California

California produces 90% of USA’s wine. In fact France, Italy and Spain are the only countries that produce more wine than California.

Aside from the obvious bulk producers, California is synonymous with high quality wines from smart up-to-date wineries. There are a handful of super-premium estates with demand and prices to match, or sometimes exceed, the grandest names of Bordeaux, but most Californian wines sit at a level affordable by all if only on occasion.

Of course, California has its own grape variety – the sometimes unfairly maligned Zinfandel, now thought to originate from Croatia where it is known as Crljenak Kaštelanski. Zinfandel is always going to be big and dense, but is shaking off its reputation for over extraction and can be very good.

Beyond Zinfandel, all the major international varieties can be found in California. Chardonnay is the most planted variety, followed by the Bordeaux pair of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cooler parts of the Napa and Sonoma produce very good Pinot Noirs.

- Free delivery for all orders over £150. Case price* discount on any 12 (mixed) bottles or more. -