California Wines

Ever since Steven Spurrier's famous Judgement of Paris in the 1970s, the wines of California have finally been given the respect they deserve. The great Cabernet Sauvignons of the Napa Valley, the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of Sonoma and the full-bodied reds of the Central Coast all compete with the very best of Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Southern Rhône Valley.

Without a doubt, California is the most recognised of the wine-producing states in the US, and accounts for more than 80 percent of US wine production; as a stand-alone country, it would be the fourth-largest wine producer in the world! Cabernet Sauvignon is king and Napa Valley its kingdom, though this coveted region only accounts for 4% of the state's production, adding to the prestige and demand for the wines of respected names such as Opus One, Screaming Eagle, Ulysses and more.