Major California Wine Regions and Their Specialties

Pairing Food and Wine For Dummies

Here's a quick look at the major California wine regions and their specialties. California wine country is gorgeous and welcomes more and more visitors each year:

Region	Wine Specialty
Anderson Valley	Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, sparkling wine
Carneros	Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, sparkling wine
Monterey	Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley	Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Paso Robles	Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah
Santa Barbara	Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah
Sonoma County	Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

About This Article

About the book author:

Ed McCarthy is a wine writer, Certified Wine Educator, and wine consultant. McCarthy is considered a leading Champagne authority in the U.S. He is the Contributing Editor of Beverage Media.

Mary Ewing-Mulligan is the first woman in America to become a Master of Wine, and is currently one of 50 MWs in the U.S. and 380 in the world.