• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Wine Ed

Providing High Quality, Up-To-Date Information All About Wine

  • Home
  • About
  • Courses
    • Sensory Evaluation of Wine Varietals
    • Wine & Wine Service
    • California Wines
    • Champagne & French Sparkling Wine
  • Resources
  • Log In

California Wines

Home / Courses
You are here: Home / Courses / California Wines

December 12, 2019 By Laurie Love

Understanding California wine is an important part of any wine student’s education, whether you are new to wine, a lifelong enthusiast, or a professional in the wine industry.

In this course, you will learn about:

  • California wine introduction including industry position, geography, climate, and map of California appellations
  • California wine history
  • California wine laws and regional overview
  • Wine grapes of California
  • California wine appellations by county

This online course is only meant to complement the live course being next taught at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. You can register here for the live course, and the online course is complimentary.

Wines of California – (CAHM 179)
Jan 30, 2020 – May 21, 2020
Thursdays 6:00 – 9:05 PM

Each week, you will learn through in-class lecture and tasting a flight of wines associated with this region in a group setting.

The California Wine course was written by professional wine educator Laurie Love, WSET Level 3, CSW, FWS, and Sommelier. Ms. Love is WSET Level 3 certified, a Certified Specialist of Wine, and a French Wine Scholar with Highest Honors. Ms. Love also graduated from the Cabrillo College Wine Program with Honors earning three Skills Certificates in wine. She can be reached at laurie@baymoon.com.

Course Content

Expand All | Collapse All
Lessons Status
1

Introduction to California Wine
  • California Wine Map
  • California Geography and Climate
  • California Position in the Wine Trade
  • New World vs. Old World

2

California Wine History
  • Mission Period 1769 to 1833
  • Post-Mission Period 1834 to 1849
  • Gold Rush 1849 to 1900s
  • Prohibition 1920 to 1933
  • Modern California Wine History 1960 to Today
  • Judgment of Paris Tasting
  • Important People to Know

3

California Wine Laws
  • Overview of American AVA System
  • Label Laws
  • Meritage
  • Semi-generic Names
  • California AVAs & Wine Regions
  • North Coast AVA
  • Central Coast AVA
  • South Coast AVA and Southern California Regions
  • Central Valley
  • Sierra Foothills AVA Overview

4

California Wine Grapes
  • Chardonnay
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Zinfandel
  • Pinot Noir
  • Merlot
  • Syrah
  • Pinot Gris/Grigio
  • Sauvignon Blanc

5

Sonoma County
  • Sonoma Terroir
  • Sonoma Grapes
  • Sonoma County AVAs
  • Alexander Valley AVA
  • Bennett Valley AVA
  • Los Carneros AVA
  • Chalk Hill AVA
  • Dry Creek Valley AVA
  • Fort Ross-Seaview AVA
  • Fountaingrove District AVA
  • Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA
  • Knights Valley AVA
  • Moon Mountain AVA
  • Northern Sonoma AVA
  • Petaluma Gap AVA
  • Pine Mountain-Cloverdale AVA
  • Rockpile AVA
  • Russian River Valley AVA
  • Sonoma Coast AVA
  • Sonoma Mountain AVA
  • Sonoma Valley AVA
  • Sonoma vs. Napa

6

Napa County
  • Napa Terroir
  • Napa Grapes
  • Napa Valley Important People to Know
  • Napa vs. Sonoma
  • Napa Valley AVAs
  • Atlas Peak AVA
  • Calistoga AVA
  • Los Carneros AVA
  • Chiles Valley District AVA
  • Coombsville AVA
  • Diamond Mountain District AVA
  • Howell Mountain AVA
  • Mount Veeder AVA
  • Oak Knoll AVA
  • Oakville AVA
  • Rutherford AVA
  • St. Helena AVA
  • Spring Mountain AVA
  • Stags Leap District AVA
  • Wild Horse Valley AVA
  • Yountville AVA

7

Mendocino County
  • Mendocino Terroir
  • Mendocino Grapes
  • Mendocino County AVAs
  • Anderson Valley AVA
  • Cole Ranch AVA
  • Covelo AVA
  • Dos Rios AVA
  • Eagle Peak AVA
  • McDowell Valley AVA
  • Mendocino AVA
  • Mendocino Ridge AVA
  • Pine Mountain-Cloverdale AVA
  • Potter Valley AVA
  • Redwood Valley AVA
  • Yorkville Highlands AVA

