California isn’t just America’s wine country — it’s the whole dang party, and everyone else is still waiting outside the velvet rope. From Napa’s world-famous cabernets to tiny family plots you’ve probably never heard of, the state is home to more wine regions than anywhere else in the country — and we’re working through them one at a time, in person, so you know what you’re actually getting before you plan a trip or sign up for a wine club.
Napa Valley will always be Napa Valley — there’s a reason it’s the first place most people think of when they think California wine, and it’s most triumphant, dude. But if you ask where our heart really is, it’s the Santa Cruz Mountains. I used to live in Lompico, cruising Highway 18 through those mountains every single day, and there’s nothing quite like it — the fog rolling off the coast, the redwoods, the gnarly steep hillside vineyards that have no business tasting as good as they do. We’ve explored that region extensively, and it’s some of the most bodacious, underrated wine country in the state.
Featured California Wine Regions
- Napa Valley — the icon. World-class Cabernet, legendary estates, and the benchmark every other California region gets measured against.
- Santa Cruz Mountains — our personal favorite, dude. Fog-cooled, mountain-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from hillside vineyards above Silicon Valley, all the way out to the coastal ridges. If you’re cruising through Santa Cruz and want a region that feels totally different from the rest of California, this is it.
- Sonoma County — Napa’s neighbor, with a more laid-back, farm-driven feel and just as much range, from Russian River Pinot to Alexander Valley Cabernet.
- Paso Robles — big, bold reds and a growing reputation as one of the most exciting regions on the Central Coast.
- Santa Barbara County — a patchwork of microclimates producing everything from cool-climate Pinot Noir to Rhône varietals.
- Temecula Valley — Southern California’s wine country, warm and welcoming with a strong tasting-room scene.
- Carmel Valley — a quieter, inland alternative to the coast, with a handful of standout small producers.
All California Wine Regions
- Napa Valley
- Sonoma County
- Paso Robles
- Santa Barbara County
- Temecula Valley
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- Russian River Valley
- Dry Creek Valley
- Alexander Valley
- Anderson Valley
- Carneros
- Livermore Valley
- Sierra Foothills
- Santa Ynez Valley
- Edna Valley
- Lodi
- Mendocino County
- Central Coast
- Monterey County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Sta. Rita Hills
- Sonoma Coast
- Howell Mountain
- Stags Leap District
- Oakville
- Rutherford
- Santa Maria Valley
- Arroyo Grande Valley
- Amador County
- El Dorado County
- Bennett Valley
- Knights Valley
- Chalk Hill
- Spring Mountain District
- Diamond Mountain District
- Atlas Peak
- Mount Veeder
- Los Carneros
- Petaluma Gap
- Fort Ross-Seaview
- Rockpile
- Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak
- Moon Mountain District
- Fountaingrove District
- Yorkville Highlands
- McDowell Valley
- Potter Valley
- Redwood Valley
- Clarksburg
- Fair Play
- Fiddletown
- Shenandoah Valley (California)
- San Benito County
- Lime Kiln Valley
- Carmel Valley
- Chiles Valley
- Wild Horse Valley
- Calistoga
- St. Helena
- Yountville
- Coombsville
- Oak Knoll District
- Mount Harlan
- Pacheco Pass
- Cienega Valley
- Paicines
- San Lucas
- San Antonio Valley
- Hames Valley
- Arroyo Seco
- Santa Lucia Highlands
- Chalone
- San Bernabe
- Salinas Valley
- Malibu Coast
- Saddle Rock-Malibu
- Malibu-Newton Canyon
- Sierra Pelona Valley
- Leona Valley
- Antelope Valley
- Cucamonga Valley
- San Pasqual Valley
- Ramona Valley
- Malibu Creek
- Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
- Ballard Canyon
- Los Olivos District
- Alisos Canyon
- San Miguel District
- Creston District
- Paso Robles Willow Creek District
- Paso Robles Estrella District
- Paso Robles Highlands District
- Paso Robles Geneseo District
- El Pomar District
- Templeton Gap District
- Santa Margarita Ranch
- York Mountain
- Paso Robles Adelaida District
- Capay Valley
- Dunnigan Hills
- Merritt Island
- Solano County Green Valley
- Suisun Valley
- Sloughhouse
- Borden Ranch
- Cosumnes River
- Mokelumne River
- Jahant
- North Yuba
- California Shenandoah Valley
- Seiad Valley
- Trinity Lakes
- Willow Creek
- High Valley
- Guenoc Valley
- Kelsey Bench-Lake County
- Big Valley District-Lake County
- Red Hills Lake County
- Clear Lake
- Benmore Valley
- Madera
- Mariposa County
- Ventura County
- San Diego County
- Santa Clara Valley
- Ben Lomond Mountain
- Pajaro Valley
- San Ysidro District
- San Francisco Bay
- Contra Costa County
- Diablo Grande
- Tracy Hills
- Brentwood
- River Junction
- Clements Hills
- Inwood Valley