Love in the air…or is that orange blossoms? California’s Ojai Valley is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the Golden State. Well known for its coveted Pixie tangerines and other citrus varieties, it also boasts an ideal climate for growing wine. This month’s recipe for Strawberry Orange Blossom Shortcake originated at Ojai mainstay Boccali’s. High and mighty, this is like strawberry shortcake on steroids with its (almost) obscene amount of whipped cream. We think it’ll help you woo your Valentine. No Valentine? No biggie. That just means there’s more for you. (We’ll call that self care.).

Ojai — pronounced like you just ran into someone you think is cool, but you’re trying to be lowkey about it, “oh, hi” — is known for a lot of things. Visitors flock here for its breathtaking “pink moment” at sunset; its eclectic, artsy shops and galleries; the Libby Bowl; the Ojai Music Festival; outdoor adventures; and an incredible farmers’ market. Ojai Valley also has a burgeoning wine scene. 

Located 90 miles north of Los Angeles and just 30 miles from Santa Barbara (which also happens to have excellent wine tasting), Ojai has a quaint downtown shopping and arts district nestled into a valley surrounded by spectacular coastal mountains. Though it’s close enough to LA for a day trip, it makes for a perfect weekend getaway too. Have a bite to eat and stop into The Ojai Vineyard’s tasting room to get a taste of what the region has to offer.

People have been growing winegrapes in Ojai since the late 1800s, but like many of California’s agricultural regions, they were culled in favor of other crops like nuts and citrus. But winemakers began returning to the valley in the 1980s and there’s been a small resurgence in the decades since.

California’s Diversity is its Strength

In the not-so-distant past, most people had only heard of a few prominent California wine regions – Napa and Sonoma in particular. But in recent years other regions are getting their due. In fact, great wine is grown all throughout the state from Humboldt County to San Diego. If you’ve ever had the chance to take an epic Golden State road trip, you know that California has an incredibly diverse climate with fertile agricultural valleys, hot inland deserts, foothills, mountains and 840 miles of beautiful coastline. 

For winemakers, all that diversity means one thing – opportunity. Different wines thrive in different climates and soils and California pretty much has them all. Throughout the state, there is abundant sunshine which allows for a long and consistent growing season. Fog and cooling breezes help temper the heat in the coastal regions which are ideal for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and other cool-climate wines. Inland, winegrowers plant grapes that thrive in hotter, drier weather like Zinfandel, Syrah and sweet dessert wines. Cabernet and Merlot thrive on California hillsides which get a good mix of sunshine and cool evening air. At Ojai Valley’s Roll Ranch, Syrah in particular thrives in the dry climate and less than stellar soil. The challenging conditions there result in lower yields. But with careful tending and years of finessing, the wines they’re producing are well-balanced, with great acidity.

How many AVAs are in California?

Today, the Golden State has 147 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas). Ojai Valley is part of the Central Coast AVA, the largest in the state, which stretches from Santa Barbara to San Francisco. 

How many wine varieties are grown in California?

California winemakers grow over 100 varieties of winegrapes, from Albariño to Zinfandel and everything in between!

Why is California wine so good?

California has an incredible Mediterranean climate, ideal for growing all kinds of crops including winegrapes. Rich, diverse soils with loam, sand, clay, and granite all contribute unique minerality and “terroir” or sense of place. But perhaps the best thing about California wines is the people who make them. The California dream has drawn people from all over the world for generations. They’ve brought their skills, talents, and even their vines leading to hundreds of years of trial and error and deep knowledge passed down through the generations. Add to that the many talented scientists at UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo and Fresno State who are making great advancements in agricultural technology. If there’s one thing we can be sure of, it’s that California is known for outstanding innovation and world-class wines. And that’s something we can all lift a glass to – cheers!