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{{short description|Area of Northern California known as a wine-growing region}}
{{About|California's Wine Country region||Wine Country (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox wine region
| name = Wine Country
| image = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = Domaine Carneros, Napa Valley, CA USA - panoramio (9) (cropped).jpg
| photo2a                 = Castello di Amorosa courtyard 2.JPG
| photo2b                 = Hop_Kiln_(Walters_Ranch),_May_2012.jpg
| photo3a                 = Via Sattui Winery - panoramio (cropped).jpg
| photo3b                 = Chateau Montelena Winery.gk.jpg
| photo4a                 = Autumn in Napa Valley vineyards.jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 266
| foot_montage            = Top to bottom to right: [[Domaine Carneros]] in ''[[Los Carneros AVA]]''; [[Castello di Amorosa]] in ''[[Napa Valley AVA]]''; the historic Walters Ranch Hop Kiln; V. Sattui Winery; [[Chateau Montelena]] in ''[[Calistoga AVA]]''; [[Inglenook (winery)|Inglenook]] in ''[[Rutherford AVA]]''; [[Napa Valley]] in autumn
}}
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| year = 1812
| wine years = 1812–present
| country = United States
| part of = [[California wine]]
| sub regions = [[List of American Viticultural Areas#North Coast|Wine Country AVAs]]
| season =
| climate region = Mediterranean 
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'''Wine Country''' is a region of [[California]], in the northern [[San Francisco Bay Area]], known worldwide as a premier [[wine]]-growing region.<ref>{{cite book|title=Fodor's Escape to the Wine Country: California's Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino|publisher=Fodor's|isbn=978-0-679-00918-4|year=2002|first=Thom|last=Elkjer|url=https://archive.org/details/escapetowinecoun00holm}}</ref> The region is famed for its [[wineries]], its [[Californian cuisine|cuisine]],<ref>Michael Chiarello, ''Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking: Wine Country Recipes for Family and Friends'', Chronicle Books, San Francisco, California.</ref> [[Michelin star]] restaurants, [[boutique hotel]]s, [[Conference and resort hotels|luxury resorts]], historic [[architecture]],<ref>{{cite book|first=Mary|last=Whitesides|title=Wine Country: Architecture and Interiors|publisher=Gibbs Smith|location=Layton, Utah|year=2004}}</ref> and culture.<ref>Molly Chappellet, ''Gardens of the Wine Country'', Chronicle Books, San Francisco, California.</ref> [[Viticulture]] and wine-making have been practiced in the region since the [[Spanish missions in California|Spanish missionaries]] from [[Mission San Francisco Solano]] established the first [[vineyard]]s in 1812.

There are over 1,700 [[winery|wineries]] in the [[North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|North Bay]], mostly located in the area's valleys, including [[Napa Valley AVA|Napa Valley]] in [[Napa County wine|Napa County]], and the [[Sonoma Valley AVA|Sonoma Valley]], [[Alexander Valley AVA|Alexander Valley]], [[Dry Creek Valley AVA|Dry Creek Valley]], [[Bennett Valley AVA|Bennett Valley]], and [[Russian River Valley AVA|Russian River Valley]] in [[Sonoma County wine|Sonoma County]]. Wine grapes are also grown at higher elevations, such as [[Atlas Peak AVA|Atlas Peak]] and [[Mt. Veeder AVA|Mount Veeder]] [[American Viticultural Area|AVAs]].<ref>[http://wine.appellationamerica.com Appelation America.com]</ref> Cities and towns associated with the Wine Country include [[Santa Rosa, California|Santa Rosa]], [[Healdsburg, California|Healdsburg]], [[Sonoma, California|Sonoma]], [[Kenwood, California|Kenwood]], [[Petaluma, California|Petaluma]], [[Sebastopol, California|Sebastopol]], [[Guerneville, California|Guerneville]], [[Windsor, California|Windsor]], [[Geyserville, California|Geyserville]], and [[Cloverdale, California|Cloverdale]] in Sonoma County; [[Napa, California|Napa]], [[Yountville, California|Yountville]], [[Rutherford, California|Rutherford]],  [[St. Helena, California|St. Helena]] and [[Calistoga, California|Calistoga]] in Napa County; and [[Hopland, California|Hopland]] and [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]] in Mendocino County. Wine is also an important part of the economy in nearby [[Lake County wine|Lake]], [[Solano County, California|Solano]], and [[Yolo County, California|Yolo]] counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yolo County |url=https://www.vinorandum.com/county/yolo-county |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Vinorandum |language=en}}</ref>

