North American wine trails
See more guides

How does one begin to explore wineries in the U.S? Well, by traveling the wine trails most wine producing regions have created for all of us wine tourists of course!

California Wine Trails

California has over 427,000 acres planted under vines mostly located in a stretch of land covering over 700 miles from Mendocino County to the southwestern tip of Riverside County. There are over 107 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), including the well known Napa, Russian River Valley, Rutherford and Sonoma Valley AVAs.

Connecticut Wine Trails

The Connecticut Wine Trail is a set of 19 state approved wineries located in the state of Connecticut. The wineries are divided into two groups, the Western Trail and the Eastern Trail. The wineries comprising each group are "connected" by a route that is signed on major state highways. The wine trail is a major tourist attraction and is featured on most tour guides for Connecticut. The wine trail was established in 1988.

Illinois Wine Trails

In 2006, Shawnee Hills, in southern Illinois, was named the state's first American Viticultural Area. As of 2008, there were 79 wineries in Illinois, utilizing approximately 1,100 acres of vines. Twelve grape varieties accounties for 89% of grape area harvested in Illinois. The favorite varieties, in descending order by area devoted to production, were Chardonel, Chambourcin, Vignoles, Traminette, Concord, Foch, Seyval, Norton, Vidal Blanc, Frontenac, Niagara, and Cayuga White.

Indiana Wine Trails

Wine has been produced in the area since the early days of European colonization in the 18th century. In the mid-1800s, Indiana was the tenth-largest winegrape producing state in the country. There is one American Viticultural Area (AVA), the Ohio River Valley AVA, in Indiana.

Maryland Wine Trails

Maryland has four distinct growing regions, allowing for a wide diversity of grape varieties that will thrive throughout the State. The industry has grown rapidly since the first winery in Maryland, Boordy Vineyards, opened in 1945.

Michigan Wine Trails

As of 2007, there were 2,000 acres under wine-grape cultivation and 64 commercial wineries in Michigan, producing 425,000 cases of wine (1 million U.S. gallons). Wine and wine tourism were estimated in 2007 to be a $100 million industry. Most of the quality bottled wine of Michigan is produced in the four listed American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) of Fennville AVA, Lake Michigan Shore AVA, Leelanau Peninsula AVA, and the Old Mission Peninsula AVA. Besides grape wine, Michigan is a leader in the production of fruit wines such as cherry wine.

New Jersey Wine Trails

New Jersey’s climate and soil conditions allows for a variety of grapes to grown. Grape varietals include Chardonnay, Riesling, Vidal Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin and Marechal Foch. Many other varieties are also grown in New Jersey.

New York Wine Trails

New York ranks third in grape production by volume after California and Washington. Eighty-three percent of New York's grape area is Vitis labrusca varieties (mostly Concord). The rest is almost split equal between Vitis vinifera and French hybrids. The range of wines made in New York include Riesling, Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling wines, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Oregon Wine Trails

The state of Oregon in the United States has established an international reputation for its production of wine. Oregon has several different growing regions within the state's borders which are well-suited to the cultivation of grapes; additional regions straddle the border between Oregon and the states of Washington and Idaho. Wine making dates back to pioneer times in the 1840s, with commercial production beginning in the 1960s.

Pennsylvania Wine Trails

The climate in Pennsylvania is mild compared to surrounding states, with the moderating effects of Lake Erie to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. More than 90 wineries are located in all parts of the state, including five designated American Viticultural Areas. Pennsylvania is the eighth-largest wine producing state in the country.

Rhode Island Wine Trails

Viticulture in Rhode Island began in 1663 when King Charles II of England included wine production among the land uses approved in the royal charter establishing Rhode Island as an English colony. The modern wine industry of Rhode Island began in 1975 when Sakonnet Vineyards was established near Little Compton. Located near the Atlantic Ocean, Rhode Island has one of the most moderate climates of the U.S. northeast.

Texas Wine Trails

Texas has a long history of wine production. The sunny and dry climate of the major wine making regions in the state have drawn comparison to Portuguese wines. Some of the earliest recorded Texas wines were produced by Spanish missionaries in the 1650s near El Paso. The state is home to over 36 members of the Vitis grape vine family with fifteen being native to the state, more than any other region on earth.

Virginia Wine Trails

Wine has been produced in the area since the early days of European colonization in the 17th century. Virginia has hot humid summers that can be challenging to viticulture. Since 2000, Chardonnay has been the most produced grape variety, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, and Cabernet Franc. French hybrids and native American grape varieties account for nearly 20% of total winegrape production in the state.

Washington Wine Trails

Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine, behind only California. By 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres of vineyards, a harvest of 120,000 short tons of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 600 wineries located in the state. Geographically and viticulturally, Washington is divided into section separated by the Cascade Mountain chain.

Savvy Wino guides