American wines, from the Napa Valley to Oregon Pinots
208 bottles, from Napa Cabernet to Oregon Pinot NoirA mountain Cabernet for the cellar, a fresh Pinot Noir for the table, a generous Zinfandel for the barbecue: the American vineyard covers all these uses. California supplies most of it, from the fogs of Sonoma to the sun-filled Grenaches of Santa Barbara, and the North-West adds tauter reds.
Every price is per bottle, from Lodi Zinfandel to the single-parcel Cabernets of Bond. Some cuvées are sold in packs of 2, 3 or 6.
Elizabeth Spencer - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019
A broad, velvety Napa Valley Cabernet, between black fruit, cocoa and sweet spice.
Ink Grade - Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2018
A deep, taut and mineral mountain Cabernet. Napa Valley at its most vertical.
Harlan Estate - Harlan 2021
A deep, finely chiselled expression of the Napa Valley hills.
Au Bon Climat - Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2023
A fine, balanced Californian Pinot Noir, between vivid fruit and earthy freshness.
Ridge Vineyards - Three Valleys 2023
A generous Californian blend, driven by Zinfandel and fine freshness. The Ridge signature in a delicious, approachable style.
Ridge Vineyards - Pagani Ranch Zinfandel 2023
A great old-vine Zinfandel, deep and vibrant. The freshness of Sonoma Valley balances its generous body.
Ridge Vineyards - Monte Bello 2022
A great Californian mountain red, taut with freshness and minerality. A bottle built for the cellar and for fine dining.
Ridge Vineyards - Lytton Springs 2022
A great blend from old Californian vines, deep and structured. The power of black fruit meets spicy freshness.
Ridge Vineyards - Lytton Estate Petite Sirah 2021
An intense Californian Petite Sirah, built for the cellar. Depth of black fruit and controlled structure.
Ridge Vineyards - Geyserville 2023
A blend from old Californian vines: intense, fresh and deeply savoury.
Ridge Vineyards - Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A precise, deep mountain Cabernet, driven by freshness. A fine structure built for ageing.
Ridge Vineyards - Montebello Chardonnay 2020
A mountain Chardonnay, at once broad, mineral and vibrant.
Ridge Vineyards - Grenache Blanc 2024
A precise Californian white, between orchard fruit and limestone minerality.
Ridge Vineyards - Estate Chardonnay 2023
A mountain Chardonnay, ample and luminous. Californian freshness in a finely oaked expression.
Ravenswood - Zinfandel Lodi 2022
A generous, spicy Lodi Zinfandel, supported by a fine oaky structure.
The Mascot - The Mascot 2021
A great Napa Valley red, intense and refined, from the Harlan family's young vines.
Hahn - Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A Californian Cabernet Sauvignon that is generous and structured, combining intense fruit, spice, and elegant oak.
Hahn - Pinot Noir 2021
A juicy, balanced Californian Pinot Noir, where coastal freshness highlights vibrant fruit and silky tannins.
Hahn - Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A Californian Cabernet Sauvignon combining ripe dark fruit, elegant oak, and a velvety structure.
Hahn - Boneshaker 2020
A powerful and generous Californian Zinfandel, where rich fruit combines with a velvety and warm texture.
Hahn - Chardonnay 2022
A generous and balanced Californian Chardonnay, where coastal freshness meets rich fruit.
Cristom - Paul Gerrie 2021
A precise and elegant Pinot Noir from Eola-Amity Hills, combining freshness, aromatic depth, and a silky texture.
Cristom - Mt Jefferson 2021
A precise and vibrant Oregon Pinot Noir, where the coolness of the climate marries with a silky and deep texture.
Cristom - Marjorie 2021
A Pinot Noir from an iconic parcel in the Eola-Amity Hills, combining aromatic finesse and elegant structure.
One craving, one way in
Choose according to the style you are looking for; each tile opens a selection.
A great Cabernet for ageing
Oakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap: the Cabernets that made California's reputation, cut out for fifteen years in the cellar.
Napa Valley · from €39.60 per bottleA cool-climate Pinot Noir
The volcanic hillsides of the Willamette Valley produce taut, floral Pinots with a Burgundian spirit.