==Appellations==
[[File:Napa Valley, United States (Unsplash Az3kQbCND2o).jpg|thumb|left|[[Hot air balloon]]ing over [[Napa Valley]]]]
[[File:Vineyard and Chateau - Napa.jpg|thumb|left|[[Chateau]] and [[vineyards]] in [[Napa, California|Napa]]]]
Wine Country is generally regarded as the combined counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Solano, and western parts of Yolo County. These counties contain the following [[American Viticultural Area]]s (AVAs):<ref>{{cite web |website=Code of Federal Regulations |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=87d88eb78f810c3e1f85e139346a7d79&mc=true&n=pt27.1.9&r=PART&ty=HTML |title=Title 27, Part 9: American Viticultural Areas}}</ref>
*in Sonoma County: [[Alexander Valley AVA|Alexander Valley]], [[Bennett Valley AVA|Bennett Valley]], [[Chalk Hill AVA|Chalk Hill]], [[Dry Creek Valley AVA|Dry Creek Valley]], [[Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA|Green Valley]], [[Knights Valley AVA|Knight's Valley]], [[Los Carneros AVA|Los Carneros]], [[Northern Sonoma AVA|Northern Sonoma]], [[Petaluma Gap AVA|Petaluma Gap]], [[Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA|Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak]], [[Rockpile AVA|Rockpile]], [[Russian River Valley AVA|Russian River Valley]], [[Sonoma Coast AVA|Sonoma Coast]], [[Sonoma Mountain AVA|Sonoma Mountain]], [[Sonoma Valley AVA|Sonoma Valley]] and [[West Sonoma Coast AVA|West Sonoma Coast]].
*in Napa County: [[Atlas Peak AVA|Atlas Peak]], [[Chiles Valley AVA|Chiles Valley]], [[Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA|Crystal Springs]], [[Diamond Mountain District AVA|Diamond Mountain District]], [[Howell Mountain AVA|Howell Mountain]], [[Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA|Oak Knoll District]], [[Spring Mountain District AVA|Spring Mountain District]], [[Wild Horse Valley AVA|Wild Horse Valley]], [[Los Carneros AVA|Los Carneros]], [[Mt. Veeder AVA|Mount Veeder]], [[Napa Valley AVA|Napa Valley]], [[Oakville AVA|Oakville]], [[Rutherford AVA|Rutherford]], [[Saint Helena AVA|Saint Helena]], [[Calistoga AVA|Calistoga]], [[Stags Leap District AVA|Stags Leap District]] and [[Yountville AVA|Yountville]].
*in Mendocino County: [[Comptche AVA|Comptche]], [[Eagle Peak Mendocino County AVA|Eagle Peak ]], [[Anderson Valley AVA|Anderson Valley]], [[Cole Ranch AVA|Cole Ranch]], [[Covelo AVA|Covelo]], [[Dos Rios AVA|Dos Rios]], [[McDowell Valley AVA|McDowell Valley]], [[Redwood Valley AVA|Redwood Valley]], [[Yorkville Highlands AVA|Yorkville Highlands]], [[Mendocino AVA|Mendocino]], [[Mendocino Ridge AVA|Mendocino Ridge]] and [[Potter Valley AVA|Potter Valley]].
*in Lake County: [[Big Valley District-Lake County AVA|Big Valley District]], [[Clear Lake AVA|Clear Lake]], [[Guenoc Valley AVA|Guenoc Valley]], [[High Valley AVA|High Valley]], [[Kelsey Bench-Lake County AVA|Kelsey Bench]], [[Long Valley-Lake County AVA|Long Valley]], [[Red Hills Lake County AVA|Red Hills]], and [[Upper Lake Valley AVA|Upper Lake Valley]].
*in Solano County: [[Suisun Valley AVA|Suisun Valley]] and [[Solano County Green Valley AVA|Green Valley]].

