California
California
Easily the United States' largest and most significant wine region, California has been front and centre of the American wine industry since settlers planted vines as they moved up the coast in the early 1800s. The region travels down the Pacific Coast from its border with Oregon and vineyards are found all along the landscape, making use of the diverse terrain located next to the sea and further inland. It's hard to pinpoint the climate of the whole region but broadly speaking the regions close to the coast benefit from cool breezes and the rolling sea-fogs which wash over the vineyards, while the interior regions get exposed to sweltering temperatures. These changes in climate and topography dictate the grapes used across California. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are planted in large quantities, while Pinot Noir is found near the sea in cooler pockets. Further inland Zinfandel produces inky, bold high-alcohol wines. California is home to many growing zones, known as AVAs, including Napa Valley, Central Coast, and Clarksburg.
