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Number of acres of vineyard in California. Wine grapes are grown in 49 of California’s 58 counties. There are just over 140 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in the state and dozens more pending final approval. California has nearly 6,000 wine grape growers. Nearly 24 million tourists visited California wine country last year.

What do the following numbers have in common: 19, 29, 33, 74?

A. They were all legendary years in the 20th century when vintage Port was made

B. They were the capacities, in milliliters, of original wine bottles from the 18th century

C. They are the leading cabernet clones used in the First and Second Growth vineyards of Bordeaux

D. They are the route or highway numbers associated with some of the world's famous wine regions

They are the route or highway numbers associated with some of the world’s famous wine regions. B19 (aka Barossa Valley Way) is the main road linking most of the major towns of the Barossa Valley in South Australia. 29 is the highway running north to south through the Napa Valley in California. A33 is a key highway connecting the two wine regions Asti and Alba in the Langhe area of Piedmont. And the wine road N74 (also called the Route des Grands Crus) is the main route in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or.

“In nothing have the habits of the palate more decisive influence than in our relish of wines.”

—Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United State

(whose birthday is today)

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