The Best Wines from Northern California

By WineBottleMag
February 17, 2026
California Northern Wines
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Despite all the doom and gloom we hear about the wine industry, Northern California is still full of people who celebrate the production and enjoyment of wine.

And there are a multitude of wines to enjoy across its bountiful wine regions, from the foggy Mendocino Coast Ridge to the rolling Sierra Foothills. Whether you’re visiting family vineyards, large-scale operations, or “pristine wine factories” (as my dear friend and wine colleague Wilfred Wong calls them), the wine is flowing for everyone to experience.

I like to think of Northern California a bit like the Wild West. Gazing at the grapevines, acreage, and vast expanse of sky, I see a territory filled with promise and excitement, but also plenty of challenges. I bet you are thinking, Lady, where exactly are we going in Northern California? Well, it’s pretty darn enormous. And we’re not even including Napa and Sonoma in this region overview (don’t worry, we’ll talk about them later).

So grab a glass, put on your vineyard boots, and come with me to explore Northern California, where what’s old is new again and what was once lost has been rediscovered.

Weather Report

Let’s start our journey on top of the Mendocino Coast Ridge, nicknamed “Islands in the Sky.” These very steep hillsides are shrouded in fog, giving the illusion of islands. Just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, this area smells like the sea, with vigorous ocean breezes. The 2025 harvest in Northern California was very reminiscent of the one in 2023, which saw much longer harvests in cool climates and high elevations like Mendocino Coast Ridge. The difference in 2025 was much more even temperatures and a longer growing season, helping to produce fresh, crisp, higher-mineral wines with lots of energy.

Coasting down through the Redwoods on the way to the valley floor, I always feel as though I’m on a quest with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, searching for my next tasty morsel (once you make the pilgrimage, you will know what I mean). The Anderson Valley is a lush expanse of green vines and beauty. The plentiful harvest was a month longer in 2025, with bountiful fruit going into the tank, so be prepared for all sorts of treats coming from your favorite wine houses. The summer saw warm days and cool nights, which are perfect for the varietals grown in the area, including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Lake County offers the best of both worlds: the heat, the elevation, and the cool ocean breezes. Three hours away in Lodi, the temperature is a lot warmer, but it cools off due to the delta breeze and the cool ocean influence that sweeps through the Carquinez Strait. Their 2023 and 2025 harvests were similar, with slow-growing seasons, producing wines with great acidity and not overly ripe fruit.

Up the mountainside and over to El Dorado in the Sierra Foothills, elevations reach 5,000 feet. This region is known as the “gold country” because it was settled during the Gold Rush, but I like to call it “Alpine country” because of the fresh, clean air. The 2025 harvest was considerably longer than the 2023 harvest. There was still snow on the ground in May of 2025. Here is something for the wine geeks: the longer the hang time, especially in cool-climate regions, the riper the phenolics become with higher acidity. There is a rush and push with the brixes. It’s as if the best happens at the last moments, says vineyard manager Derek Delfino of Edio Vineyards at Delfino Farms.

A group of winemakers tasting their product at a vineyard in, California.

Trend Report

Old Vines on Top

The biggest trends we are seeing—and what you should be excited about—are old-vine wines. We’re not just talking about Zinfandel, either. There’s old-vine Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Cabernet Sauvignon, while other regions in California are embracing Albariño, Chenin Blanc, and white Rhône varietals.

Bubbles, Please

Bubbles are still beautiful and not just for celebrating. Quite a few wineries produce house sparkling wines, whether in the traditional Champagne method or as pét-nats.

Newcomers Welcome

RTD (ready-to-drink), lighter-abv wines, and NA beverages are also growing more popular, as the wine industry pivots to accommodate diverse consumer preferences. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention cannabis and (the unspoken) psilocybin as increasingly popular substances.

Futurecast

The future is about seeking out other regions in Northern California that may not always get the limelight. Cole Ranch is the smallest AVA in California and perhaps the closest in resemblance to the Jura (you heard it here first). In Suisun Valley, between San Francisco and Sacramento, young winemakers have ample space to experiment and innovate. For world-class wines, dining, views, and people, there’s Livermore Valley. In Calaveras Valley, monks are growing experimental Greek, Spanish, and French varietals for a French female winemaker. This is just a snapshot of the exciting happenings in Northern California.

What to Drink Right Now

These are our favorite bottles across Northern California’s most exciting regions.

Wine Enthusiast Recommends:

Ovis 2021 Nero d’Avola (High Valley)

This selection, grown in Lake County’s High Valley region, is a more robust version of its Italian counterpart. The aromatics are vibrant, with notes of raspberry, dried cherry, and toasty vanilla, along with hints of dried herbs on the nose. The flavors are pomegranate, plum, and coriander, which slip into creamy, dry tannins on the finish. Editors’ Choice. 92 points — T.P.

$45
Shannon Family of Wines

Brassfield Estate Winery 2024 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (High Valley)

Zesty, with aromas of lime zest, papaya, and green apple, accompanied by notes of sedimentary rock, on the nose; the flavors on the palate are white peach, white grapefruit, and dried fennel, leading to a rich, lush, yet dry finish. Pair with ahi tuna, Spanish paprika. Best Buy. 92 points — T.P.

$38
Brassfield Estate Winery

Monte Rio Cellars 2024 ‘Flame Tokay’ Tokay (Lodi)

This bottle is a history lesson on original grapes grown in California. There are not many vines left in the state, but at one time, Flame Tokay was all the rage and was planted everywhere. Most white wine bottlings were this varietal. It was a hearty grape and grew almost anywhere. The aromas are lively with orange blossom, pear, citrus, and honeycomb notes on the nose. The palate has lots of texture, grilled citrus slices, yellow apple, and good acidity on the finish. pair with melon salad, prosciutto, mâche lettuce. 92 points — Tonya Pitts

$25
Monte Rio Cellars

Markus Wine Co 2024 pitch Grüner Veltliner (Lodi)

This expression of Gruner Veltliner is fresh, savory, with aromas of white nectarine, citrus, white flowers, and sedimentary rock on the nose, the palate is mouth-watering, steely, with pink grapefruit, fennel, and dry on the finish. There is a lot of longevity in this white wine. It is more reminiscent of the Wachau in Austria than not. pair with grilled sardines, olive oil, and lemon. Editors’ Choice. 96 points — T.P.

$17
Bottle Barn

Edio Vineyards 2024 No. 5/Barsotti, Camino Alto, & David Girard Rhône-style White Blend (El Dorado)

This is high-elevation farming at its best. Everything is tasty from these producers. The fresh, lively aromatics that pulsate throughout the nose are reminiscent of a platter laid out with passion fruit, citrus slices, stonefruit, and notes of white flowers and pine needles on the nose. The flavors on the palate are high-energy, mineral-driven, with flashes of tangerine, Pink grapefruit, guava, kiwi, and dried coriander leading into a mouth-watering finish. 94 points — T.P.

Inquire with the winery