A unique terroir The Northern California vineyards have many attributes. Firstly, thanks to the state's very diverse geography with the influence of the ocean, and secondly thanks to its very diverse climate, with the cool Pacific currents meeting the protective shield of a mountain range and the Central Valley. California's vineyard benefits from many micro-climates which can vary from the coolest to the sunniest within a few kilometers. The key factor in the quality of Californian vineyard