Understanding California

California dominates North American wine production by a huge margin, and hosts a broad range of climate, varieties and styles, spanning a distance as long as the UK.

Abundant sunshine is tempered by the cooling influence of the Pacific's California Current, and mountain ranges hugging the coastal regions. We’ll explore how winemakers balance warmth with freshness, increasingly focusing on texture, structure, and balance rather than ripeness alone. There's far too much to consider in one evening, so we'll look at a few important areas close to the ocean.

Join us for an exploration of Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast, comparing expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the Sonoma Coast 600km away, and delving into Rhone varieties and more from Santa Maria Valley, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles.
A selection of fine cheese and charcuterie from McFarlane’s will be served alongside the wines.