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On the Wine Industry's Cutting Edge,
'Old-Fashioned' Wine Makes A Comeback

In California and around the world, wine is entering a new era as people are drinking less but better wine.

A case in point : Mendocino County, California.

It has a long tradition of natural grape growing that goes back to the mid-1800's, when Italian immigrant families settled in the area to become Mondocino's first winegrowing pioneers.

From Mom & Pop Vineyards...

Wine touring, a top Mendocino County attraction.

With the advent of Prohibition, the small, struggling Mendocino wine industry almost came to a standstill. Following Prohibition's repeal, new wineries continued to pick up at a steady clip when, in the 1970's, the number of small vineyards boasting handcrafted wines of exceptional quality - suddenly began to skyrocket.

In the 1980's, Mendocino County was finally brought into the international spotlight when wine producers from France discovered Anderson Valley. Today, Mendocino has become a world leader in natural farming practices and a world center for organic wine production.

...To Headline Making News

Most recently, in March, 2004 local voters were faced with becoming the meek David to the Goliath U.S. farming industry when - in a surprising upset - they soundly defeated a controversial proposition to introduce genetically altered crops to the area.

Mendicino quietly, but proudly, continues at the forefront old-fashioned wine production using organic, hand-crafted methods to produce 'revolutionary' vintages.

Of course, wine's ultimate natural environment is at the family dinner table, with good food shared with friends and loved ones. That's how Italian immigrants in California enjoyed wine in the 19th century. It's a robust tradition that - thanks in part to Mendocino County - still survives into the 21st.