Spanish missionaries moving north from Mexico spread not only the gospel but also the grape.  Right-minded Gold Rushers, the 49ers, established vineyards.  Italian immigrants were looking for a new life but what's life without wine.  They literally put down roots. Prohibition put the rapidly expanding vineyard plantings on hold.  With repeal planting revived with a clearer notion of where serious quality vineyards could thrive, Napa Valley.  In this way prohibition had been a real boost to winemaking in California.  A great deal of previously existing marginal vineyard was never replanted vastly improving the overall wine quality.

Napa Valley was the obvious spot for California to hang its viticultural hat but there is so much happening in other areas of the State that winelovers are bound to find decades of exciting new expressions in wine.

http://www.vinography.com/archives/2005/08/californias_best_artisan_wines.html

From Sangiovese to Trebbiano and the wide viticultural variations that lie in between, navigating the wine shop shelves to find an Italian wine that will complement a Friday night lasagna can be a fun-filled experience. While Italy has successfully planted the vast majority of the dominant international grape varietals, the country's domestic vines are what offer the true flavor characteristics that have made Italian wines world reknown for ages. With literally hundreds of wines produced in Italy annually, it is no wonder that selecting Italian wines can be a bit intimidating. Therefor pick from the Artisan collection some wines and make it a new experience. You will enjoy it.

Numerous grape varieties are cultivated in France, including both internationally well-known and obscure local varieties. In fact, most of the so-called "international varieties" are of French origin, or became known and spread because of their cultivation in France. Since French appellation rules generally restrict wines from each region, district or appellation to a small number of allowed grape varieties, there are in principle no varieties that are commonly planted throughout all of France.

Most varieties of grape are primarily associated with a certain region, such as Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux and Syrah in Rhône, although there are some varieties that are found in two or more regions, such as Chardonnay in Bourgogne (including Chablis) and Champagne, and Sauvignon Blanc in Loire and Bordeaux. As an example of the rules, although climatic conditions would appear to be favorable, no Cabernet Sauvignon wines are produced in Rhône, Riesling wines in Loire, or Chardonnay wines in Bordeaux. (If such wines were produced, they would have to be declassified to Vin de Pays or French table wine. They would not be allowed to display any appellation name or even region of origin.)