There’s nothing quite like going to source: sipping that perfectly crisp Chardonnay amidst the rustic, rolling landscapes that brought it into being.
With a land mass of approximately 2.7 million sq km between them, the USA and Canada offer a mind-boggling diversity of dynamic terroirs resulting in a wine list greater than your wildest dreams. Uncork these 10 locales that’ll whisk you, glass in hand, through some of North America’s most notable winemaking regions.
Sonoma County North, California, USA
One of California’s most geographically diverse counties, Sonoma is also one of its most vibrant wine areas. The Coast Ranges hug the Pacific Ocean on the western side of Sonoma County, protecting it from the cold ocean currents rushing along the coast from the north. On the far eastern side, the Mayacamas Mountains carve the county line between Sonoma and Napa. In the middle, the Russian River Valley creates a series of rippling hills and flood plains. The notable change in temperature and conditions between coastal and inland reaches enables such diversity in northern Sonoma’s wines.
Home to 17 different winegrowing regions, or AVAs, Sonoma County grows everything from full-bodied Zinfandel to structural Bordeaux blends, spicy Rhône varieties, elegant Pinot Noir, and refreshing, crisp whites. The region enjoys warm daytime temperatures ample enough for producing robust reds, with still fairly cool nights, resulting in wines with plenty of flavor and bright, refreshing acidity.
Verde Valley, Arizona, USA
Though Arizona’s contemporary wine industry is relatively young, vines were first planted here in the late 1800s. Pioneers believed the craggy landscape could make it a world-renowned wine region akin to parts of northern Spain or Italy – until such dreams were crushed by Prohibition. It wasn’t until the 1980s that vineyards began to reappear in the region. Over the last decade, original vines introduced by explorers during the Gold Rush have been rediscovered and are now being cultivated alongside a wealth of Spanish, French, and Italian varieties.
While farming in the Verde Valley has historically focused on cattle ranching, a local food boom has recently taken hold, bringing with it an increase in local vineyards. Consequently, the region now boasts the state’s greatest concentration of wineries and tasting rooms.
Grand Valley, Colorado, USA
Colorado winemaking is still a relatively new frontier. Though it has roots dating back to the 1800s, the wine scene was limited to just five wineries as recently as 1990. Now, more than 100 wineries are scattered across the state – from the front range (Boulder/Denver) to the state’s four-corner town of Cortez near the grand Mesa Verde. However, the largest concentration of vineyards can be found hugging the Rocky Mountains’ western slopes around Grand Junction, where the low humidity and intense ultraviolet rays of the high desert create ideal conditions for a range of grapes despite a shortened season.
The Grand Valley AVA is home to the highest concentration of vineyards in Colorado, many of which sit at around 4500ft, soaking up the sunshine that radiates off the valley’s chalky Book Cliffs – a growing environment you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the world.
Nova Scotia, Canada
Nova Scotia’s cool climate presents challenges for viticulturists – the pulse of the province pounds along with the ocean waves, granting only 120 annual days of sunshine compared to about 300 in regions like Australia. Around the Annapolis Valley, vineyards border the tumultuous Bay of Fundy where the highest tides in the world gush in and out each day. The sea-drenched terroir lends itself to light, zesty or floral whites, acidic reds, and sparkling wines.
The local winemakers have had to get inventive to achieve complexity and variety, tearing up the rule books to accommodate imaginative techniques, little-known grapes, and unique wines. Some have even been engineered for the climate and cuisine: Tidal Bay, the region’s signature appellation, is produced to strict criteria and designed to pair with Nova Scotia’s local seafood.
New Jersey, USA
New Jersey’s wine industry dates back to the 1700s, when London’s Royal Society of the Arts recognized two New Jersey vintners for their accomplishment in producing the first bottles of quality wine from the colonies. The state’s modern wine industry now boasts more than 50 wineries. While there is a legacy of sweet, hybrid-based wines that sold – and still sell – well to locals, today more wineries than ever are focusing on European grapes and enhancing the quality of their products.
Despite facing challenges from a historical reputation of good-not-great wine, New Jersey, though small in area, is highly diverse in its wine offerings. East-coast standards like Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc flourish across the state, while in the southern half, Bordeaux varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc dominate, alongside hybrid varieties like Chambourcin.
Long Island, New York, USA
Long Island wine country is just an 80-mile drive east from Manhattan’s skyscrapers, but it feels like another world. The Atlantic waters surrounding its grape-growing areas play a crucial role in Long Island’s exceptional wines: they moderate spring and autumn temperatures, extend the growing season, protect vineyards against frost, and minimize winter-cold damage. This lengthy growing season, with abundant summer sun and cool overnight breezes, creates a unique maritime climate.
Long Island’s grapes reflect its aspirations, once comparing itself to both Bordeaux and California. Merlot is the most-planted red, with significant plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Chardonnay dominates local whites, but Sauvignon Blanc is becoming increasingly popular and compelling with each vintage.
Portland, Oregon, USA
Known globally for its vibrant food scene, the city of Portland celebrates food trucks as much as its traditional restaurants. As the culinary landscape has evolved, so too has the region’s wine scene. Portland is a perfect city to embark on an urban adventure that combines a love for food and wine. Thanks to its proximity to one of the world’s renowned Pinot Noir regions and the smaller, warmer Columbia Gorge, Portland’s urban wineries offer both the cool-climate wines of Willamette Valley and the more robust flavors of the Gorge.
Exploring the city’s winery scene reveals tasting rooms for every preference: from cooperative warehouse-style tasting venues that allow sampling multiple labels under one roof to wine bars featuring their own selection alongside wines from around the world, and traditional tasting rooms adjoining their respective wineries.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Island encompasses diverse terrains, from sandy beaches to rocky shores, marshy lowlands to rolling farmland, and old-growth rainforests to snow-dusted mountains. Stretching 500km southeast to northwest, the island is bisected by a mountain range, crossed by undulating rivers, and rimmed with countless bays. Mild annual temperatures make visiting year-round easy, contributing to a flourishing winemaking scene.
With more than 30 licensed wineries focusing on cool-climate grapes adaptable to the marine environment, local viticulture features Pinot Gris and Ortega as leading white grapes, while Pinot Noir and Marechal Foch dominate reds. Sparkling wines also thrive, capturing that fresh, clean, natural acidity in bubbles, making this region a must-visit for wine lovers.
Hill Country, Texas, USA
According to local sayings, ‘everything is bigger in Texas,’ and the Texas Hill Country spans nine million acres, offering ample space for numerous soils and climates. This diversity has led to several smaller wine regions within the larger Texas Hill Country and to a wonderful variety of grapes thriving here. These include Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Italian Sangiovese and Vermentino, as well as cool-climate Chenin Blanc.
Fredericksburg, located at the heart of the region, provides an easy scenic drive from Austin along Hwy 290, which winds through the region’s namesake hills. As you travel, oaks and elms offer shade at wineries, while wildflowers bloom in the fields and the bright Texas sky casts a soft-blue hue overhead, epitomizing a less-seen side of Texas.
Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
The spirit of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson infuses central Virginia’s wine country – the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) is named for his estate, located just south of Charlottesville. Jefferson planted European grape varieties on his property three different times but faced persistent challenges including bird damage and the phylloxera root louse.
Today, however, the region’s vintners are producing first-class wines. Bordeaux-style blends based on Merlot shine here, but central Virginia is not limited to just one style. Delicious Vermentino, flowery and fruity Petit Manseng, and brawny Tannat are also emerging from the region. Moreover, local cideries are reviving heirloom apple varieties used by Jefferson and his contemporaries to craft cider.
