From 1800s to Today: 11 Iconic Wines That Capture California’s Wine Legacy

Daisy in Food & Drink Sep 19 • 18 min read

California's wine history spans nearly three centuries, marked by innovation, resilience, and exceptional wines.

This blog will guide you through that journey, focusing on 11 handpicked wines, each representing a key period or shift in California's winemaking evolution. With each bottle, you'll taste a chapter of this story, from the earliest wineries to the modern trends shaping today’s wine world.

The History of California Wine Over the Past 300 Years

California’s winemaking history is rooted in Spanish missionaries planting the first vineyards in the 1700s, but the industry truly began to develop in the 1800s with the establishment of formal wineries. Over time, California wine became known globally for its diverse and high-quality offerings.

The evolution of grape-growing techniques, climate awareness, and experimental winemaking has cemented California as a wine region of exceptional importance. Below, we explore these significant periods through 11 standout wines that define different milestones in California’s wine development.

1. Gundlach Bundschu Gewürztraminer (2023) – $29

Era Represented: 1800s – Early Wine Industry Establishment
Ingredients: 100% Gewürztraminer grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Floral, spicy, and full of tropical fruit notes, this crisp white wine comes from Gundlach Bundschu, one of California’s oldest wineries founded in 1859. Its bright acidity and vibrant aromas capture the heritage of the region while offering a unique perspective on old-world style winemaking in Sonoma.
Price: $29
Why It’s Important: Gundlach Bundschu represents one of the earliest success stories in California winemaking. This Gewürztraminer, one of the first varieties planted at the winery, serves as a window into California’s 19th-century roots.

2. Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon (2021) – $100

Era Represented: Post-Prohibition Revival
Ingredients: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Deep and complex with rich layers of blackberry, dark cherry, and cedar. This wine is a tribute to the revival of fine winemaking after the Prohibition era. Inglenook, originally founded in 1879, played a pivotal role in restoring Napa Valley’s global reputation.
Price: $100
Why It’s Important: Inglenook's history bridges the gap between the early years of winemaking and the post-Prohibition era when Napa Valley's wineries began to regain momentum. This Cabernet Sauvignon captures the spirit of Napa’s rise from obscurity to greatness.

3. Hanzell Estate Chardonnay (2022) – $50

Era Represented: 1950s – Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Innovation
Ingredients: 100% Chardonnay grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Crisp, lime-scented flavors balanced by oak fermentation give this wine its structure and finesse. Hanzell was a pioneer in adopting Burgundy techniques in California, especially with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Price: $50
Why It’s Important: The 1950s saw the rise of varietals like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in California. Hanzell was a leader in introducing Burgundian winemaking techniques, which helped shape California’s identity as a home for world-class Chardonnay.

4. Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs (2021) – $44

Era Represented: 1965 – Introduction of Sparkling Wine
Ingredients: 100% Chardonnay grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Bright and effervescent with crisp apple and citrus notes. Schramsberg’s Blanc de Blancs was the first sparkling wine made in California using the traditional French méthode champenoise, showcasing the state’s ability to produce high-quality sparkling wines.
Price: $44
Why It’s Important: This bottle highlights the 1960s era of experimentation in California. Schramsberg's dedication to sparkling wine paved the way for California's presence on the global stage in sparkling wine production.

5. Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay (2021) – $75

Era Represented: 1976 Judgment of Paris
Ingredients: 100% Chardonnay grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Precise, elegant with flavors of green apple, lemon, and a minerally finish. Chateau Montelena’s Napa Valley Chardonnay won the legendary Judgment of Paris in 1976, which put California wines on the map by defeating French wines in a blind tasting.
Price: $75
Why It’s Important: This wine is a piece of history. The Judgment of Paris marked California’s arrival as a serious contender in the global wine market, forever changing the perception of American wine.

6. Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay (2022) – $17

Era Represented: 1980s – The Chardonnay Boom
Ingredients: 100% Chardonnay grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Known for its creamy texture and buttery finish, this Chardonnay offers flavors of ripe pear, pineapple, and vanilla. It’s a quintessential example of the style that brought Chardonnay to mass appeal in the United States.
Price: $17
Why It’s Important: Kendall-Jackson’s Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay represents the 1980s, a period when Chardonnay became the most popular varietal in America. Its accessible price and appealing style made it a favorite among wine lovers.

7. Harlan Estate (2020) – $1,700

Era Represented: 1990s – The Cult Cabernet Era
Ingredients: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Incredibly complex, with flavors of dark berries, truffle, and tobacco, this wine is the epitome of luxury. Harlan Estate is one of Napa’s most prestigious and sought-after labels, representing the "cult wine" movement of the 1990s.
Price: $1,700
Why It’s Important: Harlan Estate is symbolic of the rise of ultra-premium, small-production wines in California during the 1990s, particularly in Napa Valley. These wines became status symbols for collectors, often fetching sky-high prices.

8. Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (2021) – $90

Era Represented: 1990s – The “Big Wine” Trend
Ingredients: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Full-bodied and bold, with flavors of ripe dark fruits, vanilla, and oak, Caymus Cabernet represents the "big wine" trend that gained traction in the late 1990s and continues to influence Napa winemaking.
Price: $90
Why It’s Important: The late 1990s saw a shift towards highly concentrated, fruit-forward wines with strong oak influences. Caymus’s rich, powerful style is emblematic of this era in California winemaking.

9. Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir (2022) – $32

Era Represented: Post-2004 Pinot Noir Renaissance
Ingredients: 100% Pinot Noir grapes
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Elegant and aromatic, with red cherry, cranberry, and hints of spice, this wine reflects the growing popularity of Pinot Noir in California after 2004, largely spurred by the movie Sideways.
Price: $32
Why It’s Important: Pinot Noir saw a dramatic rise in demand after the release of Sideways. Calera was one of the pioneers in this movement, producing some of the finest Pinot Noir from California’s Central Coast region.

10. Leviathan Red Wine (2021) – $40

Era Represented: 2010s – Popularity of Blends
Ingredients: Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Petite Sirah
Flavor Profile & Benefits: A bold, spicy wine with layers of dark fruit and a full-bodied structure. Leviathan is known for crafting wines that embody the growing trend of non-traditional blends without relying on residual sugar.
Price: $40
Why It’s Important: The 2010s saw a surge in creative blends as winemakers stepped outside the boundaries of single-varietal wines. Leviathan’s robust red blend exemplifies the increasing diversity in California wine offerings during this time.

11. Broc Cellars Amore Rosso (2022) – $30

Era Represented: Modern Era – Natural Wine Movement
Ingredients: A blend of Italian varietals, vinified naturally
Flavor Profile & Benefits: Light, bright, and earthy, with refreshing acidity and lively fruit flavors. Broc Cellars uses minimal intervention techniques, showcasing the rise of natural wine in California.
Price: $30
Why It’s Important: The modern era of California winemaking has been marked by a shift toward sustainability, organic farming, and natural winemaking techniques. Broc Cellars has become a leader in the natural wine movement, emphasizing authenticity and minimal intervention.

Final Thoughts

From the first vineyards of the 1800s to the current trend of natural wines, California’s wine history is a tale of innovation and perseverance. Each of these 11 wines represents a milestone in this journey.

Whether you’re exploring the rebirth of Napa after Prohibition with Inglenook’s Cabernet or tasting the game-changing Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena, these wines will give you a deeper understanding of California’s wine story.