Wines of California, from the cold ocean to the warm valleys
148 bottles, from cool coastal valleys to the warm vineyards of LodiA Napa Cabernet to keep for ten years, a Pinot Noir born in the Santa Barbara mist, a Lodi Zinfandel for Saturday's barbecue: the wines of this state change face with every valley. The key comes down to a gradient. Near the ocean, the cold current and morning fog preserve the acidity of Pinot and Chardonnay. Further inland, the heat ripens Cabernet and Zinfandel.
This range brings together the main areas, from Mendocino to Santa Barbara, with the price per bottle shown even when the cuvée is sold by the lot or the case.
Calera - Pinot Noir 2018
Damp earth, red fruit and delicate spices, on fine tannins that call for time.
Calera - Pinot Noir De Villiers Vinyard 2018
Black fruit and plum on a silky Pinot, with oak smoke lingering on.
Calera - Mills Pinot Noir 2018
Ripe red fruit, spice and forest floor, with the velvety texture of great Pinots.
Calera - Jensen Pinot Noir 2020
Josh Jensen's favourite vineyard: cherry, raspberry and undergrowth on an elegant frame.
Calera - Chardonnay 2020
High-altitude Chardonnay, green apple and almond, carried by a volcanic minerality.
Kistler - Russian River Pinot Noir 2022
Pepper, cherry and flowers on a Pinot aged ten months in barrique, unfined and unfiltered.
Kistler - Les Noisetiers Chardonnay 2022
A white cut like the great Meursaults: invigorating nose, vanilla palate, broad texture.
Occidental - Freestone Pinot Noir 2023
A Pinot Noir combining intensity and refinement, from the coastal vineyards of Sonoma
Birichino - Rodnick Farm Pinot Noir 2021
A Pinot Noir from an exceptional terroir nestled in the Gabilan Mountains
Nickel & Nickel - C.C Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
A single-varietal Rutherford, blackcurrant and black berries, tannins polished by eighteen months in barrique.
Nickel & Nickel - John Sullenger Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
An Oakville Cabernet born on twelve hectares of clay-silt soils, eighteen months in French oak.
Bella Union - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The union of 2 extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, this is the first wine made by Belle Union.
Twomey - Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2020
A premium Pinot Noir from the cool climate of the Anderson Valley
Twomey - Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2020
A high-end Pinot Noir from the famous Russian River Valley
Paraduxx - Red Blend 2018
Seven grape varieties blended in Napa: silky tannins and a long, spicy finish.
Duckhorn - Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
One of the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley
Duckhorn - Merlot “Three Palms” 2019
One of the most famous Merlots in Napa Valley
Duckhorn - Chardonnay 2021
A rich and suave Chardonnay from the cool corners of Napa Valley
Silver Oak - Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
A legendary Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley
Kistler - Les Noisetiers Chardonnay 2019
Kistler's Burgundian signature applied to Californian Chardonnay: depth and liveliness.
Sine Qua Non - The Hated Hunter Syrah 2017
Sine Qua Non - Distenta I 2019
An exquisite wine that captivates the senses with its unique taste profile
From coastal valleys to inland plains
Each coastal area has its own page. This overview helps you choose the right door, and introduces the inland areas.
| Area | Climate and soils | Styles | Estates in our range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa ValleyOakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap, St. Helena | Narrow valley, cool in the south towards San Pablo Bay, hot in the north towards Calistoga; alluvial soils and volcanic slopes | Structured Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, broad Chardonnay | Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Heitz Cellar, Duckhorn, Far Niente, Bond |
| SonomaRussian River, Sonoma Coast, Alexander Valley | Fog drawn in through the Petaluma Gap and the Russian River valley; warmer Alexander Valley to the north | Fog-cooled Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, hillside Zinfandel | Kistler, Seghesio, Twomey, Patz & Hall, Occidental |
| Mendocino and Anderson Valleythe north coast | Valley opened to the ocean by the Navarro River, one of the coolest in the state; warmer hillsides inland | Taut Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, hillside Cabernet | Goldeneye, Twomey, Elizabeth Spencer |
| Central CoastSanta Cruz, Mount Harlan, Santa Lucia Highlands, Edna Valley, Santa Barbara | Valleys facing the sea, wind from Monterey Bay, Mount Harlan limestone | Cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Syrah, Grenache | Au Bon Climat, Calera, Birichino, Hahn, Chamisal, Sine Qua Non |
| Lodi and the Central Valley inland, up to the Sierra Foothills | Hot days, nights cooled by the delta breeze; deep sands in Lodi, granite at altitude in the Amador foothills | Generous Zinfandel, Cinsault from very old vines, fruity reds | Kautz Family, Birichino (Bechthold Vineyard), Hahn (Boneshaker) |
| California appellation grapes from across the State | Blend from several areas, often coast and inland, for a consistent style from one vintage to the next | Cabernet, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, brut sparkling | Francis Ford Coppola (Diamond Collection), Decoy, Cycles Gladiator |
Mendocino and Anderson Valley appear on the Sonoma page. Lodi and the California appellation are chosen here.
