May 26, 2026·WineJoys Editors

The Best Wineries in Every U.S. State

Short answer: Every U.S. state except North Dakota now makes wine. The producers most worth knowing by state include Opus One and Screaming Eagle in California, Domaine Drouhin in Oregon, Leonetti and Quilceda Creek in Washington, Hermann J. Wiemer in New York, Barboursville in Virginia, and Stone Hill in Missouri. For the full state-by-state list, see below — and you can browse all wineries by state in the WineJoys directory.

American wine is no longer a California story. There are wineries operating in 49 of the 50 states, and a surprising number of them are making genuinely world-class wine. This guide names the producer or two worth knowing in each major wine-producing state, plus the wine you should taste first from each. Use it as a starting point — every state has more good wineries than we can list, and you can browse the full directory by state for more.

How to read this list

States are listed alphabetically.
The producer names are widely respected — they're the ones a sommelier or wine critic would mention first.
The "Try first" wine is the one most likely to define what's special about that state.

Alabama

Alabama has a small but growing wine industry, mostly built around hybrid grapes.

Notable producer: Morgan Creek Vineyards (Harpersville)
Try first: Their Tailgate Red — a friendly, fruit-forward blend.

Alaska

Alaska does not commercially grow wine grapes (the climate is too cold), but it has a handful of fruit-wine and meadery operations.

Arizona

A genuine surprise. Arizona's high-elevation desert vineyards in Sonoita-Elgin (southeast) and Verde Valley (central) make Mediterranean-style wines.

Notable producers: Caduceus Cellars, Page Springs Cellars, Pillsbury Wine Company
Try first: A Caduceus Tempranillo or Page Springs Syrah.

Browse Arizona.

Arkansas

A historic wine region — Wiederkehr Wine Cellars has been operating since 1880, making it one of the oldest wineries in continuous operation in America.

Notable producer: Wiederkehr Wine Cellars (Altus)
Try first: Their estate-grown white wines.

California

The big one. Nearly every famous American wine is from California, and even listing the most respected producers is a long article. A short version:

Napa Valley: Opus One, Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Dominus, Heitz Cellar, Spottswoode, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Dunn, Chappellet
Sonoma: Williams Selyem, Marcassin, Aubert, Hirsch, Kistler, Ridge Lytton Springs
Central Coast (Paso Robles / Santa Barbara): Sandhi, Sea Smoke, Au Bon Climat, Saxum, Sine Qua Non
Try first: A Stags Leap District Cabernet or a Russian River Pinot Noir.

Browse California. See also: Napa vs Sonoma.

Colorado

The Grand Valley around Palisade sits at 4,700 feet and produces bright, structured wines.

Notable producers: Sutcliffe Vineyards, Bookcliff Vineyards, Snowy Peaks
Try first: Sutcliffe Cabernet Franc.

Browse Colorado.

Connecticut

A small but historic industry, mostly on the eastern shoreline.

Notable producers: Saltwater Farm Vineyard, Stonington Vineyards
Try first: Their crisp seacoast Chardonnays.

Delaware

The smallest state has a handful of wineries, mostly in coastal Sussex County.

Notable producer: Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery
Try first: Their Vidal Blanc.

Florida

Florida's wine industry uses primarily Muscadine grapes (a native Southern grape) and tropical fruit wines, since Vitis vinifera (the European wine grape) doesn't survive the heat.

Notable producer: Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards (Clermont)

Georgia

North Georgia's Dahlonega plateau is the state's wine region.

Notable producers: Wolf Mountain Vineyards, Three Sisters Vineyards
Try first: Wolf Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.

Hawaii

Hawaii has a small but unique wine industry; volcanic-soil vineyards on Maui make distinctive wines, plus the famous Maui pineapple wine.

Notable producer: MauiWine
Try first: Their estate Syrah or pineapple wine.

Idaho

The Snake River Valley is becoming one of the most exciting up-and-coming American wine regions. High elevation + warm days + cold nights = serious structured reds and aromatic whites.

Notable producers: Cinder Wines, Sawtooth, Telaya Wine Co.
Try first: A Cinder Wines Viognier or Tempranillo.

Browse Idaho.

Illinois

Illinois has a quiet but legitimate wine industry, mostly in the Shawnee Hills AVA in the southern part of the state.