8

Lake County
  • Lake County Terroir
  • Lake County Grapes
  • Lake County AVAs
  • Benmore Valley
  • Big Valley District AVA
  • Clear Lake AVA
  • Guenoc Valley AVA
  • High Valley AVA
  • Kelsey Bench AVA
  • Red Hills Lake County AVA

9

Sierra Foothills
  • Sierra Foothills Terroir
  • Sierra Foothills Grapes
  • Sierra Foothills AVAs
  • Amador County
  • California Shenandoah Valley AVA
  • Fiddletown AVA
  • El Dorado County
  • El Dorado AVA
  • Fair Play AVA
  • Yuba County - North Yuba AVA

10

Lodi AVAs & Yolo County
  • Lodi History
  • Lodi Terroir
  • Lodi Grapes
  • Alta Mesa AVA
  • Borden Ranch AVA
  • Clement Hills AVA
  • Consumnes River AVA
  • Jahant AVA
  • Mokelumne River AVA
  • Sloughhouse AVA
  • Yolo County AVAs
  • Capay Valley AVA
  • Clarksburg AVA
  • Merritt Island AVA
  • Dunnigan Hills AVA

11

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
  • Santa Cruz Mountains Terroir
  • Santa Cruz Mountains Grapes
  • History of Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
  • Key Vineyards of Historical Importance
  • Santa Cruz Legends
  • Ben Lomond Mountain AVA

12

Monterey County
  • Monterey Terroir
  • Monterey Grapes
  • Monterey AVA
  • Arroyo Seco AVA
  • Carmel Valley AVA
  • Chalone AVA
  • Hames Valley AVA
  • San Antonio Valley AVA
  • San Bernabe AVA
  • San Lucas AVA
  • Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

13

San Benito County
  • San Benito AVA
  • Cienega Valley AVA
  • Lime Kiln Valley AVA
  • Paicines AVA
  • Mount Harlan AVA
  • Pacheco Pass AVA

14

San Luis Obispo County
  • Paso Robles AVAs
  • Adelaida District AVA
  • Creston District AVA
  • El Pomar District AVA
  • Estrella District AVA
  • Geneseo District AVA
  • Highlands District AVA
  • San Juan Creek AVA
  • San Miguel District AVA
  • Santa Margarita Ranch AVA
  • Templeton Gap District AVA
  • Willow Creek District AVA
  • York Mountain AVA
  • Edna Valley AVA
  • Arroyo Grande AVA