The six-county [[North Coast AVA]] overlaps with the Wine Country as defined here and also includes Marin County.  In addition, the names of the counties themselves are legal for use as appellation names.<ref>{{cite web |website=Code of Federal Regulations |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=637ec990ed5df482596176b5727f4702&mc=true&node=pt27.1.4&rgn=div5#se27.1.4_125|title= Title 27, Section 4.25(a)}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma, CA (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Buena Vista Winery]], in [[Sonoma, California|Sonoma]], is the oldest commercial [[winery]] in [[California]], founded in 1857.]]
The earliest [[prehistory]] of the Wine Country involves habitation by several [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes from approximately 8000&nbsp;BC.<ref>Stewart, Suzanne B., ''Time before Time: Prehistory and Archaeology in the Lake Sonoma Area''. Sacramento, CA: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1985.</ref>  The principal tribes living in this region included the [[Pomo]], [[Coast Miwok]], [[Wappo]] and [[Patwin]], whose early peoples practiced certain forms of [[agriculture]], but probably  not involving the cultivation of grapes.  During the [[Mexico|Mexican]] Colonial period and after, [[Europe]]an settlers brought in more intensive agriculture to the Wine Country, including growing grapes and wine production. Some of the historical events that led to the establishment of California as a state transpired in the Wine Country. In particular, the town of [[Sonoma, California|Sonoma]] is known  as the birthplace of American California. [[Agoston Haraszthy]] is credited as one of the forefathers of the [[California wine]] industry in Sonoma by his planting of grapes in the lower [[Arroyo Seco Creek]] [[drainage basin|watershed]] of Sonoma County.<ref>Charles Sullivan, ''Zinfandel: A History of a Grape and Its Wine'', Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press, 2003.</ref>

In 2017, many portions of California's Wine Country were heavily devastated by wildfires, including the [[October 2017 Northern California wildfires]].<ref name="outofcontrol">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/california-fires.html?module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=U.S.&action=keypress&region=FixedLeft&pgtype=article|title=Wildfires Burn Out of Control Across Northern California; 17 Are Dead|date=October 10, 2017|access-date=October 11, 2017|first1=Thomas |last1=Fuller |first2=Richard |last2=Perez-Pena |first3=Jonah Engel |last3=Bromwich|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Founded in 1880, the [[UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology]] is the most famous and established school for research and education in winemaking in the Northern California region and the United States. It has contributed greatly to Northern California’s growth and establishment as a wine producing region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UC Davis Marks 140 Years of Service to the Wine Industry |url=https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/229484 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=www.winebusiness.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=Exploring UC Davis Viticulture and Enology {{!}} ART & WINE MAGAZINE |url=https://www.art-wine-mag.com/wine/uc-davis-viticulture/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Linda |date=December 5, 2004 |title=Wine School Wars / Two of the best enology programs in the country are right here, but which makes a better winemaker, Davis or Fresno? |url=https://www.sfgate.com/magazine/article/Wine-School-Wars-Two-of-the-best-enology-2666841.php |website=SF Gate}}</ref>