Notable producer: Blue Sky Vineyard
Try first: Norton or Chambourcin (the regional specialties).

Indiana

Indiana's wine industry centers on the Ohio River Valley AVA.

Notable producer: Huber's Orchard, Winery & Vineyards
Try first: Their Heritage Red — Chambourcin-based.

Iowa

Iowa's wine industry uses cold-hardy hybrids developed at the University of Minnesota.

Notable producer: Tassel Ridge Winery
Try first: Their Marechal Foch.

Kansas

A small but proud industry, mostly grape and fruit wines.

Notable producer: Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery

Kentucky

Kentucky's wine industry is small but growing, mostly using native and hybrid grapes alongside whiskey culture.

Notable producer: Equus Run Vineyards (Midway)

Louisiana

Louisiana's wine industry uses Muscadine and other Southern grapes.

Notable producer: Pontchartrain Vineyards (Bush)

Maine

Maine has a small but distinctive industry combining grape, fruit, and meadery operations.

Notable producer: Cellardoor Winery (Lincolnville)

Maryland

Maryland's wine industry has grown rapidly. The Maryland Wine Trail covers more than 50 wineries.

Notable producer: Boordy Vineyards (the oldest, founded 1945)
Try first: Boordy Vidal Blanc.

Massachusetts

A surprising number of serious producers, especially on the South Coast and Martha's Vineyard.

Notable producer: Westport Rivers Vineyard
Try first: Their traditional-method sparkling.

Michigan

The Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas near Traverse City are world-class cool-climate wine regions, with Lake Michigan moderating the temperatures.

Notable producers: Brys Estate, 2 Lads, Bowers Harbor, Bel Lago
Try first: A Leelanau Peninsula Riesling or 2 Lads sparkling.

Browse Michigan.

Minnesota

Cold-climate hybrid grapes (Frontenac, Marquette, La Crescent) drive Minnesota's industry. Surprisingly serious results.

Notable producer: Alexis Bailly Vineyard (the state's first)
Try first: A Marquette red.

Mississippi

A small industry mostly built on Muscadine grapes.

Notable producer: Old South Winery (Natchez)

Missouri

Missouri was the second state to be granted an AVA (Augusta, 1980 — before Napa Valley). The state's German heritage makes for unique varieties like Norton.

Notable producers: Stone Hill Winery (oldest in Missouri), Adam Puchta, Mount Pleasant Estate
Try first: A Stone Hill Norton or Vignoles.

Browse Missouri.

Montana

Montana's wine industry is very small, with most operations using imported grapes.

Notable producer: Mission Mountain Winery

Nebraska

A small but growing industry, mostly using cold-hardy hybrids.

Notable producer: James Arthur Vineyards (Raymond)

Nevada

Most of Nevada's wineries import grapes from California; Pahrump Valley Winery is the historic name.

Notable producer: Pahrump Valley Winery

New Hampshire

A small but proud cluster of producers.

Notable producer: Jewell Towne Vineyards (South Hampton)

New Jersey

New Jersey's wine industry has grown dramatically. The Outer Coastal Plain AVA is the heart of it.

Notable producer: Unionville Vineyards
Try first: Their Pheasant Hill Single Vineyard Chardonnay.

New Mexico

New Mexico has one of the oldest wine industries in the U.S. — older than California by 150 years — though most current production is sparkling.

Notable producer: Gruet (their traditional-method sparklings are legitimately world-class)
Try first: Gruet Blanc de Noirs.

New York

The Finger Lakes is the prestige region, but Long Island and the Hudson Valley are both producing serious wines. See our full New York wine regions guide.

Notable producers:
- Finger Lakes: Hermann J. Wiemer, Ravines, Forge Cellars, Dr. Konstantin Frank
- Long Island: Bedell Cellars, Wölffer Estate, Macari, Channing Daughters
- Hudson Valley: Millbrook, Whitecliff
Try first: A Hermann J. Wiemer dry Riesling.

Browse New York. See also: Napa vs Finger Lakes.

North Carolina

A surprisingly diverse industry, with serious operations in the Yadkin Valley AVA.

Notable producers: RagApple Lassie Vineyards, Shelton Vineyards, Childress Vineyards
Try first: A Yadkin Valley Cabernet Franc.

North Dakota

No commercial wineries currently. The only state without a wine industry.

