to lesser-known gems such as Albariño, Cinsault, and Picpoul Blanc.

📷 @stephaniecrusso via @lodiwine

"If wine is memory, I am keeping this one forever!

"If wine is memory, I am keeping this one forever!” 💭🍷 @wine.gini gave her verdict on a Lodi wine gem: @mettlerfamilyvineyards’ “Epicenter" Old Vine Zinfandel.

Honouring its name, the fruit for this expressive, fruit-forward Zinfandel comes from more than 50-year-old vines in the prized Mokelumne River sub-AVA, considered the ‘epicenter’ of Lodi’s old vine Zinfandel. It’s produced organically and sustainably by the Mettler Family, who have been grapegrowers in the region for over 100 years.

The result? 🍷 We’ll leave it to the expert, @wine.gini…

"Earthy and smoky aromas followed by those of plum, vanilla, and spice. The complex bouquet of flavors includes plum, blackberry jam, tobacco, anise, and sweet oak. The sturdy but softly integrated tannins yield to subtle oak notes as the wine lingers on the palate. Full of Zinfandel personality!”

Find it in Europe 🇪🇺 at @californianwines_eu.

🎥 @wine.gini

High-elevation wine treasures from Spring Mountain

High-elevation wine treasures from Spring Mountain District ⛰️ “Napa Valley’s first cult wine producer,” according to Eric Asimov at @nytimes, Stony Hill Vineyard was established by the McCrea family in 1951, becoming the first post-prohibition winery.

A volcanic mountain terroir boasting limestone-rich rocky soils, Stony Hill Vineyard has become a coveted California cru, famous for its high-elevation, mineral-driven Chardonnay, Cabernet and Riesling, among other varietal wines.

Since 2020, the Lawrence family have thoughtfully continued the legacy of this historic mountain vineyard, focusing on producing “classically proportioned wines” with winemaker Reid Griggs.

Stony Hill wines are available in Europe:
🇩🇪 @ungerweine
🇩🇰 KK Wine
🇳🇴 @asvinmonopolet

📷 @stonyhillvineyard • #NapaWine #StonyHillVineyard

One of Napa's originals 🍷 @freemarkabbey dates

One of Napa's originals 🍷 @freemarkabbey dates back to 1886 when the first female vintner in California, Josephine Tychson, built the original redwood cellar on which the estate sits. Over 135 years later, the focus has remained unchanged: crafting classically styled Cabernets with incredible depth and structure, along with layered and refreshing Chardonnays.

Christopher and Ariel Jackson from Jackson Family Wines, who acquired this historic estate in 2006, recently showcased Freemark Abbey wines in Sweden. @rutabaga_stockholm, a top fine-dining destination, hosted the masterclass and lunch. Decadent pairings included white asparagus and Napa Valley Chardonnay 2020, or veal tartare with summer truffle accompanied by Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017.

#NapaWine #FreemarkAbbey #CaliforniaWines

Beat the summer heat with cool-climate Chardonnay

Beat the summer heat with cool-climate Chardonnay by @longmeadowranch 🥂🌞 Made from a vineyard in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, close cooling influences of the San Pablo Bay, this Chardonnay will keep you feeling fresh with its vibrant acidity and lively aromas of golden apple, pear, and lime zest. Sur lie ageing and a touch of French oak add a hint of vanilla with baking spices.

“Inhibiting malolactic fermentation allows the bright fruit characters of this varietal to shine while preserving the wine’s natural acidity,” says Director of Winemaking Lisanne Leask.

@wine_two_moments recently enjoyed it in Hamburg during #CaliforniaWineWeeks: our two-month-long event that took place across 13 European countries. "Even Superman had his weakness for California, and we can understand him! We fly for wine from California."

Long Meadow Ranch Farmstead Chardonnay is available in Europe 🇪🇺 from @californianwines.eu.

📷 @wine_two_moments