The United States is now one of the wine world's genuine powers, led by California and supported by Oregon, Washington State and New York. The style is warm, ripe and fruit-forward, and the wines are almost always named after the grape rather than the place. You will find everything here, from famous cult Cabernet to the everyday bottle you open midweek.
California leads with Cabernet, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir
California makes most of the country's wine and sets the tone. Napa Valley is Cabernet country, and its finest sub-regions, Oakville, Rutherford and the Stags Leap District, give deep, cassis-scented reds that reach their peak in the cellar. The scarcest of them, cult wines like Screaming Eagle and Opus One, are collected around the world. Neighbouring Sonoma runs cooler and more food-friendly, the place for silky Pinot Noir and rounded, barrel-aged Chardonnay. Zinfandel is the American signature, jammy with blackberry, bramble and black pepper. Browse our Napa Valley selection, or follow the grape into Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Oregon Pinot Noir, Washington Syrah and beyond
Head north and the wines turn cooler and more restrained. Oregon's Willamette Valley sits on the same latitude as Burgundy and makes Pinot Noir to match, earthy and precise, built for the table rather than the trophy cabinet. Washington State, and its Columbia Valley in particular, turns out structured Cabernet and Merlot, while Walla Walla has become a serious source of peppery Syrah. Over on the east coast, New York's Finger Lakes has quietly built a name for tense, mineral Riesling. Explore our Oregon wines, the wider Pinot Noir range, or the smoky reds in our Syrah collection.
American wine FAQ
What food pairs with American wine?
Match the wine to the weight of the dish. A ripe Napa Cabernet or Zinfandel loves grilled steak, burgers and barbecue, Oregon Pinot Noir is lovely with salmon, duck and mushrooms, and a barrel-aged Chardonnay suits roast chicken or creamy pasta.
Should I drink American reds now or cellar them?
Most Zinfandel and everyday Cabernet drink beautifully young. A top Napa Cabernet from a strong vintage can improve for a decade or two, so it is worth buying a few bottles and holding some back.
Is there good-value American wine?
Plenty. Look to Washington State, the Sonoma appellations and bottles labelled California rather than a single vineyard for the ripe New World style without the cult-wine price.