• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.130-147
• /
• 2008

Spanish missionaries started to grow vine grapes and make wines in California 230 years ago. Earlier pioneers of the land started to do the same works for commercial purposes 130 years ago. Now California became one of the most important wine making places of the world. The quality of California wines in fact have been acknowledged as the best in the world by being ranked on the top in international wine tasting competition, such as Paris Tasting. A large wine cluster, consisted of grape growing, wine making, wine tours, and research and education, has been created in the area centered by Napa and Sonoma, California. In this context, this paper examines the process of formulating the cluster, factors contributing the success, articulates core actors, and draws policy and theoretical implications. It concludes that innovative actors, such as winery founders, local universities, and business organizations, have played key roles in establishing the California wine cluster.