Why is that Italy has more than 20 recognized wine regions that remain separate in all discussions about Italian wine? If 2006 was one of the worst vintages on record for Tuscany, then how could it be one of the best vintages on record for Piedmont when less then 260 miles separates the two? The answer lies in the varied microclimates and terroir.

California has one of the most expansive and diversified wine landscape in the world. In comparison the country of Italy is 116,000 square miles, the state of California is 163,707 square miles. With that being said then why would the wine writers and wine buying public allow anyone to pan entire vintages of wine in the state. According to the writers, It seems as though whatever happened in Napa during a growing year happened in Santa Barbara. There is nothing further from the truth. Italy has a larger population, 10 million more than California, which leaves less land to grow grapes, but Italy produces 5.9 million liters of wine to our 1.8 million liters. Part of the reason for this is export market development but the bigger part is due to the integration of wine into everyday life. Here in America we are just beginning to accept this concept and it is through the increased attention by the media, the knowledge of its health benefits and the overall ease at which one can become comfortable navigating through it that breaks down the barriers.

Why all the numbers? Simply put, we are babes in the woods when it comes to wine and Cornell is going to help you understand the path we are on. Our first task is that of explaining the Central and South Coast of which Malibu is a part of. Our initial selection will include the wines from LA to Monterey. The Central Coast has, in my opinion one of the purest wine cultures in California. It is still possible today for a budding winemaker to head up to Santa Maria, find a location to make wine, source grapes from some of the most prestigious vineyards in California and create his own label. It is in this vein that I find it a reasonable starting point.

In the coming weeks we will fill this page with producers names and links to their websites so you can continue with your own education and hopefully plan to visit them. We will be doing our best to develop relationships with each of these producers that will help us get you insider deals and VIP treatment.