==Ecology==
[[File:Sonomamtnvineyard.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sonoma Mountain AVA]] vineyard in front of the [[Mayacamas Mountains]]]]
A [[biodiversity|diversity]] of [[aquatic ecosystem|aquatic]] and [[terrestrial animal|terrestrial]] [[organism]]s populate the Wine Country and its [[riparian zone]]s.  Winter-run [[Chinook salmon]] (''Oncorhynchus tsawytscha''), [[Delta smelt]] (''Hypomesus transpacificus'') and [[Rainbow trout|steelhead]] (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') are the most prominent [[fish]]es.  Researchers have studied [[anadromous]] fish-movements extensively in Sonoma Creek and in the [[Napa River]] as well as in the [[Laguna de Santa Rosa]] - not only in the mainstems, but in many of the tributaries.  These investigations have demonstrated a historical decline in spawning and habitat value for these species, primarily due to sedimentation<ref name=SEC>''Sonoma Creek Watershed Limiting Factors Analysis'', Sonoma Ecology Center, with support from the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]], December 2004.</ref> and secondarily to removal of riparian vegetation since the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/11/18/774859696/wine-moguls-destroy-land-and-pay-small-fines-as-cost-of-business-say-activists|title=Wine Moguls Destroy Land And Pay Small Fines As Cost Of Business, Say Activists|last=Bland|first=Alastair|date=November 18, 2019|website=NPR News|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref>
[[File:Beringer Brothers-Los Hermanos Winery, 2000 Main St., St. Helena, CA 10-16-2011 2-18-03 PM.JPG|thumb|left|[[Beringer Vineyards]] is [[Napa Valley]]'s oldest continuously operating winery.]]
A variety of [[salamander]]s, [[snake]]s and [[frog]]s are also present in the Wine Country.  The federally listed as threatened [[California red-legged frog]] is present in the northern reach draining the south slopes of [[Annadel State Park]].<ref>San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program [http://openspacecouncil.org/projects/conservancy/baosc_conservancy_2004.11.09_fifth_year_report.pdf Fifth Year Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621021718/http://openspacecouncil.org/projects/conservancy/baosc_conservancy_2004.11.09_fifth_year_report.pdf |date=2007-06-21 }} pg 19</ref> Several [[endangered species]] (mostly associated with the [[Napa Sonoma Marsh]]) present include [[Ridgway's rail]] (''Rallus obsoletus''), California [[black rail]] (''Laterallus jamaicensis''), California [[brown pelican]] (''Pelicanus occudentalis''), California freshwater shrimp (''[[Syncaris pacifica]]''), [[salt marsh harvest mouse]] (''Reithrodontomys raviventris'' ), [[Suisun shrew]] (''Sorex ornatus sinuosus''), [[Sacramento splittail]] (''Pogonichtys macrolepidotus''). The above are [[endangered species]] with the exception of the splittail, steelhead and black rail, which are federally designated as threatened.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sfep.abag.ca.gov/pdf/habitat_goals/Habitat_Goals%5BPart3%5D.pdf |title=Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals |access-date=2007-04-19 |archive-date=2009-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326223251/http://sfep.abag.ca.gov/pdf/habitat_goals/Habitat_Goals%5BPart3%5D.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Charles Krug Winery, 2800 St. Helena Hwy., St. Helena, CA 10-16-2011 3-23-11 PM (cropped).JPG|thumb|right|[[Charles Krug Winery]], est. 1861, is a [[National Historic Landmark]].]]
Upland ecosystems drained include mixed [[California oak woodland]], [[chaparral]] and [[savannah]] [[woodland]].<ref>[https://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/ca162.htm California's woodlands]</ref> In these upland reaches one finds plentiful [[black-tailed deer]], [[coyote]], skunk, raccoon, opossum, [[wild turkey]], [[turkey vulture]], [[red-tailed hawk]] and occasionally bobcat and [[mountain lion]]. Prominent higher elevation trees include: [[Coast live oak]], [[Garry oak]], [[Pacific madrone]], [[California buckeye]],  [[Douglas fir]], whereas [[valley oak]] is prevalent on the Wine Country valley floors.<ref>[http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr100/psw_gtr100d.pdf Wildlife:The Importance of Hardwood Habitat for Wildlife in California], [[United States Forest Service|Forest Service]], [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]], 1987</ref>