Ohio

Ohio's Lake Erie wine region is one of the oldest in America, dating to the 1830s.

Notable producer: Debonné Vineyards (the largest estate winery in the state)
Try first: A Lake Erie Riesling or Pinot Grigio.

Oklahoma

A small but growing industry.

Notable producer: Stableridge Vineyards

Oregon

Willamette Valley is one of America's premier wine regions, but southern Oregon (Rogue Valley, Umpqua Valley, Applegate Valley) is also serious.

Notable producers (Willamette): Eyrie Vineyards (the pioneer), Domaine Drouhin, Cristom, Bethel Heights, Brick House, Beaux Frères, Soter
Notable producers (Southern Oregon): Quady North, Troon Vineyard, Cowhorn
Try first: A Dundee Hills Pinot Noir.

Browse Oregon.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a long wine history; the Lake Erie AVA extends into PA, and the southeast (Lehigh Valley AVA) is up-and-coming.

Notable producer: Galer Estate, Mazza Vineyards
Try first: A Lehigh Valley Chambourcin.

Rhode Island

A small but distinctive industry on coastal land.

Notable producer: Newport Vineyards
Try first: Their estate Cabernet Franc.

South Carolina

A small Muscadine-and-hybrid industry, with growing experimentation in vinifera grapes.

Notable producer: Victory Lane Vineyards

South Dakota

The state's wine industry centers on cold-hardy grapes.

Notable producer: Strawbale Winery & Cidery

Tennessee

Tennessee has more than 60 wineries, mostly using Muscadine and hybrid grapes.

Notable producer: Arrington Vineyards (co-owned by Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn)
Try first: Their Cabernet Franc.

Texas

The fastest-growing wine state. The Hill Country around Fredericksburg and the High Plains AVA are both serious regions.

Notable producers: McPherson Cellars, William Chris Vineyards, Pedernales Cellars, Becker Vineyards
Try first: A Texas Tempranillo from William Chris or Pedernales.

Browse Texas.

Utah

Utah's complicated alcohol laws have kept the industry tiny, but a handful of wineries operate.

Notable producer: Castle Creek Winery (near Moab)

Vermont

Vermont's cold-climate wine industry has grown rapidly, with serious cold-hardy hybrid winemaking.

Notable producer: Lincoln Peak Vineyard
Try first: Their Marquette or La Crescent.

Virginia

One of America's most exciting under-the-radar wine regions. The Monticello AVA around Charlottesville makes serious Bordeaux-style wines.

Notable producers: Barboursville, RdV Vineyards, Linden, Veritas, King Family
Try first: A Barboursville Viognier or RdV "Lost Mountain" Bordeaux blend.

Browse Virginia.

Washington

Washington is the second-largest wine producer in the U.S. behind California, and the quality is often comparable. Walla Walla is the prestige zone.

Notable producers: Leonetti Cellar, Quilceda Creek, Cayuse, Reynvaan, Rasa, Owen Roe, Charles Smith Wines
Try first: A Walla Walla Syrah or Red Mountain Cabernet.

Browse Washington.

West Virginia

A very small wine industry, mostly serving local tourism.

Notable producer: Forks of Cheat Winery

Wisconsin

Wisconsin uses cold-hardy hybrids and has more than 100 wineries.

Notable producer: Wollersheim Winery (in operation since 1858 — one of America's oldest)
Try first: Their Domaine du Sac (Marechal Foch blend).

Wyoming

A tiny industry; some wineries import grapes.

Notable producer: Table Mountain Vineyards (Huntley)

The states most worth visiting on a road trip

If you're picking states to actually visit, in priority order:

California — Napa-Sonoma still beats everything for pure breadth and quality
Oregon — Willamette Valley is America's Burgundy
Washington — Walla Walla is one of the great wine towns in America
New York — Finger Lakes for Riesling, Long Island for Bordeaux varieties
Texas — fastest-growing scene; combine with Austin or San Antonio
Virginia — closest serious wine country to Washington D.C.
Michigan — beautiful coastline; cool-climate gems

For more detail, see The Ultimate U.S. Winery Road Trip Guide.

How to find more wineries in any state

Browse our complete directory by state at /search, or scan any bottle with the WineJoys Bottle Scanner to identify the producer and look up similar wineries.