California Wine Tasting Adventures Beyond Napa Valley - Tips For the Casual Wine Taster

If you, the casual wine taster, are looking for a way to impress your casual wine tasting friends, it would serve you well to know James Bond attache case in the world of wine, what has been referred to as the "Judgment of Paris" was an important triumph for California. A blind taste test competition between French and Californian wines was organized in 1976 by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier. It took place in Paris and was judged by a panel of French men and women. Spurrier, the judges, and the world were expecting the French wines to win; however, California wines took top positions in both the red and white categories. This significantly affected New World wine production, because California wine was given legitimacy, inadvertently, by the French Masters.

Today, California produces Weird Science of American wine; so much that if California were a country it would be ranked fourth, just behind France, Italy, and Spain in wine production. Napa Valley and Sonoma County are among the most well known places to get a taste of quality California wine, but it is less known that there are some appealing Superman further north.

Most wineries are still family owned and operated. Because they are not widely staffed, many are open only by appointment on weekends. This doesn't work out so well for the casual wine taster who would prefer a last minute drop by tasting, say, on a Monday. It is those tasters to whom this article is dedicated. There's room for you in the world of California wine!

Here, especially for you, is a list of wineries with more regular hours to cater to your casual wine tasting aspirations. You'll be the hero of your wine tasting party when you reference these accessible locations for California wine north of Napa Valley, especially if everyone was beginning to think you'd missed your opportunities. In no particular order, they are:

- Whispering Oaks Vineyard in Redding. Open 7 Days a week 8:30-3pm

- The Vineyard at Creekside Pecan Gardens in Palo Cedro. Open by appointment Monday through Friday 9-5.

- Salmon Creek Vineyard in Redding. Open Monday through Saturday 9am to 9pm with a call ahead.

- Creekside Cellars tasting room and store in Chico. Open Monday through Saturday 10-7 and Sunday 12-5.

This list is a very small representation of the great wineries in the North State. If you're reading this article with enough planning time to actually call ahead, consider doing some further research to find the venues that will best suit your plans.

The good news is, wine isn't only for wine snobs in California. It's for everyone; so long as you're of age, of course. However, if you're still looking to gain credibility among your friends, remember the story of California's 1976 victory and consider perfecting this French phrase before you get to tasting, "Wouah, ce vin est trs bon." (Sounds like: vwoa, say vah eeh tray bON.) You will appear much more impressive if no French speakers are within earshot when you chose to divulge your new phrase. If all else fails, just remember: even if you didn't know about the "Judgment of Paris," you know enough, and you're guaranteed to find a welcoming atmosphere at the All-American wineries in Northern California.

Amy Beth Beaver is a Tourism Information Specialist in the Shasta Cascade Region of Northern California. For a free visitor's guide and other resources for traveling in this region visit: href="shastacascade.com">shastacascade.com