California wine

Known for its glorious weather, stunning coastlines and world-class wine regions (including the Napa Valley and Sonoma County), California is "The Golden State" in more ways than one.

This state is responsible for over 90% of the wine made in the United States and has over 4000 wineries that create gold-standard wines in a diverse range of styles.

California wine has something to offer everyone, whether you’re a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel or something completely different.

Despite California being home to winemakers since the 1700s, it wasn't until 1976 that the state was recognised as a premium wine producer. California winemakers entered a blind-tasting contest with the French, known as the “Judgment of Paris.” The judging panel ranked California white wine and California red wine as the highest in all categories. Demand for California wine has increased ever since, with the state home to some of the world’s most exclusive vineyards.

California's wine regions enjoy a range of climates, perfect for growing a wide range of grape varieties. Most regions have a Mediterranean-style climate – with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Vineyards nearer the Pacific Ocean enjoy cooling sea breezes, but others can be found sheltered by mountains and have warmer temperatures.

Notable Californian wine regions:

• Napa Valley: This is probably the most well-known region in California. Napa Valley is on the state’s northern coast, and is home to over 400 wineries throughout its mountains. Its microclimates and fertile soil are perfect for creating world-famous Cabernet Sauvignon wines. We think you’ll love the rich black fruit and sweet spice flavours of Drawbridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.
• Sonoma County: To the west of Napa Valley is Sonoma County. With its breathtaking coastline and rural landscape, winemakers have the ideal microclimates to grow over 50 different grape varieties. If Pinot Noir is your red of choice, it was probably made in Sonoma County – this region is world-famous for its fruity style.
• Santa Cruz: The vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains take an Old World approach to winemaking. South of San Francisco and the Central Valley, grapes are grown at high elevations in smaller, more exclusive vineyards, leading to wines with firm tannins. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are grown facing the Pacific Ocean breezes, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are grown further inland where it's warmer.
• Santa Barbara County: Located along the central coast, this region has a unique geographic landscape of rolling coastal mountains. Santa Barbara's valleys strangely roll from east to west, allowing cool sea breezes to travel inland and create a cool, but humid, climate. Considered the coolest region for grape growing in California, Santa Barbara makes fruit-forward, charming Shiraz wines (sometimes labelled as Syrah.)

California is known for a wide variety of wine grapes. Here are some of the most commonly grown varieties:

• Cabernet Sauvignon: California’s most important grape and the most widely planted,  across nearly 100,000 acres f the state’s vineyards. It primarily found in the Napa Valley region.
• Chardonnay: This white wine grape is the second most planted grape in the state. It thrives in numerous regions, including the Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Barbara, and Monterey.
• Zinfandel: This red grape is often associated with the warmer regions of California.
• Merlot: Widely grown across California though especially popular in Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
• Pinot Noir: The cooler, coastal regions of the state, particularly Sonoma, Monterey, and Santa Barbara, are best suited to this grape.
• Sauvignon Blanc: This grape is also widespread in various regions of the state, especially the North Coast and Central Coast.
• Syrah: Also known as Shiraz, this red grape is grown in many regions, but particularly in the Central Coast.

Other popular grape varieties grown in this state include Grenache, Malbec, Riesling, Sangiovese and Barbera.

From full-bodied, jammy reds to refreshing, creamy whites and lively sparkling wines similar to Champagne, California makes wines in a wide variety of styles – there's something here for every wine lover. Here are some of the most popular styles of Californian wine:

Red Californian wines:

• Cabernet Sauvignon: These wines are typically full-bodied and rich, with bold, jammy fruit flavors. They are known for their high tannin content which contributes to their aging potential. Cabernets from California, particularly from the Napa Valley, often have notes of black cherry, blackcurrant, and sometimes mint or cedar.
• Zinfandel: California Zinfandels are often robust and fruit-forward, with a high alcohol content and flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and black pepper. Old Vine Zinfandels, from some of the state's oldest vineyards, are particularly prized.
• Pinot Noir: Californian Pinot Noirs vary by region. Those from the coastal regions such as Sonoma, Santa Barbara, and Monterey are often more elegant, with lighter bodies and vibrant acidity, and flavors of cherry, strawberry and earth.
• Syrah: Californian Syrah wines can range from full-bodied, dark fruit and spice-driven wines, to leaner styles with more mineral and earthy characteristics, largely depending on the location of the vineyards.
• Merlot: Usually medium- to full-bodied with a softer, Californian Merlots have a more velvety texture than Cabernet, and with flavors of plum, black cherry, and sometimes chocolate. 

White Californian wines:

• Chardonnay: California Chardonnays can range from crisp and mineral-driven to rich and buttery. The latter style shows notes of tropical fruit, vanilla, and butter, typically with a full-bodied mouthfeel due to malolactic fermentation and oak aging.
• Sauvignon Blanc: Typically light to medium in body, California Sauvignon Blanc wines have high acidity and vibrant citrus flavors. Some styles also show a distinct grassy or herbaceous character.