Oregon · from €30.80 per bottleChardonnay and Pinot from the fog
Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley: precise whites and clean Pinots, nourished by the coolness of the Pacific.
Sonoma and Mendocino · from €29 per bottle, in packs of 6Grenache and Syrah in the sun
The heirs of the Rhône Rangers, from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara, and the limestone Pinots of Calera.
Central Coast · from €16.50 per bottle, in packs of 6For the barbecue
California's emblematic grape: a ripe, spicy red made for grilled meats and smoky sauces.
Zinfandel · from €10.90 per bottleA structured red at a gentle price
Cabernets, Merlots and Syrahs from the Columbia Valley desert: ripeness, crisp acidity, affordable prices.
Washington State · from €15.50 per bottleDiscover for under €30
Lodi Zinfandel, Californian Shiraz, dry Washington Riesling: the American style on an everyday budget.
All American wines · from €10.90 a bottleAll of California
From weeknight wines to the cult cuvées of Bond and Sine Qua Non, the state that supplies most of America's wine.
California · from €10.90 to €1,045 per bottle
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.
| Region | Climate and soils | Key grape varieties | What you will find |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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, from €39.60 |
| Sonoma and MendocinoRussian River, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley | Pacific fog, Goldridge sands, warmer Alexander Valley | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel | Kistler, Seghesio, Goldeneye, from €29 per bottle, in packs of 6 |
| Central CoastSanta Cruz, Mount Harlan, Santa Barbara | Valleys open to the sea breeze, rare Mount Harlan limestone | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache, Syrah | Calera, Au Bon Climat, Birichino, Sine Qua Non, from €16.50 per bottle, in packs of 6 |
| Lodi and inland CaliforniaLodi, Central Valley, statewide blends | Hot plain, sands where old ungrafted vines survive | Zinfandel, Cinsault, Syrah | Kautz Family, Francis Ford Coppola, from €10.90 |
| OregonDundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, The Rocks District | Cool, rainy climate, volcanic clays, basalt, Walla Walla cobbles | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah | Cristom, Archery Summit, Erath, Cayuse, from €30.80 |
| Washington StateColumbia 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, from €15.50 |
| Finger Lakes New York State | Harsh winters tempered by deep glacial lakes, shale | Riesling, Cabernet Franc | Ravines, from €35 per bottle, in packs of 3 |
Entry price per bottle. See also Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
Which American wine to serve with which dish
A specific bottle for each great classic of the table and the grill.
| Dish | Style to look for | The bottle | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbecued pork ribs | Ripe, spicy Zinfandel, supple tannins | Kautz Family The Big Top Zinfandel 2021Lodi | €10.90 |
| Homemade burger | Fruity, rounded Syrah | Bear Creek & Samantha Bailey Rib Tickler Shiraz 2020California | €12.50 |
| Grilled rib of beef | Napa Cabernet, tight tannins | Postmark Cabernet Sauvignon 2021Napa Valley | €39.60 |
| Grilled salmon, roast poultry | Cool-climate Pinot Noir | Erath Pinot Noir 2019Dundee Hills, Oregon | €30.80 |
| Thai food, spicy dishes | Dry, lively Riesling | Château Sainte Michelle Dry Riesling 2020Columbia Valley | €15.50 |
| Comté, pressed cheeses | Taut Chardonnay, discreet oak | Calera Chardonnay 2020Mount Harlan | €36 |
| Shoulder of lamb with herbs | Peppery Syrah from the Northwest | Tenet Wines Syrah The Pundit 2020Columbia Valley | €33, in packs of 3 |
| Oysters, crab, raw fish | Clean, saline Sauvignon Blanc | Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc 2022Napa Valley | €42 |
Prices per bottle. More ideas among our fruity reds and tannic reds.
Fresher and more varied than its reputation
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.
How do you choose
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.
The Wine Wanderer Team
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.
What is the difference between Napa Valley and 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.
How long can you keep an American wine?
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.
What is a Californian cult wine?
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.
Does an Oregon Pinot Noir resemble a Burgundy?
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.
At what temperature should you serve an American wine?
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.
Which American wine should you give to a wine lover?
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.