California

California is one of the most diverse winegrowing regions in the world. Spanning 850 miles along North America's west coast—and inland across mountains and valleys—California's American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) cover a dizzying array of terroir. The cold, deep waters of the Pacific Ocean play a major role in cooling California's vineyards, sending fog and chilly air up to 100 miles inland. This tempers the daytime heat and allows grapes to ripen slowly but fully. Cooler-climate grape varieties thrive closest to the sea, while further inland, bigger, bolder wines prevail.