What each grape variety gives under the Californian sun
French varieties, a different climate: more ripeness, with freshness governed by the distance from the ocean.
| Grape variety | Where it succeeds, what it gives | A wine to taste |
|---|---|---|
| Cabernet SauvignonNapa's king grape | Hillsides and alluvial soils of Napa, Alexander Valley, Paso Robles: ripe blackcurrant, firm tannins, fifteen years' ageing or more for the great cuvées | Postmark Cabernet Sauvignon 2021€39.60 per bottle |
| Pinot Noirthe grape of the fog | Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Maria, Russian River, Anderson Valley: cherry, sweet spices, acidity preserved by the morning fog | Calera Pinot Noir 2018€39.60 per bottle |
| Chardonnayfrom broad to taut | Buttery style in Napa, taut versions in Santa Barbara and on the Sonoma Coast, aged in barrel with restraint | Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023€39.50 per bottle, in packs of 3 |
| Zinfandelthe State's emblem | A genetic cousin of Primitivo, planted as early as the Gold Rush; old vines in Lodi, Dry Creek and the Sierra Foothills: blackberry, pepper | Decoy Zinfandel 2019€43 per bottle |
| Syrahamong the “Rhône Rangers” | Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Ventura: black fruit, pepper, dense texture, championed since the 1980s by lovers of the Rhône | Sine Qua Non Distenta III Syrah 2021€380 per bottle |
| Grenachethe other Rhône grape | Old vines on the Central Coast, Rhône-style blends: red fruit, spice, a sometimes pale colour and an easy-drinking palate | Birichino Besson Grenache 2023€49 per bottle, in packs of 2 |
| MerlotNapa's velvet | Clay soils of Napa: plum, chocolate, velvety texture; Duckhorn put it in the spotlight from its very first vintages in the late 1970s | Duckhorn Merlot 2022€73.20 per bottle |
| Sauvignon Blanccitrus and sunshine | Napa, Mendocino: grapefruit, passion fruit, sometimes barrel-aged under the name "Fumé Blanc" launched by Robert Mondavi | Elizabeth Spencer Sauvignon Blanc 2024€29 per bottle, by the case of 6 |
Zinfandel has its own page, with its old vines and food pairings: discover Zinfandel.
A bottle for every mood
Bottles in stock, from Lodi to Santa Barbara, sorted by occasion and budget.
An everyday red for under €20
A supple, spicy Zinfandel from Lodi, for barbecues, pizzas and impromptu midweek dinners.
Kautz Family The Big Top Zinfandel 2021 · €10.90 per bottleA case for entertaining
A California-appellation Cabernet, blended from coastal and inland fruit, for a big dinner party or an everyday stash.
Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 · €25.90 per bottle, by the case of 6A cool-climate Chardonnay
Green apple and almond on the limestone of Mount Harlan: a taut white for fish with beurre blanc or roast poultry.
Calera Chardonnay 2020 · €36 per bottleA coastal Pinot Noir
Anderson Valley, the coolest valley in Mendocino: cherry, sweet spice and lively acidity, for duck breast or salmon.
Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2019 · €73 per bottleAn old-vine Zinfandel
The Seghesio family has grown Zinfandel in Sonoma since the late 19th century: black fruit, pepper and fine depth.
