Toast to America's 250th Anniversary with American wine
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As America prepares to celebrate its 250th Anniversary, there’s no better way to mark the occasion than by raising a glass of American wine. Every state in the union produces wine, but the country’s most celebrated wine regions—from Napa Valley and Sonoma to Oregon’s Willamette Valley and Washington State’s Walla Walla—have helped establish the United States as one of the world's leading wine-producing nations. Whether you're looking for the best American wines for the Fourth of July or planning a wine-themed toast to America's 250th birthday, there has never been a better time to explore what American winemakers have achieved.
In keeping with America’s entrepreneurial and pioneering spirit, the evolution of American wine has been bumpy yet swift. Winemaker James Hall of Patz & Hall has been crafting California wine since the early 1980s and is widely respected for both his deft winemaking and his encyclopedic knowledge of the state's colorful winemaking history. He’s quick to note that American winemaking is only just begun, “When I compare California to Europe, we are sort of comically young.” Commercial winemaking really didn’t get going in the US until the 1800s says Hall, “Prohibition changed everything. Then Mondavi built his winery in Napa which was a defining event. When you add it up, we're about 60 years into what I would call the new California, and that's quite remarkable that we've gotten as far as we have compared to Europe, which took literally hundreds of years.”
There were certainly many unsuccessful fits and starts. At first, explains Hall, “UC Davis thought Chardonnay was an inferior variety, didn't set a big enough crop. The clusters were very tightly bunched and prone to rot, and there were a lot of viral diseases, and so they were recommending planting French Colombard and Hungarian varieties that are literally laughable today.”
Indeed, Chardonnay, among many other grapes, is truly a recent development in California when compared to its centuries of history in Europe. Today, winemakers are crafting red and white wines that are indisputably world-class as well as sparkling wines that rival Champagne. As America celebrates its Semiquincentennial in 2026, there is every reason to toast the nation's extraordinary winemaking achievements with a bottle produced on American soil.
2023 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, 2023: Hall’s dexterity with finicky varietals is on full display with his entry level Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (both civilly priced at $40 and $45 respectively). This chardonnay is hand sorted (twice), whole cluster pressed, left to ferment on native yeast and finished with some aging, roughly 18 months in French oak. Much work went into this wine—which makes the price tag even more remarkable. The palate offers notes of tropical fruit and citrus zest with a savory wire of acidity keeping it all together. $40
Dry Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, 2024 is considered by many to be one of America's benchmark sauvignon blanc values. It typically sells for around $20 and delivers citrus, grapefruit, melon, and herbal character. Another great option is Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, 2024—a varietal the winery has crafted since 1981. Dry farmed and organically grown, this sauvignon blanc is zesty, fresh and lilting with lovely notes of wet stone and citrus. $29
Lynmar Adams Vineyard Chardonnay, 2023: Owner Lynn Fritz purchased 35 acres of Quail Hill vineyard as a family escape back in 1980—never intending to make wine. But the admiration of Merry Edwards, one of California’s great winemakers, led him to sell his fruit to her and other wineries in the area. In the early 1990s, Lynn and his wife Anisya took the plunge and started a winemaking venture, with 1994 as their first vintage. Today, the couple call the site home year-round and produce a range of elegant wines. The Adams Vineyard Chardonnay (named for their son) shows elegant minerality, a bright savory juiciness, and threads of lemon cream and vanilla. $71
The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir, St Rita Hills, 2023: The same couple that own Screaming Eagle (Stan and Ann Kroenke) also own the Hilt—a winery with a five-star slice of land in the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Indeed, Sta Rita Hills is one of my personal favorite regions for pinot and chardonnay and the estate is rife with challenges—lousy soil, wind, and the chilling influence of the Pacific Ocean. Grapes suffer and hence yield densely concentrated flavor. Winemaker Matt Dees brings out elegance and balance in the wines, this one is no exception with juicy, savory, melt in your mouth bright strawberry/currant fruit. Utterly drinkable but also worthy of some aging. $50
Merry Edwards 2023 Meredith Estate Pinot Noir : Founder Merry Edwards is one of California’s winemaking legends. She started in the 1970’s working and consulting for various wineries—now retired, she is one of the visionaries who elevated Russian River Valley pinot noir into what it is today. Now, Winemaker Heidi von der Mehden farms the Meredith Estate vineyard organically and sustainably—taking great care with one of the most prized vineyards in the portfolio. This wine is an indisputable fan favorite with high scores from a wide range of critics—scores aside, the wine is both concentrated and intense while also delicate and savory. Rose, spice, black tea and a thread of savory black cherry round out the palate. Just a fabulously delicious wine. $100
Botella Pinot Noir, 2024: Crafted by the team behind acclaimed Sea Smoke, Botella Pinot Noir offers a more available and approachable opportunity for Sea Smoke fans (which is priced closer to $100 per bottle). Aromas of ripe raspberry and red cherry mingle with wild herb notes accented by hints of vanilla bean and spice. Elegant and silky on the palate, the wine balances bright red fruit with supple texture and fresh acidity. $55
Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021, Walla Walla, WA: Founder and winemaker Casey McClellan planted his first vines in the 1980s, making him one of the pioneering winemakers in the state. The wine’s name says it all—crafted from old vine cabernet sauvignon fruit, the palate is focused and rich with notes of black cherry, spice, and cassis. A good one to decant before serving or hold for a few years. $65
Dick and Nancy Ponzi moved to the Willamette Valley in the late 1960s as did Dick Erath—both Ponzi Vineyards and Erath wineries are among the state’s founding wineries. Today, Willamette and other regions thrive, adhering to some of the nation’s most progressive sustainability practices while also selling the heck out of some wine. Method champenoise sparkling wine has exploded in the state as well. It’s all worth exploring. Consider trying the Elk Cove Roosevelt Pinot Noir. The winery was started in 1974 and 52 years later it is still in the same family, led by the second generation. Says owner Anna Campbell, “My brother Adam and I are fifth generation Oregon farmers and 2nd generation winegrowers. We recently became a B Corporation. For America’s 250th anniversary I have to mention our Roosevelt Pinot Noir, which is named for our local subspecies of elk, which in turn was named for Teddy Roosevelt. It’s our most presidential wine, grown on our best single vineyard pinot noir site.”
Texas has many wineries that are crafting impressive offerings (C.L. Butaud, Pedernales, Duchman Family and William Chris Vineyards to name a few). William Chris La Pradera Vineyard Blend, 2021 features a blend of four red grapes (mourvèdre, petit verdot, cinsault and tannat) grown in the Texas High Plains. Arid and dry, the viticultural conditions yield bright, perfumed ripe fruit. This one shows notes of currant, black cherry and spice. A lovely sipping or barbecue wine at a civilized alcohol content (13.6%) $52
Interestingly, this state was making more wine than California prior to Prohibition. Biltmore Winery and their Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay North Carolina Barrel Select, 2020 is a wine that can claim wholly integrated production with the oak barrels used for aging the chardonnay harvested from the Biltmore estate itself. It’s a unique offering unlike anything else in the US. The wine is balanced and intriguing with tropical fruit notes, spice and vanilla.
JOLO Winery and Vineyards, Jolotage, Yadkin Valley, NC, 2024: Located in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, one of the state’s premier wine regions, this red blend is a juicy offering with notes of black cherry fruit, worn leather, spice and sandalwood. Made from a blend of 36% cabernet franc, 22% merlot, 16% sangiovese, 15% marquette, 7% cabernet sauvignon, and 4% petit verdot. $43
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