Wines of USA
Wine is made in all 50 states, but California produces around 80 % of it. American wines are usually labelled by grape variety. The West Coast — California, Oregon and Washington — leads in quality, with New York's Finger Lakes a rising star for Riesling on the East Coast.
Main wine regions
- 1
Columbia Valley (WA)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Riesling
Dry, sunny eastern Washington: ripe yet fresh reds and crisp Riesling.
- 2
Willamette Valley (OR)
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay
Oregon's cool valley, world-famous for elegant Pinot Noir.
- 3
Sonoma
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel
Diverse: cool Sonoma Coast for Pinot and Chardonnay, warm Dry Creek for Zinfandel.
- 4
Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay
America's most famous region: rich, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon.
- 5
Lodi
Zinfandel
Home of many old-vine Zinfandels.
- 6
Paso Robles
Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Rhône varieties
Warm Central Coast region with bold reds.
- 7
Santa Barbara County
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah
Ocean-cooled valleys (Sta. Rita Hills) for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
- +
Finger Lakes (NY)
Riesling, Cabernet Franc
Deep glacial lakes moderate a cold climate — excellent dry and off-dry Riesling.
Key grapes
Reading the label
AVA (American Viticultural Area) indicates the origin, e.g. ‘Napa Valley AVA’. A varietal label requires at least 75 % of the named grape. ‘Meritage’ means a Bordeaux-style blend.
Put it into practice
Our Wine Tasting Sheet guides you through appearance, nose, palate, quality and readiness — with hints in brackets so you always find the right word. Fill it in on screen or print it.