Seghesio Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2021 · €59.80 per bottle, in packs of 2A Lodi curiosity
A Cinsault from vines planted in 1886 at Bechthold Vineyard, among the oldest in the state: pale red, floral and easy-drinking.
Birichino Bechthold Cinsault 2023 · €48 per bottleA great Cabernet to give
The Stag's Leap vineyard that beat great Bordeaux at the 1976 Judgement of Paris, for the cellar or a milestone birthday.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars SLV 2020 · €295 per bottleExplore Napa Valley
Oakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap: the valley's Cabernets sorted by sub-area, from €39.60 to €1,045 a bottle.
Napa Valley page
A vineyard governed by fog
Off the coast, the Pacific water stays cold all summer, drawn up from the depths by the California Current. When the Central Valley heats up in the afternoon, it sucks in this marine air through every gap in the hills: the Golden Gate and San Pablo Bay for Napa and Carneros, the Petaluma Gap for Sonoma, Monterey Bay for the Salinas Valley, the east–west valleys of Santa Barbara.
Fog blankets the vines until mid-morning, then lifts. The further you get from these openings, the hotter it becomes. Hence the simple rule of this range: Pinot and Chardonnay near the sea, Cabernet and Zinfandel inland, Syrah and Grenache in between.
How do you choose
The team tastes every wine before offering it. First and foremost, it looks for balance: ripe fruit carried by enough acidity to go with a meal. Here, the big names of Napa sit alongside Central Coast growers working in cool climates and old vines from Lodi, to cover every budget and every occasion.
The Wine Wanderer Team
What we are asked about California
What is the difference between Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast?
Napa is a narrow valley devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon, with the highest prices in the state. Sonoma, larger and more open to the fog, shines with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel. The Central Coast stretches for around 400 km, from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara: cool-climate Pinot, Syrah, Grenache. Each area has its own page, starting with the Napa Valley.
What does "California" mean on a label?
It is the broadest appellation: the grapes can come from any area of the state, provided they were all harvested there. The winemaker then blends the freshness of the coast with the ripeness of the interior for a consistent style. Francis Ford Coppola's Diamond Collection cuvées are a good example, from €22.90 a bottle, in cases of 6.
Why is Lodi famous for Zinfandel?
Lodi lies east of San Francisco Bay, on the edge of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Days are hot and the delta breeze cools the nights. Its sandy soils held back phylloxera, so vines from the 19th century are still producing there. The Kautz Family The Big Top Zinfandel offers a supple version, at €10.90 a bottle.
Why are some cuvées sold in packs or by the case?
Some cuvées are sold in lots of 2 or 3, others in cases of 6 bottles. To make comparison easy, the cards and tables on this page show the price of one bottle. Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023, for example, works out at €39.50 a bottle, in a lot of 3. The lot is ordered in one go, just like a single bottle.
Which Californian wine goes with a barbecue?
Zinfandel is the natural choice: black fruit, pepper, supple tannins and a warmth that stands up to grilled meat and smoky sauces. For a big gathering, Kautz Family The Big Top from Lodi, at €10.90 a bottle. For a rib of beef, Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel, at €59.80 a bottle, in a lot of 2. The Zinfandel page brings the grape variety together.
Are all Californian wines powerful and oaky?
The rich style does exist, especially in Napa Cabernet and Chardonnay aged in new oak. Yet a large family of estates aims for tension: Calera on the limestone of Mount Harlan, Au Bon Climat in Santa Barbara, Goldeneye in Anderson Valley. Their Pinots and Chardonnays play on freshness and precise fruit. For this style, look to the coastal areas and the Central Coast.
What was the 1976 Judgement of Paris?
A blind tasting held in Paris by Steven Spurrier in May 1976. French judges ranked a 1973 Cabernet from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars ahead of great Bordeaux, and a Chardonnay from Château Montelena ahead of white Burgundies. The SLV cuvée comes from the same vineyard, at €295 a bottle.
How long can you keep a Napa Cabernet?
An entry-level cuvée such as Postmark Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, at €39.60 a bottle, can be drunk now and over the next five years. Hillside and single-plot cuvées, such as Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard or Stag's Leap Cask 23, need ten to twenty years for their tannins to melt. Serve them at around 17 °C, decanted for an hour, with red meat or a mature cheese.