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Region · USA

California

657 bottles

More than 90 percent of the wine made in the United States is made in California.

The state's incredibly diverse yet largely beneficent climate and geography allow its wines to be made in a profusion of styles from dozens of different grape varieties, and while winemaking here has spanned four centuries, California is one of the most modern, technologically oriented wine regions in the world.

Its industry began with the Spanish explorers and missionaries who moved north from Mexico in the mid-1700s and secured Alta (Upper) California with a string of missions, each a day's journey from the next; wine was needed for the Catholic mass and for the friars themselves.

Difficulties along the supply route from Mexico led California's Franciscan fathers to plant their own vineyards, using cuttings of the Spanish grape listán prieto — known in Mexico as misión and later, in California, spelled 'mission' after the missions where it was planted.

As the nineteenth century dawned settlers began planting small vineyards of their own, all initially based on the mission grape alone; by the 1830s commercial wineries had begun in Los Angeles, and a decade later in Sonoma and Napa counties.

Key grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Merlot
Petite Sirah
Pinot Noir
Syrah
Zinfandel

ClassificationAmerican Viticultural Area

A few to explore

Subregions

Calistoga
Central Coast — Stretching from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, Central Coast channels Pacific fog and wind through transverse valleys. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay dominate cooler AVAs; Syrah and Grenache thrive in warmer inland sites.
Mendocino County — Mendocino County's diverse terrain spans fog-cooled coastal valleys to warm inland ridges. Anderson Valley focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; Redwood Valley favours Zinfandel. High proportion of certified organic vineyards defines the county.
Monterey County — Monterey County's long valley channels cold Pacific air from Monterey Bay, producing high-acid Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. Sandy loam soils and a wide diurnal range preserve freshness. Santa Lucia Highlands AVA is the benchmark sub-appellation.
Napa Valley
Oakville
Rutherford
St. Helena

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The WNLQ9 catalogue lists 656 bottles from California, USA. The selection spans Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot. Critic scores include: Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (92 pts, James Suckling).

About California: its grapes, sub-regions and bottles

Frequently Asked Questions

What California wines and spirits are in the WNLQ9 catalogue?

The WNLQ9 catalogue lists 656 bottles from California, USA, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot. Browse the collection: https://wnlq9.shop/explore-map/california

Which California bottles in the WNLQ9 catalogue have critic scores?

Critic scores include: Dominus Estate 2016 (100 pts, Wine Advocate); Dominus Estate 2013 (100 pts, Wine Advocate); Dominus Estate 2018 (100 pts, James Suckling).