American wines, from the Napa Valley to Oregon Pinots
164 bouteilles, de 10,90 € à 1 045 €A mountain Cabernet for ageing, a fresh Pinot Noir for the table, a generous Zinfandel for the barbecue: American vineyards cover all these uses. California supplies most of it, from the fogs of Sonoma to the sun-drenched Grenaches of Santa Barbara, and the Northwest adds tauter reds.
Every price is per bottle, from €10.90 for a Lodi Zinfandel to €1,045 for Bond's single-plot Cabernets. Some cuvées are sold in packs of 2, 3 or 6.
Chamisal - SLO Chardonnay 2021
A coastal Chardonnay from San Luis Obispo, combining maritime freshness, vibrant fruit and subtle oak.
Une envie, une porte d'entrée
Choose according to the style you are looking for; each tile opens a selection.
Un grand cabernet de garde
Oakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap: the Cabernets that made California's reputation, cut out for fifteen years in the cellar.
Napa Valley · dès 39,60 € la bouteilleUn pinot noir de climat frais
The volcanic hillsides of the Willamette Valley produce taut, floral Pinots with a Burgundian spirit.
Oregon · dès 30,80 € la bouteilleChardonnay and Pinot from the fog
Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley: precise whites and clean Pinots, nourished by the coolness of the Pacific.
Sonoma et Mendocino · dès 29 € la bouteille, par lot de 6Grenache et syrah au soleil
The heirs of the Rhône Rangers, from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara, and the limestone Pinots of Calera.
Central Coast · dès 16,50 € la bouteille, par lot de 6For the barbecue
California's emblematic grape: a ripe, spicy red made for grilled meats and smoky sauces.
Zinfandel · dès 10,90 € la bouteilleUn rouge structuré à prix doux
Cabernets, Merlots and Syrahs from the Columbia Valley desert: ripeness, crisp acidity, affordable prices.
État de Washington · dès 15,50 € la bouteilleDécouvrir à moins de 30 €
Lodi Zinfandel, Californian Shiraz, dry Washington Riesling: the American style on an everyday budget.
All American wines · from €10.90 a bottleToute la Californie
From weeknight wines to the cult cuvées of Bond and Sine Qua Non, the state that supplies most of America's wine.
Californie · de 10,90 € à 1 045 € la bouteille
Six wine regions, two coasts, opposite climates
From the irrigated desert of Washington to the cool valleys of Santa Barbara, each region imposes its own style.
| Région | Climat et sols | Cépages phares | Ce qu'on y trouve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa ValleyOakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap | Warm valley cooled by the bay, alluvium on the floor, volcanic soils on the hillsides | Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay | Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Heitz Cellar, Duckhorn, Bond, dès 39,60 € |
| Sonoma et MendocinoRussian River, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley | Brouillards du Pacifique, sables Goldridge, Alexander Valley plus chaude | Pinot noir, chardonnay, zinfandel | Kistler, Seghesio, Goldeneye, dès 29 € la bouteille, par lot de 6 |
| Central CoastSanta Cruz, Mount Harlan, Santa Barbara | Vallées ouvertes au vent marin, calcaire rare de Mount Harlan | Pinot noir, chardonnay, grenache, syrah | Calera, Au Bon Climat, Birichino, Sine Qua Non, dès 16,50 € la bouteille, par lot de 6 |
| Lodi et Californie intérieureLodi, Central Valley, assemblages d'État | Plaine chaude, sables où survivent de vieilles vignes franches de pied | Zinfandel, cinsault, syrah | Kautz Family, Francis Ford Coppola, dès 10,90 € |
| OregonDundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, The Rocks District | Climat frais et pluvieux, argiles volcaniques, basalte, galets de Walla Walla | Pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah | Cristom, Archery Summit, Erath, Cayuse, dès 30,80 € |
| État de WashingtonColumbia Valley, Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills | Desert east of the Cascades, loess and sand over basalt, cold nights | Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, riesling | Château Sainte Michelle, Col Solare, Quilceda Creek, dès 15,50 € |
| Finger Lakes État de New York | Harsh winters tempered by deep glacial lakes, shale | Riesling, cabernet franc | Ravines, dès 35 € la bouteille, par lot de 3 |
Prix d'entrée à la bouteille. Voir aussi le cabernet sauvignon et le zinfandel.
