California Dreaming

Californian wines were a hit at the Prowein 2022 fair. Could that have something to do with all those celebrities? - TEXT KARIN LEEUWENHOEK | IMAGE PEXELS.COM

California Dreaming

So, what does David Beckham's Napa taste like?

'Never tasted it before! But I'm very curious. There are indeed quite a few celebrities with a winery in Napa Valley, but perhaps fewer than you think,' says Connor Best, Senior Director Global Marketing at Napa Valley Vintners. 'In any case, I understand very well why they want to live here. I myself grew up in Louisiana, near New Orleans. When I first came to Napa Valley in 2006, I knew I wanted to move here. I fell in love with those golden hills, the warm, sunny days and cool nights, and the people here - these are real bon vivants. And, more importantly, from Napa Valley come the best tomatoes in the world! For me, California represents sunshine, opportunity, innovation, a push towards sustainability, beauty, passion, quality and, above all, an insane wine and food culture.'

Does Napa revolve around 'Cub Sauv'?

'Cabernet is King in Napa, because more than 50 per cent of the plantings here are cabernet sauvignon, and Cab is a very large percentage of our exports. But whatever we always say: Napa Valley is not a one-trick pony. Thanks to our diverse soils and microclimates, we grow almost 60 different grape varieties here, from albariño to zinfandel. This also gives our winemakers plenty of room to experiment. Apart from Cab Sauv, we are known for our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, from grapes from the cooler zones, as well as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.'

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