Map The Wine

Map / United States

California

Producer of about 80 percent of American wine, from Napa Cabernet to Russian River Pinot Noir.

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The shaded area approximates the region; the gold dot marks its centre. Drag to pan, or use the buttons or Ctrl and scroll to zoom. Other regions of United States are linked on the map.

Where it is

California runs 1,000 km along the Pacific coast. Famous areas include Napa Valley and Sonoma County in the north, the Central Coast (Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Monterey) and the Central Valley, which grows most of the state's grapes.

Land and climate

Mediterranean, with dry summers, but the coast is cooled by fog from the Pacific. Climate varies greatly from cool Carneros to hot Paso Robles.

Grapes and wines

Cabernet Sauvignon is the star of Napa. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir do well in Sonoma, Russian River and Santa Barbara, and Zinfandel is a Californian specialty. The 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting showed that Californian wines could match French ones.