Where Else In The US Is Wine Produced Besides California?

Where else in the US is wine produced besides California? Every state in the country now has at least one legal vineyard producing wine and growing grapes, which is actually a pretty staggering statistic.

In each and every of the 50 states, says Dave Cedrone, a wine consultant who offers private tasting, basic wine education, etiquette classes, and buying services for the restaurant industry.


As a seasoned expert on wine, even Cedrone is surprised at the number of wineries spread throughout the country. "I had no idea that we have that kind of coverage here."

Which states produce the most wine?

Cedrone says "I think it goes California, Washington State, and then Texas."

California and Washington are well known for their vineyards and wineries, but the amount of wine produced in the southwestern state of Texas may surprise some connoisseurs.

Cedrone explains, "[It's] partly because of the sheer size of Texas, but wine is produced all throughout the state. There are a variety of grapes, some are grown here and others are shipped in from other vineyards in California, Washington, even New York State. A lot of people will buy large batches of grapes from other areas, if they can't grow them in their own area, but Texas absolutely does produce a lot of wine and there a plenty of wineries."
In fact, according to the experts at texaswinemarket.com, Texas wines have been in production since 1662.

"Franciscan padres planted the first vinifera (wine grapes) near the El Paso area. Since then, the Texas viticulture has grown from little more than 20 commercial vineyards in the early 1900's to more than 200 today."

Cedrone notes that many of the Texas varieties are acclaimed among wine experts.

"Lots of wines in Texas win awards every year, some that are again grown right on the estates and others that might not be, but that are produced there."

Certain varieties that are especially popular are the Armadillo Red and the Super Texan.

Of course, there is a difference between Texas wines and their more traditional west coast counterparts.

"There are certain grapes that prefer cold, wet climates but anybody who has been to Texas knows that has never occurred in the history of the state."

Despite the success of the Texas wine industry, California still maintains the national maximum, producing 90% of the wine made in the United States, according to findings reported by the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.
With almost 1,700 wineries in California, it would be a tough state to surpass in volume.

Other states, however, do boast impressive numbers for having considerably less wineries.

Oregon, for example, only houses 218 wineries, yet yields a loyal following of wine consumers because of the quality of the wines they do produce.

Cole Danehower, contributor for Oregon.com, discusses how the diversity of grapes in the Pacific Northwest help Oregon vineyards compete with larger producers.

"Wine grapes tend to be classified into varieties that either enjoy cool climates (typically pinot noir, pinot gris, gamay noir, chardonnay, riesling, gewurztraminer), or warm climates (cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, merlot, syrah, and sometimes chardonnay also).

Luckily, Oregon has both climates. So depending on which kinds of wines you like best, we have a wine country that will interest you."

And on the opposite coast, New York and Virginia are held in high regard for their wineries as well.

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