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.