North America Wine Lovers Guide

From renowned locations like Napa Valley and Sonoma in California to the picturesque wine regions of British Columbia and Ontario, there’s no denying that the United States and Canada are home to some of the biggest wine enthusiasts in the world. 

Whether it’s the US states with the most wine consumption or the Canadian provinces with the highest wine sales, we look closer at the locations that bring wine lovers together through the joy of wine tasting. 

Discover some of the best locations across North America for the ultimate food and drink holidays that provide the perfect opportunity to explore new flavours and toast to the art of winemaking.

Top tips for the perfect wine-tasting adventure

To help you plan for the perfect vineyard and wine-tasting trips, travel specialists at Journeyscape offer expert advice:  

Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned wine enthusiast, when planning the perfect wine-tasting experience, proper planning should ensure a more enjoyable and memorable experience. Here are a few things to consider when preparing for the ultimate vineyard and wine-tasting trip: 

Research and plan ahead 

First, it is important to determine your preferred wine regions, such as Napa Valley, Willamette Valley, or wineries like the Reif Estate Winery. This will enable you to explore their unique wine styles and specialities. 

It is helpful to research the best time to visit your chosen location. Typically, spring and fall are considered the best seasons, particularly in early spring, when the vineyards come back to life. Harvest season is also popular, as it offers a more immersive experience. 

Create an itinerary 

When planning your wine-tasting trip, determine how many wineries you want to visit. To avoid palate fatigue, visiting no more than two to three wineries per day is usually advised. Ensure you plan enough time in each location to really enjoy the experience. You can also participate in additional activities like vineyard tours and cellar visits. 

Aim to include a diverse mix of vineyards and wineries for greater variety, from well-known estates to smaller boutique winners. Each winemaker has a unique style, allowing you to try a new grape variety at each location. 

Respect winery etiquette 

Respecting winery etiquette is very important as it ensures everyone has an enjoyable time. This means showing up for your appointments on time and following each winery’s or vineyard’s rules and guidelines during the wine tastings and tour. 

Lastly, to avoid disappointment, book your winery tours well in advance, especially for popular vineyards that may require reservations. Also, pack the essentials, such as comfortable clothing and footwear, as you’ll be walking through vineyards. Enjoy the experience and fully immerse yourself in a time of relaxation, education, and indulgence!

With the right planning, a wine-tasting trip can be a truly unforgettable experience, immersing you both in culture and flavour. We explore the top wine regions across the US and Canada to discover why each one is a must-visit for any wine enthusiast.

Biggest wine lovers in the US

California

Wine lover score: 9.83 /10

As one of the world’s largest wine producers and by far the top producer in the US (80.79%), it’s no surprise that California tops the list, scoring 9.83 out of 10 as the state with the most wine lovers. Producing 63 types of grapes, California boasts a large variety of wine grapes, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. The Golden State produces nearly every known style, including sparkling, dessert, and fortified wines. 

Situated on the West Coast, the sun-kissed state is home to top wine destinations like Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Los Carneros. With over 6,200 bonded wine producers and 4,200 wineries, you’ll be spoiled for choices, surrounded by some of the best vineyards and wineries.

Oregon

Wine lover score: 9.36 /10

Oregon ranks second among the top states for wine enthusiasts, scoring 9.36 out of 10. In 2023, the state produced over 17 million gallons of wine and is home to over 1,100 wineries, each offering a unique wine-tasting experience.

Explore top wine regions such as Willamette Valley, the state’s oldest and world-famous wine region, with over 700 wineries and vineyards in this location alone. With 85 grape varieties produced across the state, you can enjoy some of the finest varieties of wine, from Chardonnay to Pinot Blanc, among others.

Washington

Wine lover score: 8.81 /10

Washington completes the top three, scoring 8.81 out of 10. With eight wine-touring regions, 1,414 bonded wine producers, and over 1,000 wineries, it offers something for every wine enthusiast. 

Located in eastern Washington, Columbia Valley is the state’s largest wine-growing region and one of the most important in the United States. Covering more than a quarter of the state, Columbia Valley spans over 11 million acres and contains 99% of grapes grown in Washington State.

Largest wine producers in the US

Unsurprisingly, California, home to Napa Valley — widely considered the wine capital of the US — is the top wine producer in the country by a landslide. The state accounts for over four-fifths (80.79%) of the nation’s wine production, totalling 609 million gallons.

New York and Washington follow behind as the next largest producers in the United States, each with a share of over 4% in wine production, respectively. 

Despite its nickname as the Big Apple, New York specialises in grapes and has carved out a reputation as a prominent wine state. It boasts several distinct wine regions, including the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, and Long Island, each producing a diverse range of wines.

