As a native Californian who has been immersed in the American wine scene for many years, it is truly an honour to be the Ambassador of the stunning range of wines from our highly regarded producers across the pond. The microclimates across the wine regions of California are all unique, with rugged forest terrain, highly complex soils, altitude shifts, and proximity to the ocean all playing a role in the characterisation of AVAs, or American Viticultural Areas. All of our producers are passionate stewards of the land, seeking out vineyards that showcase the terroir of which their vines hail from, so we thought it fitting to elaborate on these definitive AVAs in the following pages. With the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean and its impact on the elegant and restrained style of wines produced — from the Mendocino Ridge and West Sonoma Coast down to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Barbara, we’re thrilled to highlight the individuality of these AVAs and the carefully chosen vineyards within, as so beautifully expressed in the wines of our Californian producers.
The exceptional 2021 vintage was welcomed with open arms after the tragedy of the 2020 harvest with wildfires that swept through most of Napa and Sonoma, leaving many without a vintage to bottle. Gratefully, Mother Nature was forgiving in 2021 and we’re delighted to offer an impressive array of wines from what most of our producers are calling one of the best vintages they’ve seen in years, if not ever! Whilst yields were collectively lower due to the ongoing drought conditions, the concentration and structure of the wines are superlative. The 2021 vintage is one for the ages and we couldn’t be more pleased to share these wines with you. Cheers!
Rachel Dixon
USA Ambassador
