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California Wine Industry
- Napa Valley produces only 4% of the wine made in the state of California.
- California vineyards were first planted in 1778 by Spanish Mission Fathers. The first winery was established in the 1850's during the California Gold Rush.
- Wine is California's number one finished agricultural product.
- Winegrape production enhances the environmental beauty of the State, preserves highly valued open spaces and rich agricultural heritage. Grapevines also help to cleanse the air, just as trees do.
- If California were a nation - it would be the fourth leading wine-producing country in the world behind France, Italy and Spain in that order.
- There are at approximatley 850 wineries in California. Roughly half of these wineries sell less than 5,000 cases and the largest 25 ship 90 percent of all California wine to markets worldwide.