Biggest wine lovers in Canada

Quebec

Wine lover score: 9.25 /10

Quebec ranks first among wine lovers, scoring 9.25 out of 10. Located in central Canada, the province is an excellent location for wine tasting, with beautiful vineyards and unique wines. 

Wine sales in Quebec accounted for over two-fifths (42.6%) of all alcohol sales between 2022 and 2023, while its total sales value was over $2.7 million ($3,041 per 10,000 population). Not only did the province sell over 172,000 litres of wine, it saw an average of 3.4 bottles of wine sold per person per week, the highest among all Canadian provinces and territories. 

Ontario

Wine lover score: 8.79 /10

Ontario has many wine regions, including the Niagara Peninsula, Canada’s most well-known wine region. With this in mind, it’s no wonder it ranks second with a score of 8.79 out of 10. 

This east-central province has the second-highest percentage of wine sales (28.5%), just behind Quebec. It also has a selection of 53 grape varieties and 185 wineries, including Pelee Island Winery, the largest private estate winery in Canada, spanning over 700 acres of vineyards. 

British Columbia

Wine lover score: 8.75 /10

Scoring 8.75 out of 10, British Columbia ranks third among the most popular Canadian provinces for wine lovers. Between 2022 and 2023, British Columbia took a share of more than a quarter (27.6%) of wine sales in the country, valued at $932,149. On average, the province sells 2.4 wines per week per person, the second highest after Quebec. 

British Columbia is home to approximately 239 wineries, more than any other province, and offers a diverse variety of wineries to explore. Okanagan Valley is the province’s top-producing wine region, renowned for its award-winning vintages. Among its towns, Oliver stands out as Canada’s Wine Capital, recognised for its exceptional wine production volume and quality.

Most loyal Canadian wine lovers

British Columbia has the most loyal Canadian wine enthusiasts. The residents here bought more than  40,500 litres of Canadian wine between 2022 and 2023, generating a value of more than $440,000, equating to $70.90 per 10,000 population. 

Nova Scotia ($61.76) and The Yukon ($60.71) follow in second and third place, with wine sales in both provinces valued at just over $60 per 10,000 people. 

Nova Scotia sold over 6,000 litres of wine worth nearly $96,000 between 2022 and 2023. It is home to wines such as Nova 7, which has garnered accolades for years and is a local and national fan favourite. Despite its cold climate and long winters, The Yukon sold approximately 285 litres of Canadian wine between 2022 and 2023, valued at $3,161.

The most awarded wine states and provinces in North America

Known as the world’s largest and most influential wine competition, the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is a prestigious achievement celebrated worldwide. 

Ontario currently has the most DWWA awards in North America, with 197 awards as of 2024. Some of the most notable wineries that won the Platinum Award include Tawse Winery and Reif Estate Winery. 

British Columbia (187) and California (159) follow behind, with awards ranging from platinum to bronze for wines such as Yettalil, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Methodology

US data 

To reveal the biggest wine lovers across the US, we sourced wine consumption per capita from NIAAA’s Alcohol Consumption Report (2022, Table 4). 

Data sourced for wine producers by state was taken from The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, looking at the ‘Bonded Wine Producers Count By State’ (2023). 

We used Appellation America and Wikipedia to gather data on the number of types of grapes and the percentage share of wine production (2023). 

The wine produced by the state (gallons) was sourced from Wikipedia and  Statista (2023).  

We used a weighted ranking system to determine the states with the most wine lovers. Each state was given a normalised score out of 10 for each factor before calculating the overall average score out of 10. This was then ranked in order. 

Canada data

For the Canada section, we sourced the percentage of wine sales from Statistics Canada, looking at Chart 4 Market Share of Alcoholic Beverages by Type, Provinces, and Territories (2022/2023). 

This source was also used to gather data on The Value and Volume of Sales of Alcoholic Beverages (for the most loyal wine lovers section, we took the figures for just wine produced in Canada; this was then calculated per 10,000 population)  and Chart 1, Sale of Standard Drinks Per Week Per Person of Legal Drinking Age (2022/2023). 

We used Statista (2024) for the data on the number of wineries in each Canadian province and territory.

We used sources such as  Wines of Canada and The Compass to determine the number of grape types in each Canadian province and territory. This data was collected on 18/12/2024. However, not all locations had available data. 

We used a weighted ranking system to determine the provinces and territories with the most wine lovers. Each province and territory was given a normalised score out of 10 for each factor before calculating the overall average score out of 10. This was then ranked in order.

Using Decanter, we sourced the number of awards for each location using the DWWA 2024 data. 

All information was compiled by Journeyscape.