California is one of the most renowned wine making regions in the entire world. Wine has been produced in this region for over 250 years and it has only grown every year. Today there are over 1200 wineries in the state and it accounts for about 90% of all wine produced in America. If California was its own country, it would instantly be the world's fourth largest wine producing country.
The most popular wine varietals from California are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel. The state is often broken down in about 4 sub-regions. Those sub regions are the North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, and the Central Valley.
The North Coast consists of the most popular region, Napa Valley, as well as Sonoma County. The Central Coast consists of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, as well as Paso Robles. The Central Valley includes the popular region of Lodi where some of the best Zinfandel comes from.
