The history of wine in North America usually begins with a reference to Viking explorer Leif Ericson's arrival on Newfoundland about A.D. 1000.  After seeing wild fruit growing, Ericson proclaimed the New World to be "one vast vineland".  In his excitement, it is now believed, he may have confused other berry-bearing bushes with grapevines.  But vines they certainly were - later, if no then - and winemaking developed along with the fledgling states of North America.  It took until the mid 1970's for the rest of the world to realize that there was such a thing as a North American wine industry.

California totaly dominates US wine production, in most years producing more than 90%.  This domination is bound to continue, given the state's hospitable climate, well established vinifera varities and the international reputation of its producers.

North Western USA, which in wine terms is largely Washington and Oregon, is a fast developing wine area that is rapidly gaining a reputation for high quality wines.

North Eastern USA includes New York State, which is the second largest US producer, though it represents only 3% of the total.  New York typifies developments in other eastern states, where there is a shift to vinifera varieties in an attempt to produce more traditional wines.  Other North Eastern states producing wine include the states of New England, and New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, where some of there earliest wine production on the continent took place.

The South and Mid-West USA may not produce significant quantities, but there are some good wines tucked away in not necessarily the most obvious places.