So You Think You Know California Wines? (2016)

"So You Think You Know California Wines?" is designed to simplify your understanding by identifying growing trends, grape descriptions and the history of California wine production. The edition profiles the 27 top wine grapes and principal growing regions.

The edition is idea for wine collectors, winemakers and anyone who appreciates a world class California vintage. The following are just fourteen from hundreds of little known facts about California wines and the 2015 grape harvest.

1. Of California's 3.7 million tons of wine grapes harvested in 2015, the Central Valley growing region raised 73% and 70% of the white wine grapes. California grows 17% more red wine grapes than white. In 1976, the red grape ratio was two to one over whites.

2. The Napa Valley accounted for only 4.5% of the red wine grapes and 2% of the white. The Sonoma/Marin region accounted for 5% of the red and 4.7% of the white wine grapes.

3. The average value of Napa red wine grapes is over 10 1/2 times and for white grapes, 6 1/2 times more than the Central Valley. Sonoma/Marin's regional red grapes are valued over 6 1/2 times and for white grapes, 5 1/2 times more.

4. The California drought had a negligible effect on the Central Valley's 2015 grape yields, as production nearly equaled their 2014 figures.

5.Wine grape production yields declined dramatically in the Napa Valley (-29.4%), Sonoma/Marin (-28.8%). Central Coast (-28.8%) and Monterey Valley regions (-37.8%).

6. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most lucratively priced wine grape in California and the second most cultivated. Napa Valley grape growers concentrated 59% of their red grape production into Cabernet Sauvignon. Its value is 14 times the Central Valley equivalent. Yields declined 23-37% in the premium wine regions.

7. In the 2015 harvest, Chardonnay was the state's largest grown grape accounting for 38% of the white wine grapes and over 16% of the overall harvest production.

And this is only the surface of facts...