Innovation, Optimism, Boldness and Sustainability – these four pillars best represent California, long known for high quality wines of distinctive character, thanks to its ideal year-round weather boasting abundant sunshine, cool coastal breezes and a diverse terroir that supports more than 100 grape varieties.
Malaysian wine drinkers have long enjoyed California wines since their entrance into the market more than 30 years ago with a strong presence in top restaurants and retailers here.
This July, 45 California wines were introduced at an exclusive ‘new to market’ California Wine Tasting preview hosted at the residence of the US Ambassador to Malaysia, Brian McFeeters.
“It is wonderful to see the growing interest in the Malaysian wine market from such a wide range of California wineries,” said Ambassador McFeeters. “Each winery has a great story to tell about the quality and culture surrounding their wine-making. By introducing these 45 wines, we hope to find Malaysian partners who can help make them available here and continue sharing those stories.”
The event was organised in Kuala Lumpur on July 7, by California Wine Institute to complement its “Golden State of Mind” global campaign for its California Wines which was introduced together with a vibrant new look and logo and a tagline, ”As Alive as the Place They’re Grown.”
Embodying optimism, the “Golden State of Mind” campaign is timed to position California wineries for growth as global markets begin to ramp back up following the challenges of 2020.
The campaign also positions the wine company as a leader in sustainable wine-growing, innovation, and wine-making advancements while promoting the commitment, spirit and innovation of generations of family farmers and winemakers in producing high-quality wines.
Christopher Beros, Asia Director at California Wine Institute, said, “California wineries are seeking new opportunities to connect with a broader audience of wine consumers and to reach both established and emerging wine drinkers as well as those eager to expand their choices and discover new wines. Indeed, California Wines are as approachable as the people of California and share the same energy, dynamism and freshness as our lifestyle.
“California’s wine regions are made up of the North Coast, Central Coast, Sierra Foothills, Inland Valleys, Southern California and Far North California.
“They produce 81% of United States made wines which are world-renowned for their quality,” explained Beros.
A California map of the wine regions can be found at : https://discovercaliforniawines.com/wine-map-winery-directory
Here, abundant sunshine mixed with cool coastal breezes and fog ensures a long grape growing season. Coupled with the diversity of the state’s terroir, these attractive qualities give winemakers the latitude to create complex varietals and unique, expressive blends.
Some examples of grapes harvested are Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. Such amazing variety means there is always a California wine for any occasion. See: https://discovercaliforniawines.com/meet-the-grapes/
“With the ever-increasing awareness of wine-making processes, and consumers being more mindful about the origins of the wines they are enjoying, it is more crucial than ever to reinforce the objectives of California Wines, particularly the sustainability efforts,” Beros added.
Environmentally conscious consumers can take comfort in the fact that California is home to one of the world’s most widely adopted sustainable wine-growing programs in terms of both wine grape acreage and case production. As the fourth largest wine producing region in the world, these numbers demonstrate the deep commitment to sustainability by the California wine industry. In addition, more than 80% of California’s wine is produced in a Certified California Sustainable Winery.
California’s dedication to sustainable wine-growing means producing high quality grapes and wines while protecting the environment, being a good neighbour and employer, and maintaining a vibrant long-term business.
More information can be found here: https://californiasustainablewine.com/
Wine Tasting 101
Here are some helpful tips when it comes to tasting wine:
- See the colour and clarity of the wine
- Swirl the wine to release the distinctive aroma of the grape variety
- Sniff the wine by bringing the glass to your nose and try describing the aromas
- Sip the wine and hold it in your mouth. Gently draw air through your teeth to direct aromas to the nasal passages. Note any tartness or sweetness, temperature, tannins (astringency).
More tips are available here: https://discovercaliforniawines.com/selecting-tasting-and-serving/
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