You don’t need to travel abroad to experience world-class Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Some of the country’s best wines are produced right here in the United States.
From crisp whites to full-bodied reds, wines made in the United States offer such a diverse array of styles and growing regions that even the most particular palates can find a favorite. While California receives plenty of deserved attention for excellent wines, the reality is that wine is made in every state, and fantastic ones can be found in regions across the country, from the Rieslings of New York’s Finger Lakes to the Pinot Noirs of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
And since great wine is so closely tied to terroir — the natural environment where grapes are grown, including soil, climate, topography, and winemaking traditions — there’s no better way to discover your new favorite wines than by visiting the various wine regions across the U.S. But maybe you’re wondering where to start.
As a travel writer who has written about wine for over a decade, I’ve rounded up some of the best wine regions in the U.S. to explore, including vineyards and wine tasting rooms to visit, regional styles to try, plus recommendations and tips from wine experts to make the most of your trip.
Whether you know a lot about wine or you’re just starting to learn, it’s important to be curious and not be afraid to ask questions when you’re tasting wine in different regions. “The key is to be open-minded when you go into every tasting room,” explains Allison Levine, wine educator, journalist and event planner with Please the Palate. “Try to take out preconceived ideas or expectations. And instead of saying, ‘Do you have this?’ Ask, ‘What do you have?'”
That curiosity will often be rewarded by enthusiasm from the winemaker, who can introduce you to styles you never thought to try before that you may end up loving.
The 6 best U.S. wine regions to visit
1) Sonoma, Calif.
A short drive from San Francisco, Sonoma County is renowned for world-class vineyards, historic charm and a more laid-back atmosphere than its popular neighbor, Napa. Featuring over 50 miles of Pacific coastline, rugged mountains, foggy valleys, and sunny hillsides, the diverse region grows over 60 grape varieties. It’s also home to 19 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), each with distinctive characteristics, and is perhaps best known for cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
For a great place to start, Levine recommends Healdsburg — named Sonoma County’s most charming town by Condé Nast Traveler — which sits at the juncture of the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valley wine regions. The historic, walkable downtown offers top-notch tasting rooms like Idlewild with Piedmontese-inspired wines with charcuterie and cheese pairings and Martha Stoumen Wines for natural wines. Nearby Bacchus Landing offers six wine tasting rooms, an open-air piazza and special events.
In Sebastopol, The Barlow Market offers a 12-acre outdoor market with tastings for wine, beer and spirits, farm-to-table food, shopping, and events.
If you’re looking for scenic wine tastings, consider Inman Family Wines in Santa Rosa, the historic Buena Vista Winery and Gundlach Bundschu or Iron Horse Vineyards for sparkling wines and stunning views.
2) Willamette Valley, Ore.
Known for producing some of the world’s best pinot noir, the Willamette Valley is Oregon’s oldest wine region and is home to over 700 wineries. Bordered by the Cascades to the east and the Coast Range on the west, the region stretches roughly 150 miles from Portland south to Eugene and includes 11 AVAs. While Pinot Noir rules the roost, the region’s Burgundy-like climate is also great for crisp, aromatic whites, including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and sparkling wines.
McMinnville can serve as an excellent home base for a wine tasting trip in the Willamette Valley, thanks to a walkable downtown with plenty of tasting rooms, lodging and restaurant options, plus easy access to nearby wineries. For tasting rooms, be sure to check out HiFi Wine Bar for sips and music, Pike Road Wines for an eclectic mix of wines from family-owned vineyards and Troon Biodynamic Wine Bar for options that go beyond Pinot and Chardonnay. Nearby wineries recommended by Levine include Ambar Estate with a stunning view of Mount Hood, family-owned Lachini Vineyards known for high-end Pinot and the beautiful Penner Ash Wine Cellars.
If you have more time, Levine also recommends planning your trip around what she refers to as the triangle, an area that connects McMinnville with Newberg and Yamhill-Carlton. The triangle enables you to experience a diverse mix of wineries and tasting rooms, excellent dining options and accommodations, all within a close drive.
3) Santa Ynez Valley, Calif.
Just northwest of Santa Barbara, the Santa Ynez Valley is an exceptional wine country region that offers gorgeous scenery, six distinctively charming communities, delicious food and a diverse range of excellent wines. Home to the longest transverse valley (running east to west) on the entire Pacific coast, the region’s unique geography creates cool climates for wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the west, while warmer temperatures to the east enable vineyards to grow more robust varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
If you’ve seen the film Sideways, which spotlighted the wine region’s Pinot Noir, you’ll want to stop by the Hitching Post II in Buellton for Santa Maria-style tri-tip and excellent wines.
Solvang serves as a great, central location for exploring the region, offering a variety of hotels, whimsical Danish architecture, great places to eat and over 25 tasting rooms in a walkable area. To sample a variety of local, small production wines (and craft beer) head to The Good Life. For a fun, slightly spooky and laid-back tasting, head to Final Girl, and for a tropical twist to wine, check out High Roller Tiki Lounge. If you want to get out of town to sip in a beautiful setting, consider the family-owned Rideau Vineyard or the historic Vega Vineyard and Farm for farm-fresh fare and animal encounters.
