ABSTRACT
One notable aspect of viticultural evolution in America has been the gradual matching of grape varieties with the local environmental conditions in which they are at their best, with the optimum environment for a particular cultivar. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and a handful of other cultivars top the list, but almost any of these grape varieties will show some preference for one place rather than another. Climate provides us with a general picture of where grapes can be grown, whereas weather variations from year to year affect each vintage (harvest year) in a different way. The "mesoclimate regions" are more detailed in their distribution than the broader macroclimates, so they can be clearly related to both existing and likely future patterns of viticulture. We can now look at definitions and descriptions for each of these mesoclimates.
