California Wine
Cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and chardonnay are the three biggest groups in our California wine, from Napa, Sonoma, the Russian River and Santa Barbara.
Shop all California Wine
California wine questions
Which is nicer, Napa or Sonoma?
They're neighbors with different personalities. Napa Valley is smaller, warmer and focused on cabernet sauvignon, with more luxury wineries and higher prices. Sonoma County is twice as large, more varied and more relaxed, with cool coastal areas known for pinot noir and chardonnay and warm valleys known for zinfandel. For wine shopping, it depends on the style you like.
What are California's main wine regions?
The North Coast includes Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Mendocino. The Central Coast includes Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey. Lodi in the Central Valley is known for old-vine zinfandel, and the Sierra Foothills for zinfandel and Rhône grapes. Each has its own climate and specialty grapes.
What is zinfandel?
Zinfandel is a red grape strongly tied to California, where it has been grown since the 1800s. DNA testing showed it's the same as Italy's primitivo and Croatia's crljenak kaštelanski. It makes ripe, jammy reds with blackberry, raspberry, black pepper and spice, often with high alcohol. Old-vine zinfandel from Lodi, Sonoma and Paso Robles is especially prized.