Mountaintop vines unfurl and stretch skywards in the soft morning breeze, saluting the sun as it gilds each leaf and grape. Surrounding vineyards plunge into valleys and race down hillsides like surfers taking an early morning drop on a glassy, Pacific wave. Others appear to have skipped and hopscotched through the landscape, striping every other field to create a pretty patchwork that spans multiple climates, communities and cultures – a reflection of California at large.
There’s more to California than wine, but it’s impossible to avoid, even if you wanted to. It’s etched into the land, visible in the architecture and takes centre-stage in restaurants from San Diego all the way up to Crescent City. Sun-ripened grapes scent the air with heady, floral berry notes, hinting at their true potential; at times, you can almost taste the terroir on the breeze.