==Tourism==
The Wine Country has undergone a boom in tourism. In 1975 there were only 25 Napa Valley wineries;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winecountrytourshuttle.com/napa_valley_wine_tours.htm|title=Napa Valley Wine Tasting Tours |website=Wine Country Tour Shuttle  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822050127/https://www.napatourshuttle.com/napa_valley_wine_tours.htm|archive-date=2018-08-22|df=mdy-all |url-status=dead}}</ref> today there are well over 800 wineries in Napa and Sonoma Counties.<ref name="fodors">{{cite web|url=http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=california_wine@211|title=Fodor's California Wine Country Online|year=2006}}</ref> Tourists come to the region not only for [[wine tasting]], but also for [[hiking]], [[bicycle|bicycling]], [[hot air balloon]]ing, and historic sites, as well as the extensive culinary choices.

Numerous notable chefs and restaurateurs are present in the Wine Country, including [[Thomas Keller]], [[John Ash (chef)|John Ash]], and Sondra Bernstein.<ref>{{cite book|isbn=0-7432-5521-6|first=Sondra|last=Bernstein|title=The Girl & the Fig Cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from the Acclaimed California Wine Country Restaurant|year=2004|publisher=Simon & Schuster |url=https://archive.org/details/girlfigcookbookm00bern}}</ref> Besides the obvious winery attractions, the Wine Country is known for the Sonoma County coastline along the [[Pacific Ocean]], the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]] valley, [[redwoods]], [[hot spring]] baths, [[petrified wood|petrified forests]] and other natural areas.
{{wide image|Greystone Cellars, 2555 Main St., St. Helena, CA 10-16-2011 2-58-32 PM.JPG|500px|[[The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone]] is a prestigious Napa [[culinary school]].}}
The Wine Country tourism boom has its downside, exemplified by traffic congestion on [[California State Route 29|State Route 29]], particularly on summer weekends, when the number of tourists often exceeds the [[carrying capacity]] of the road. The Napa Valley is also experiencing pressures for increased urbanization and roadway upgrades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trancas Road/California State Route 29 Intersection Improvements |url=http://www.napatraffic.info/Trancas%2029.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190528/http://www.napatraffic.info/Trancas%2029.htm |archive-date=2007-09-27 |access-date=2007-04-02 |website=NapaTraffic.info}}</ref> There have also been issues related to regulating home sharing. After a boom in residents renting rooms in private homes, the city government of Napa was forced to require any Napa Airbnb properties to register.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/napa-planners-support-airbnb-type-home-rental-ordinance/article_a9dc8223-e931-5372-9c61-9ae5c7eab7ad.html|title=Napa planners support Airbnb-type home rental ordinance|date=September 4, 2015|work=Napa Valley Register|author1= Yune, Howard }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Wine}}
* [[California wine]]
* [[Napa County wine]]
* [[Sonoma County wine]]
* [[Livermore Valley AVA]]
* [[Lake County wine]]
* [[Mendocino County wine]]
* [[Paso Robles AVA]]
* [[Santa Clara Valley AVA]]
* [[Temecula Valley AVA]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.lakecountywinegrape.org Lake County Winegrape Commission]
* [https://www.lakecountywineries.org/ Lake County Winery Association]
* [https://www.mendowine.com/ Mendocino Wine]
* [http://www.sonomawinegrape.org/ Sonoma County Winegrape Commission]
* [http://www.sonomawine.com/ Sonoma County Vintners]
* [https://www.ttb.gov/AVA/ TTB AVA Map]

{{Wikivoyage|California Wine Country}}
{{Commons|Wine Country}}

{{California}}

[[Category:California wine]]
[[Category:Napa Valley]]
[[Category:Sonoma Valley]]
[[Category:Agriculture in California]]
[[Category:Food and drink in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Economy of the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Regions of California]]
[[Category:Subregions of the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Napa County, California]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Sonoma County, California]]
[[Category:Tourism regions of California]]
[[Category:Wine regions of the United States]]