Introduction

Being the fourth largest producer after Italy, France and Spain, wine is being produced in the United States since the last 300 years. Today, there are nearly 3,000 commercial vineyards with at least one winery in each of the 50 states. Considered the most important wine region outside of Europe, California produces 90% of USA wine. Other important States include Washington (3.5%), New York (3.5%) and Oregon (1%).

It was in 1976 at the Judgement of Paris that the USA wine industry shot to fame with wines from California beating wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy during the blind tastings. California swept the competition in both red wine and white wine categories. It was this event that changed the face of the Californian wine industry and promoted it to the status of one of the world’s premier wine regions.