Which American wine to serve with which dish
A specific bottle for each great classic of the table and the grill.
| Plat | Style à chercher | La bouteille | Prix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travers de porc au barbecue | Zinfandel mûr et épicé, tanins souples | Kautz Family The Big Top Zinfandel 2021Lodi | 10,90 € |
| Burger maison | Syrah fruitée et ronde | Bear Creek & Samantha Bailey Rib Tickler Shiraz 2020Californie | 12,50 € |
| Côte de bœuf grillée | Cabernet de Napa, tanins serrés | Postmark Cabernet Sauvignon 2021Napa Valley | 39,60 € |
| Saumon grillé, volaille rôtie | Pinot noir de climat frais | Erath Pinot Noir 2019Dundee Hills, Oregon | 30,80 € |
| Cuisine thaïe, plats pimentés | Riesling sec et vif | Château Sainte Michelle Dry Riesling 2020Columbia Valley | 15,50 € |
| Comté, fromages à pâte pressée | Chardonnay tendu, bois discret | Calera Chardonnay 2020Mount Harlan | 36 € |
| Shoulder of lamb with herbs | Syrah poivrée du Nord-Ouest | Tenet Wines Syrah The Pundit 2020Columbia Valley | 33 €, par lot de 3 |
| Huîtres, crabe, poisson cru | Sauvignon blanc net et salin | Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc 2022Napa Valley | 42 € |
Prices per bottle. More ideas among our fruity reds and tannic reds.
Plus frais et plus varié que sa réputation
American wine carries the image of a ripe, oaky, powerful Cabernet. That tells only a small part of the story. Since 1976, when a Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet beat classified Bordeaux growths at the Judgement of Paris, curious winegrowers have gone in search of freshness: at altitude on Howell Mountain and Pritchard Hill, on the volcanic clays of Oregon, in the valleys of Santa Barbara open to the Pacific wind.
Then there are the Rhône Rangers of the Central Coast, who planted Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre from the 1980s, and the cobblestones of The Rocks District, where Cayuse makes wild, deep Syrahs. Cabernet remains the backbone; the rest is well worth the detour.
Comment on choisit
Every wine is tasted before it joins our range. We look for balance rather than power: an acidity that carries the alcohol, oak that fades behind the fruit. The selection brings together everyday wines, historic Napa estates for ageing and a few rare cuvées, Bond, Sine Qua Non or Quilceda Creek.
L'équipe du Baroudeur du Vin
What people ask us about American wines
Why are American wines often expensive?
Several costs add up: land in the Napa Valley is among the most expensive in the wine world, labour is costly, the top cuvées are aged in new barrels and import duties weigh heavily in Europe. Cult wines add scarcity. The selection under €30 starts at €10.90.
Quelle différence entre la Napa Valley et Sonoma ?
Napa is a narrow, warm valley devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Sonoma, larger and closer to the ocean, benefits from the Pacific fogs: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the coast, Zinfandel in the warmer districts. Compare Napa wines and Sonoma wines.
Which American wine should you choose to begin with?
Start with an easy-to-read, affordable style. Kautz Family's The Big Top Zinfandel, at €10.90, shows the ripe fruit of Lodi. Château Sainte Michelle's Dry Riesling, at €15.50, proves that Washington can make lively whites. Erath's Pinot Noir, at €30.80, gives a true picture of Oregon.
Combien de temps garder un vin américain ?
It all depends on the grape and the place. A Napa Cabernet from a good estate opens up after eight to ten years and often lasts twenty. An Oregon Pinot Noir is best drunk between five and twelve years. Zinfandel and everyday wines are best enjoyed in their first five years, while the fruit is to the fore.
Qu'appelle-t-on un vin culte californien ?
A wine produced in small quantities, sold first to a mailing list and sought after by collectors. Bond, founded by Bill Harlan, makes one Cabernet per plot, at €1,045 a bottle. Sine Qua Non, in Ventura, blends Grenache and Syrah at €380. In Washington State, Quilceda Creek plays this role, at €392.
Un pinot noir de l'Oregon ressemble-t-il à un bourgogne ?
It comes closer than any other New World Pinot: cool climate, winter rains, moderate ripeness. The Drouhin family settled in the Dundee Hills in 1987, and Nicolas Jay has brought Jean-Nicolas Méo, from Vosne-Romanée, to the Willamette Valley. Compare Oregon Pinots and Burgundy.
À quelle température servir un vin américain ?
Serve Napa Cabernets at 16–18 °C, after an hour in a decanter for young vintages. Oregon and Sonoma Pinot Noirs taste best at around 15 °C, Zinfandel at around 16 °C. Chardonnays need 11–12 °C, Rieslings and Sauvignons 8–10 °C.
Is Zinfandel the same grape as Primitivo?
Yes. Genetic analysis has shown that Californian Zinfandel and Primitivo from Puglia are one and the same grape, originally from Croatia, where it is called Tribidrag. California makes riper wines from it, especially in Lodi and Sonoma. Compare our Zinfandel selection and Italian Primitivo.
Quel vin américain offrir à un amateur ?
A Cabernet from a historic estate always makes an impression. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' Artemis, at €119.90, comes from the estate of the Judgement of Paris. Heitz Cellar's Martha's Vineyard, at €476, is a Napa classic. For a Pinot lover, Cristom's Marjorie cuvée, at €96 a bottle in a pack of 2.