America ranks fourth worldwide, in terms of wine production; thanks to the substantial quantities produced in the Golden State of California. Surprisingly, California wine production accounts for around 90% of all US wine production. To be specific, more than seventeen million gallons of wine are produced annually in California.
The following are the major 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 are mostly talking about Napa Valley wines, forgetting that there are other notable wine-producing regions like Santa Barbra, Sonoma, and California’s Central Coast.
So why is California wine so highly regarded?
- Tasty and great on the tongue. – California wine is rich in fruit. The state’s beautiful year-round weather allows its drinks to feature some of the tastiest fruit in the world. The fruity flavors of the California production are quite remarkable to the extent that even a novice can distinguish the feel from other wines.
- High quality – The California wine industry is over 250 years old. Over the years, California’s talented winemakers have incorporated tradition, art, science and innovation to create quality products. Additionally, California’s climate and geography are also ideal for growing vines, 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 greater international recognition. In an event marked as The Judgment of Paris, California wine surprised the world by winning the wine competition in the red and white wine categories. In 2006, in a blind tasting event known as the Revenge of the Century, the same California wines were tasted again and came out winners. Shock struck once again at the 2013 Tête de Cuvée when California sparkling wines took the day. To appreciate these award-winning sparkling wines, each United States presidential administration has served them at official state events, since 1972.
- Choice and variety – Chardonnay is California’s favorite, but Napa Valley also produces flavorful Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sonoma area is renowned for its collection of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and sparkling wines. Simply put, there is a plethora of excellent varietals for all types of wine enthusiasts in California.
All said and done, although other states like Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington produce this special drink, California is way ahead of them.
