California produces about 90% of American wine and ranks among the world's largest wine regions, with a Mediterranean climate moderated by Pacific fog that yields ripe, fruit-forward New World styles. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel are its flagship varieties, and its international reputation was cemented by the 1976 Judgment of Paris, where California wines outscored top French labels in a blind tasting.
Grapes grown here
Cabernet Sauvignon
Principal
Chardonnay
Principal
Merlot
Principal
Pinot Noir
Principal
Sauvignon Blanc
Principal
Syrah
Principal
Zinfandel
Principal
Albariño
Permitted
Alicante Bouschet
Permitted
Barbera
Permitted
Cabernet Franc
Permitted
Carignan
Permitted
Chenin Blanc
Permitted
Cinsaut
Permitted
Colombard
Permitted
Dolcetto
Permitted
Dornfelder
Permitted
Gamay
Permitted
Gewürztraminer
Permitted
Grenache
Permitted
Malbec
Permitted
Marsanne
Permitted
Mourvèdre
Permitted
Nebbiolo
Permitted
Palomino
Permitted
Petite Sirah
Permitted
Petit Verdot
Permitted
Pinot Gris
Permitted
Pinot Meunier
Permitted
Primitivo
Permitted
Riesling
Permitted
Roussanne
Permitted
Sangiovese
Permitted
Sémillon
Permitted
Tannat
Permitted
Tempranillo
Permitted
Teroldego
Permitted
Touriga Nacional
Permitted
Trebbiano
Permitted
Viognier
Permitted
Sub-regions
Central Coast
The Central Coast AVA is a vast, maritime-influenced wine region stretching from the San Francisco Bay Area down through Santa Barbara County, encompassing numerous sub-appellations that share cooling Pacific Ocean influence. Chardonnay dominates plantings, accounting for more than half of the region's roughly 100,000 vineyard acres, alongside a wide range of other Bordeaux, Rhône, and Italian varieties.
Popular
Napa Valley
Napa Valley is widely regarded as America's most prestigious wine region, prized for its Mediterranean climate, fog-cooled mornings, and varied volcanic and alluvial soils across the valley floor and surrounding hillsides. It built its international reputation on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, cemented by top finishes at the 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting against renowned French wines.
Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County's rare east-west-running valleys funnel cool Pacific fog deep inland, giving grapes an unusually long, gentle ripening season and strong natural acidity. It's best known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in its cooler western reaches, with Rhône varieties like Syrah and Viognier thriving in warmer pockets such as Ballard Canyon.
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County is one of California's largest and most diverse wine regions, encompassing 19 appellations shaped by coastal fog, Pacific proximity, and varied elevations and soils. It is especially known for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay near the coast, alongside warmer-climate Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel further inland.