5 Ways to Improve CA Wine

[Roy Hersh]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 1K4B5H.DTL

[Brian C.]

I always wondered about the need for AVAs. The reason for DOCs and AOCs seems more apparent in that there are longstanding unique traditions in many of them, and the name of the region carries the recognition of that tradition. Are there different rules, regs, and requirements among neighboring California AVAs? Does Alexander Valley follow different methods and traditions than does Napa? Aren't the varietals pretty similar, if not the same?

As for the estates, the newer owners have much higher costs to contend with, which would speak to why the bang for the buck, or QPR, is often not quite as good in California for a bottle of wine.