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Varietals grown in California:
Sauvignon blanc
Chardonnay
Merlot
Zinfandel
Chenin blanc
Gewiztraminer
Semillon
White Reisling
Muscat
Pinot Noir
Syrah
Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission

Unirrigated, dry untrellised Mediterranean vines often have bushy
umbrella shapes.  the vines are low and widely spaced.  

Old world vineyards have 2-3000 vines per acre, but here, we only
have 360-1200 vines/acre.

factors are vine density, vine shapes, trellis systems

temperature ratings based on degree days 

  Region 1 less than 2500 
  Region 2 2500-3000
  Region 3 3000-3500
  Region 4 3500-4000
  Region 5 4000 and over

roughly this is in order of coolest region (1) 
to hottest region (5)

California appelations in Region 1:
  
  Carneros
  Anderson Valley
  Santa Cruz
  Santa Maria

California appelations in Region 2:
  
  Napa
  Sonoma
  Santa Barbara

California appelations in Region 3:

  St Helena
  Oakville
  Healdsburg
  Livermore
  Sierra Foothills
  

California appelations in Region 4:
  
  Clarksburg
  Davis
  Lodi

California appelations in Region 5:

  Fresno
  Modesto

Region 1 and 2 varietals
most recommended varietals for region 1/2:

  chardonnay
  chenin blanc
  Gewurztraminer
  Sauvignon Blanc
  White Reisling
  

NOT recommended
  barbera
  petit sirah
  pinot noir
  zinfandel
  

varietals recommended in regions 3 and 4:

  chenin blanc
  french colombard
  barbera
  

Not recommended:
  
  chardonnay
  gewurztraminer
  white reisling
  pinot noir

no strongly recommended varietals

some qualified rec's
  chenin blanc
  barbera

Armillaria melea is a fungus that kills vines.

Botrytis cinerea is a fungus.  grape rot

leaf roll virus.
the leaves turn a pretty red when the vines have leaf roll virus, which slows sugar production in the grapes.

phylloxera is a soil insect that kills the roots