Decanter's Top 50 US wines: Part three – the top 10
Decanter's top 10 US wines of the year...
According to the California Wine Institute, the California wine region is responsible for producing 81% of all US wine, and is the fourth-largest wine-producing region after France, Italy and Spain.
There are 242,000 hectares of vineyard spread across 139 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas).
The North Coast is home to famed AVAs such as Napa County and Sonoma County, although wineries can be found from north to south, and further inland too.
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Chardonnay is California’s most widely planted variety, with approximately 37,800ha planted. Cabernet Sauvignon is not far behind, with approximately 36,700ha planted.