American wine country

Explore the Regions

From the fog-cooled hills of Sonoma to the glacier-carved lakes of New York, American wine country is vast, varied, and endlessly worth exploring.

California

Napa Valley

The benchmark for American Cabernet

Napa Valley is the most famous wine region in America — a 30-mile valley north of San Francisco that produces some of the world's most celebrated Cabernet Sauvignon. The valley's unique geography, flanked by two mountain ranges, creates a natural air-conditioning system that gives grapes long, warm days and cool nights. The result is wine with ripe, generous fruit and the structure to age for decades.

Key varieties

Cabernet SauvignonChardonnayMerlotSauvignon Blanc

Best for

Big, age-worthy reds and world-class Chardonnay

Visit tip

The Silverado Trail runs parallel to Highway 29 and has far less traffic — take it for a more relaxed winery-hopping experience.

From the blog

Three Napa Cabs Under $50 Worth Every Penny

California

Sonoma County

Napa's cooler, more diverse neighbor

Sonoma County is larger and more diverse than Napa, with 18 distinct sub-appellations ranging from the warm Dry Creek Valley (home to some of America's best Zinfandel) to the cool, fog-drenched Sonoma Coast (where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive). If Napa is about power and prestige, Sonoma is about variety and discovery.

Key varieties

Pinot NoirZinfandelChardonnaySyrah

Best for

Diverse styles across many grape varieties — great for exploration

Visit tip

Dry Creek Valley is compact and walkable — you can visit four or five wineries in an afternoon without driving far.

From the blog

A Day at Ridge Vineyards

Oregon

Willamette Valley

America's answer to Burgundy

The Willamette Valley in northern Oregon has become one of the most exciting wine regions in America, built almost entirely on the back of Pinot Noir. The cool, wet climate — similar to Burgundy — produces Pinot with a delicacy and earthiness that's unlike anything made in California. The region has attracted serious winemakers from around the world, and the quality keeps rising.

Key varieties

Pinot NoirPinot GrisChardonnayRiesling

Best for

Elegant, Burgundy-style Pinot Noir at prices that won't break the bank

Visit tip

The Dundee Hills sub-appellation is the heart of Willamette Pinot — start there and work outward.

From the blog

What Is Terroir? The Concept That Explains Why Wine Tastes Like a Place

New York

Finger Lakes

America's most underrated wine region

The Finger Lakes in upstate New York are America's best-kept wine secret. The deep, glacier-carved lakes moderate the climate, allowing grapes to ripen in a region that would otherwise be too cold. The result is wines with a European sensibility — high acidity, lower alcohol, and a precision that's rare in American wine. Riesling here is world-class, full stop.

Key varieties

RieslingCabernet FrancPinot NoirGewürztraminer

Best for

Dry and off-dry Riesling that rivals Germany and Alsace

Visit tip

Seneca Lake has the most wineries and the most varied styles. Keuka Lake is smaller but has some of the region's oldest producers.

Texas

Texas Hill Country

The Lone Star State's surprising wine frontier

Texas Hill Country is the second-largest wine-producing region in the United States by number of wineries, and it's growing fast. The high elevation, thin limestone soils, and dramatic temperature swings between day and night create conditions that suit Mediterranean varieties beautifully. Tempranillo has emerged as the region's signature grape, alongside Viognier, Mourvèdre, and Grenache. This is American wine country with a distinctly Texan personality — bold, independent, and full of character.

Key varieties

TempranilloViognierMourvèdreGrenache

Best for

Discovering Tempranillo and Rhône varieties in a uniquely Texan setting

Visit tip

The Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 corridor is the heart of the region — over 50 wineries within a short drive. Visit midweek to avoid weekend crowds.

From the blog

Texas Hill Country Wine: The Lone Star State's Surprising Wine Country

Every region has a story

The best way to understand American wine is to taste across regions — to notice how the same grape variety expresses itself differently depending on where it's grown. That's terroir in action.

Read about terroir