Los Olivos features over 35 tasting rooms, art galleries and plenty of Victorian charm in a few short, walkable blocks. Story of Soil and Liquid Farm are known for distinctive French-style Chardonnay as well as Pinots. Liquid Farm’s winemaker also produces his own label, Kings Carey, using many of the same Santa Rita Hills-grown grapes. Further north, Los Alamos feels like you’re walking on the set of an old Western that happens to have excellent food and fantastic wine at places like Bedford Winery and Clementine Carter Wines. Check out Artiste Winery and Gallery in Santa Ynez for stellar wines inspired by original art.
4) Texas Hill Country
While Texas may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of U.S. wine regions, the state is home to eight established AVAs with more proposed ones on the way. Texas Hill Country is one of the most popular destinations for wine lovers and it’s by far the largest, covering nine million acres, making it the country’s third-largest AVA — since nearly everything is bigger in Texas. The region’s rolling hills, limestone and granite soils and long, warm growing season contribute to a diverse lineup of wine varieties, including Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese, Viognier and Chardonnay.
Fredericksburg, which was recently named the next great U.S. wine getaway by Food & Wine, is the heart of the Texas Hill Country wine scene and a great place to start your trip. If you’re staying in town, downtown’s Urban Wine Trail is a great way to mosey from one tasting room to the next to explore smaller producers, including the charmingly rustic Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten and Narrow Path Winery for a glass to go.
If you’re looking to venture out to the vineyards, Wine Road 290 maps out nearby wineries like the stunning Augusta Vin and Signor Vineyards. The hop-on-hop-off 290 Wine Shuttle provides a convenient way to visit multiple vineyards without driving.
5) Finger Lakes, N.Y.
The center of New York’s wine industry since the mid-19th century, the Finger Lakes now features over 140 wineries across more than 3,000 square miles. Best known for Riesling, you’ll also find other cool-climate whites like Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Gris, and reds such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. This scenic upstate region is home to eleven namesake lakes carved by glaciers, beautiful gorges with waterfalls and historic small towns.
Geneva and Watkins Glen, on opposite sides of Seneca Lake, serve as excellent home bases to explore the region’s three main wine trails: Seneca Lake, Keuka Lake and Cayuga Lake (the first and longest-running wine trail). The Seneca Lake Wine Trail features dozens of vineyards, including sustainably minded and approachable Fox Run Vineyards, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, renowned for its Rieslings and Wagner Vineyards, a fifth-generation winery that also features a brewery.
For some history and scenic views, head to Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, founded in 1962 as the first to plant European vinifera vines on the East Coast, kicking off a wine-making revolution in the region.
6) Walla Walla Valley, Wash.
Perched on the Washington-Oregon border, Walla Walla Valley is home to over 130 wineries and tasting rooms — Washington’s highest concentration — spread throughout six districts. Thanks to diverse soils, shifts in elevation and unique microclimates shaped by the rugged Blue Mountains, the wine region is known for full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, as well as Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer.
Downtown Walla Walla is the perfect place to start your exploration of the region, where you’ll find dozens of tasting rooms in an eclectic, walkable area. Enjoy a tasting of traditional Bordeaux varietals at the historic Seven Hills Winery, one of the founding estates of the region, or at non-profit Vital Wines, which works to ensure vineyard and winery workers have access to health care and other essential resources.
For spectacular views from idyllic wineries, head to the Southside District, where you’ll find cabernet sauvignons and syrahs at Va Piano Vineyards, crisp whites and sparkling wines at Grosgrain Vineyards and Spanish-style wines at Castillo de Feliciana.
Tips for planning a wine country trip
Wine country travel continues to grow in popularity. According to WineAmerica, a national trade association representing U.S. wineries, American wine regions attract roughly 74 million tourist visits each year. With so many travelers heading to vineyards across the country, thoughtful planning can help you make the most of your trip, which is why Levine recommends the following practical travel tips.
- Visit during the week: Avoid the weekend crowds, enjoy a quieter, more personalized tasting experience and take advantage of lower prices for accommodations. Be sure to check winery and restaurant operating hours, as some close midweek.
- Pace yourself: It’s tempting to cram in multiple tastings in a day, but try exploring two to three wineries at most. You’ll enjoy each visit more thoroughly without feeling rushed.
- Map out your itinerary: Minimize driving time and maximize tastings by plotting out a manageable route, as some vineyards can be far apart.
- Avoid driving if you can: Even if you have a designated driver, you may want to avoid the hassle of driving altogether. Consider signing up for a group wine tasting tour or renting a private shuttle.
- Start a collection: While you shouldn’t feel obligated to purchase bottles after a tasting, buying a bottle or two of something you enjoy supports the winemaker, creates lasting memories and may waive your tasting fee.
With the right plan, you can relax, explore and find the vineyards and wines you truly love across the U.S.
