Over 80% of the wine made in the USA is grown and produced in California, making it the fourth-largest producer of wine in the world. Behind California are the countries Italy, France, and Spain.
California wine country currently has 139 American Viticultural Areas or AVAs.
Our rank of these AVA’s
- Napa Valley
- Sonoma County
- Central Coast
- San Luis Obispo County
- Santa Barbara County
- South Coast
- Monterey County
- Sierra Foothills
- Lake County
- Mendocino County
- Central Valley
MENDOCINO COUNTY
AVAs to Know:
- Anderson Valley
- Col Ranch
- McDowell Valley
- Mendocino Ridge
- Potter Valley Redwood Valley
- Ukiah Valley
- Yorkville Highlands
LAKE COUNTY
AVAs to Know:
- High Valley
- Red Hills
- Guenoc Valley
- Big Valley
NAPA VALLEY
AVAs to Know:
- Howell Mountain
- Diamond Mountain
- Spring Mountain
- St. Helena
- Rutherford
- Atlas Peak
- Stags Leap
- Yountville
- Oak Knoll
- Mt. Veeder
- Coombsville
- Wild Horse Valley
- Los Carneros
- Chiles Valley
SONOMA COUNTY
AVAs to Know:
- Alexander Valley
- Rockpile
- Dry Creek Valley
- Sonoma Coast
- Chalk Hill
- Russian River Valley
- Green Valley
- Sonoma Valley
- Bennett Valley
- Sonoma Mountain
- Los Carneros
- Knights Valley
SIERRA FOOTHILLS
AVAs to Know:
- El Dorado
- Shenandoah Valley
- Fairplay
- Fiddletown
- North Yuba
CENTRAL VALLEY
AVAs to Know:
CENTRAL COAST
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
AVAs to Know:
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- Livermore Valley
- Santa Clara Valley
MONTEREY COUNTY
AVAs to know:
- Santa Lucia Highlands
- Carmel Valley
- Arroyo Seco
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
AVAs to Know:
- Paso Robles
- York Mountain
- Edna Valley
- Arroyo Grande Valley
- San Luis Obispo
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
AVAs to Know:
- Santa Maria Valley
- Santa Ynez Valley
- Sta. Rita Hills
SOUTH COAST
AVA to Know: