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American Wine Guides
These guides cover the parts of American wine that a directory listing cannot: how appellations work, which grapes suit which climate, what a tasting room actually costs and how direct shipping is regulated.
Start Here
The basics of American wine: what the labels mean, how appellations work and the grapes that only grow here.
American Wine: A Beginner’s GuideWhat American wine is, how its labels work, which grapes matter and how appellations differ from Europe.
What Is an AVA? American Appellations ExplainedAn American Viticultural Area is a federally defined grape-growing region. Here is how AVAs work and nest.
Norton, Concord and Muscadine: America’s Native GrapesThe native species behind American wine: Vitis labrusca, Vitis rotundifolia and the Norton grape.
Cold-Hardy Hybrid Grapes and Where They GrowMarquette, Frontenac, La Crescent and the other hybrids that made wine possible in the northern United States.Plan a Trip
How to build a winery road trip that works: timing, bookings, tasting-room manners and bringing the dog.
How to Plan an American Winery Road TripA practical method for planning a multi-day winery road trip: how many stops, booking, driving and shipping.
When to Visit American Wine CountrySeason by season guidance on visiting American wineries, including why harvest is the worst time to drop in.
Tasting Room Etiquette for First-Time VisitorsHow tasting fees, pours, spitting, tipping and buying actually work in an American tasting room.
Visiting Wineries With a DogHow dog policies at American wineries actually work, and what to check before you bring one.Regions Worth the Drive
Where to go and what each part of the country pours, from the Pacific Northwest to the East Coast.
Ten American Wine Regions Worth the TripTen American wine regions worth planning a trip around, what each one grows and when to go.
Napa or Sonoma: How the Two DifferHow Napa Valley and Sonoma County differ in size, grapes, cost and the kind of visit each suits.
Pacific Northwest Wine: Oregon, Washington and IdahoHow Oregon, Washington and Idaho differ, and which appellations to visit in each.
Wine Regions of the East CoastThe Finger Lakes, Virginia, Long Island, Maryland and New England, and what each grows well.Wine Regions of the MidwestMissouri, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota, and the grapes that survive their winters.
Texas and Southwest WineTexas Hill Country, the High Plains, New Mexico and Arizona, and the grapes suited to heat and altitude.Buying and Shipping
What a wine club commits you to, and why a winery can ship to one state and not the next.
Ready to go?
Every winery in the country is on the map, with the address, phone and website we could confirm.
All Guides at a Glance
- American Wine: A Beginner’s GuideWhat American wine is, how its labels work, which grapes matter and how appellations differ from Europe.
- Cold-Hardy Hybrid Grapes and Where They GrowMarquette, Frontenac, La Crescent and the other hybrids that made wine possible in the northern United States.
- Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping in the United StatesWhy a winery can ship to some states and not others, and what to check before ordering.
- How to Plan an American Winery Road TripA practical method for planning a multi-day winery road trip: how many stops, booking, driving and shipping.
- How Winery Wine Clubs WorkWhat a winery wine club actually commits you to: shipment frequency, cost, discounts and cancellation.
- Napa or Sonoma: How the Two DifferHow Napa Valley and Sonoma County differ in size, grapes, cost and the kind of visit each suits.
- Norton, Concord and Muscadine: America’s Native GrapesThe native species behind American wine: Vitis labrusca, Vitis rotundifolia and the Norton grape.
- Pacific Northwest Wine: Oregon, Washington and IdahoHow Oregon, Washington and Idaho differ, and which appellations to visit in each.
- Tasting Room Etiquette for First-Time VisitorsHow tasting fees, pours, spitting, tipping and buying actually work in an American tasting room.
- Ten American Wine Regions Worth the TripTen American wine regions worth planning a trip around, what each one grows and when to go.
- Texas and Southwest WineTexas Hill Country, the High Plains, New Mexico and Arizona, and the grapes suited to heat and altitude.
- Visiting Wineries With a DogHow dog policies at American wineries actually work, and what to check before you bring one.
- What Is an AVA? American Appellations ExplainedAn American Viticultural Area is a federally defined grape-growing region. Here is how AVAs work and nest.
- When to Visit American Wine CountrySeason by season guidance on visiting American wineries, including why harvest is the worst time to drop in.
- Wine Regions of the East CoastThe Finger Lakes, Virginia, Long Island, Maryland and New England, and what each grows well.
- Wine Regions of the MidwestMissouri, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota, and the grapes that survive their winters.
Details are collected from public records and the producer's own website and may be outdated. theUSAwineguide.com is not responsible for outdated or inaccurate information; confirm hours and availability with the winery before visiting.