loS ANGelES, CA

Before Napa Valley and Sonoma County became synonymous with wine country, Los Angeles was the center of California’s wine trade. In the late 1800s, vineyards lined the banks of the LA River and dotted the area, supplying the grapes for the finest wines in the state. But by the early 1930s, the impact of the Gold Rush, an outbreak of Pierce's disease, and the scourge of Prohibition had nearly wiped out LA’s vineyards, which were converted to citrus groves, replanted to other crops, or cleared for urban development.

In the decades since, a mere few vineyards have been planted, by those who know that Los Angeles is still capable of producing world-class wines. Each of these sites is unique in its altitude, soil type, exposure, and overall climate, yet common among them is the magnificent sunshine that graces the region year round.