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Sonoma and Napa get savvier

California Sauvignon Blanc line-up of bottles

Suddenly, everyone seems to be drinking California Sauvignon Blanc, and Alder has no idea why.

I try to keep up with as much of what’s going on in the wine world as I can. I accomplish this by tasting widely, reading widely, and talking with my colleagues in the industry whenever the opportunity allows. While I think I’m far from masterful at such activities, I don’t often find myself blindsided by emerging trends in the wine industry.

But in 2023, when according to the Silicon Valley Bank State of the Wine Industry Report California Sauvignon Blanc was the only grape...