15

Santa Barbara County
  • Santa Barbara Terroir
  • Santa Barbara Grapes
  • Santa Maria Valley AVA
  • Santa Ynez Valley AVA
  • Ballard Canyon AVA
  • Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA
  • Los Olivos District AVA
  • Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Introduction to California Wine
  • California Wine Map
  • California Geography and Climate
  • California Position in the Wine Trade
  • New World vs. Old World
California Wine History
  • Mission Period 1769 to 1833
  • Post-Mission Period 1834 to 1849
  • Gold Rush 1849 to 1900s
  • Prohibition 1920 to 1933
  • Modern California Wine History 1960 to Today
  • Judgment of Paris Tasting
  • Important People to Know
California Wine Laws
  • Overview of American AVA System
  • Label Laws
  • Meritage
  • Semi-generic Names
  • California AVAs & Wine Regions
  • North Coast AVA
  • Central Coast AVA
  • South Coast AVA and Southern California Regions
  • Central Valley
  • Sierra Foothills AVA Overview
California Wine Grapes
  • Chardonnay
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Zinfandel
  • Pinot Noir
  • Merlot
  • Syrah
  • Pinot Gris/Grigio
  • Sauvignon Blanc
Sonoma County
  • Sonoma Terroir
  • Sonoma Grapes
  • Sonoma County AVAs
  • Alexander Valley AVA
  • Bennett Valley AVA
  • Los Carneros AVA
  • Chalk Hill AVA
  • Dry Creek Valley AVA
  • Fort Ross-Seaview AVA
  • Fountaingrove District AVA
  • Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA
  • Knights Valley AVA
  • Moon Mountain AVA
  • Northern Sonoma AVA
  • Petaluma Gap AVA
  • Pine Mountain-Cloverdale AVA
  • Rockpile AVA
  • Russian River Valley AVA
  • Sonoma Coast AVA
  • Sonoma Mountain AVA
  • Sonoma Valley AVA
  • Sonoma vs. Napa
Napa County
  • Napa Terroir
  • Napa Grapes
  • Napa Valley Important People to Know
  • Napa vs. Sonoma
  • Napa Valley AVAs
  • Atlas Peak AVA
  • Calistoga AVA
  • Los Carneros AVA
  • Chiles Valley District AVA
  • Coombsville AVA
  • Diamond Mountain District AVA
  • Howell Mountain AVA
  • Mount Veeder AVA
  • Oak Knoll AVA
  • Oakville AVA
  • Rutherford AVA
  • St. Helena AVA
  • Spring Mountain AVA
  • Stags Leap District AVA
  • Wild Horse Valley AVA
  • Yountville AVA
Mendocino County
  • Mendocino Terroir
  • Mendocino Grapes
  • Mendocino County AVAs
  • Anderson Valley AVA
  • Cole Ranch AVA
  • Covelo AVA
  • Dos Rios AVA
  • Eagle Peak AVA
  • McDowell Valley AVA
  • Mendocino AVA
  • Mendocino Ridge AVA
  • Pine Mountain-Cloverdale AVA
  • Potter Valley AVA
  • Redwood Valley AVA
  • Yorkville Highlands AVA
Lake County
  • Lake County Terroir
  • Lake County Grapes
  • Lake County AVAs
  • Benmore Valley
  • Big Valley District AVA
  • Clear Lake AVA
  • Guenoc Valley AVA
  • High Valley AVA
  • Kelsey Bench AVA
  • Red Hills Lake County AVA
Sierra Foothills
  • Sierra Foothills Terroir
  • Sierra Foothills Grapes
  • Sierra Foothills AVAs
  • Amador County
  • California Shenandoah Valley AVA
  • Fiddletown AVA
  • El Dorado County
  • El Dorado AVA
  • Fair Play AVA
  • Yuba County - North Yuba AVA
Lodi AVAs & Yolo County
  • Lodi History
  • Lodi Terroir
  • Lodi Grapes
  • Alta Mesa AVA
  • Borden Ranch AVA
  • Clement Hills AVA
  • Consumnes River AVA
  • Jahant AVA
  • Mokelumne River AVA
  • Sloughhouse AVA
  • Yolo County AVAs
  • Capay Valley AVA
  • Clarksburg AVA
  • Merritt Island AVA
  • Dunnigan Hills AVA
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
  • Santa Cruz Mountains Terroir
  • Santa Cruz Mountains Grapes
  • History of Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
  • Key Vineyards of Historical Importance
  • Santa Cruz Legends
  • Ben Lomond Mountain AVA
Monterey County
  • Monterey Terroir
  • Monterey Grapes
  • Monterey AVA
  • Arroyo Seco AVA
  • Carmel Valley AVA
  • Chalone AVA
  • Hames Valley AVA
  • San Antonio Valley AVA
  • San Bernabe AVA
  • San Lucas AVA
  • Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
San Benito County
  • San Benito AVA
  • Cienega Valley AVA
  • Lime Kiln Valley AVA
  • Paicines AVA
  • Mount Harlan AVA
  • Pacheco Pass AVA
San Luis Obispo County
  • Paso Robles AVAs
  • Adelaida District AVA
  • Creston District AVA
  • El Pomar District AVA
  • Estrella District AVA
  • Geneseo District AVA
  • Highlands District AVA
  • San Juan Creek AVA
  • San Miguel District AVA
  • Santa Margarita Ranch AVA
  • Templeton Gap District AVA
  • Willow Creek District AVA
  • York Mountain AVA
  • Edna Valley AVA
  • Arroyo Grande AVA
Santa Barbara County
  • Santa Barbara Terroir
  • Santa Barbara Grapes
  • Santa Maria Valley AVA
  • Santa Ynez Valley AVA
  • Ballard Canyon AVA
  • Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA
  • Los Olivos District AVA
  • Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Course Progress

  • "The first thing thing Sue Slater told us in my first class, “This class will change your life.” Two and a half years later, I sold my coffee shop of seven years and jumped head first into the wine industry. In 2016, I purchased the wine bar I worked and have owned it for two years now."
    Cathy Bentley
    Cork and Fork, Capitola
  • "I wanted to keep going to class, so I just kept doing it for fun not really thinking I would work in the industry. But after a few classes, I was learning quite a lot and decided to pursue a WSET certification. I got a part time job and worked a couple weekends a month, which led to a variety of other jobs."
    Genevieve Daly
    Hallcrest Vineyards

Footer

Learn all about wine from the experts

See Courses

Copyright © 2021 · Generously supported by Cabrillo College · Log in