America is ranked 4th worldwide, in terms of wine production; thanks to the substantial quantities produced in the Golden State of California. California’s wine production, remarkably, accounts for about 90% of United State’s entire wine production. To be specific, more than seventeen million gallons of wine are produced in California annually.
Following are top American states known for wine production.
- California (2025 wineries)
- Washington (451 wineries)
- Oregon (295 wineries)
- New York (239 wineries)
- Virginia (140 wineries)
- Texas (136 wineries)
- Pennsylvania (115 wineries)
- Michigan (112 wineries)
- Ohio (108 wineries)
- Missouri (86 wineries)
That said, when many people talk about California wine, they mostly discuss wines from Napa Valley, forgetting that there are other noteworthy wine-producing regions like Santa Barbra, Sonoma, and California’s Central Coast.
So why is California wine that well-liked?
- Tasty and great on the tongue – California wine is big on fruit. The State’s beautiful year-round climate allows their drinks to have some of the tastiest fruits, the world over. The fruity flavors of California’s production are highly noticeable to the extent that even a first-timer can distinguish the feel from other wines.
- Highly quality – The California wine industry is over 250 years old. Over the years, the talented wine makers in California have incorporated tradition, art, science, and innovation in coming up with quality products. Additionally, the climate and geography, of California are also ideal for grape growing, making the grapes produced stand out from the rest.
- Awards and international recognition – Over the years, the quality of California wine has greatly improved and this has led to more international recognition. In an event marked as The Judgment of Paris, wine from Californian stunned the world by winning the wine contest in both the white and red wine categories. In 2006, in a blind -tasting event dubbed as the Rematch of the Century, the same California wines were re-tested and emerged the winner. Shock hit everyone yet again at the 2013 Tête de Cuvée when California Sparkling Wines carried the day. To appreciate these award-winning sparkling wines, every U.S presidential administration has served them at official state events, since 1972.
- Choice and variety – Chardonnay is California’s favorite, but Napa valley produces tasty Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon too. Sonoma area is recognized for its Pinot Noir, Zinfandel wines, and sparkling collection. In a nutshell, there are a plethora of great varietals for every kind of wine enthusiast in California.
All said and done, though other states like Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington produce this special drink, California is very much ahead of them.