This weekend, we will be watching the sail festival and fireworks, and I am sure you will be cooking or grilling American classics. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and for me, a juicy veggie burger, because let’s be honest, food culture Americana has evolved and gotten copious. To celebrate the monumental 250th Anniversary of America, I bring you a curated list of wine classics, upcoming rule-breakers, and historical bottles that our founding fathers were drinking, mixed with modern showstoppers. After all, nothing says American quite like a bit of disruption.
California’s winemaking roots reach back to 1769, when Spanish Franciscan friars planted the first vineyards to make sacramental wine. The state’s commercial boom truly ignited during the 1849 Gold Rush, pushing serious viticulture into northern regions like Napa and Sonoma. Today, California is a global powerhouse, recognized for its exceptional diversity and terroir, boasting 151 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
Producing Wine Since: 1977.
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Miljenko “Mike” Grgich famously crafted the Chardonnay that bested the French at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, forever putting American wine on the global map. Drinking this estate is drinking living history.
Tasting Notes: The Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay is hot for a reason; think crisp green apple, bright lemon zest, and a smooth, creamy vanilla finish from oak aging. The 2025 Miljenko’s Selection Rosé ($35) is packed with fresh wild strawberry and white peach flavors, balanced by a clean, refreshing mineral edge.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: The Chardonnay is stunning alongside grilled lobster tails with garlic butter or a smoky veggie burger topped with melted provolone. Pair the Miljenko’s Selection Rosé with a classic shrimp skewer or a light summer charcuterie board.
Insider Connection: This history feels even closer to home after my personal conversation with the founder’s daughter, Violet Grgich. For more on their incredible legacy, read my full Grgich Hills Estate Interview.
Producing Wine Since: 1886.
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Now in its milestone 140th year, this boutique, organically farmed estate balances legacy with curiosity and experimentation. Head Winemaker Adam Casto leads a true Research & Discovery program, releasing small-lot, experimental wines through a subscription model rooted in the belief that winemaking is an “infinite game.” Following a full renovation in 2023, the tasting room and veranda feel intimate and unhurried.
Tasting Notes (The R&D Rosé Program): The 2025 Cabernet Franc Rosé series compares three distinct techniques: the Cabernet Franc Blanc is pale and delicate with hints of white cranberry; the Classic Rosé offers subtle pink color with red cherry and summer herbs; and the Saignée Rosé provides deep color and a bold raspberry punch.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: These wines are tailor-made for summer grilling. Pair the Cabernet Franc Blanc with grilled zucchini and bell pepper flatbreads. The Classic Rosé cuts through the richness of a grilled salmon burger, while the structured Saignée Rosé handles smoky barbecue jackfruit or traditional charcoal-grilled hamburgers with ease.
Producing Wine Since: 2007.
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Deborah Mathy has nurtured an independent gem in the Dry Creek Valley with a family-like team focused on creating small-lot, vineyard-driven bottles that let the terroir speak. It is the perfect blend of warmth, hospitality, and elite winemaking.
Tasting Notes: Their Dry Creek Zinfandels are bold, smooth, and jammy, overflowing with blackberry, black pepper, and warm baking spices.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: This is your definitive match for backyard grilling. It stands up beautifully to charred veggie skewers, heavily seasoned black bean burgers, or classic smoked barbecue platters.
Washington State’s commercial wine journey got its real start in 1967 with the founding of what would become Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, proving that the sun-drenched, windswept desert landscapes east of the Cascade Mountains were a paradise for viticulture. Fed by glacial meltwater and dramatic diurnal temperature shifts—hot days followed by crisp, cool nights—the region locks in pristine acidity and intense aromatics. Washington stands proud as a premium winemaking powerhouse, boasting 20 distinct AVAs.
Producing Wine Since: 2025 (Inaugural 2024 Vintage)
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Estival is a premium label launched by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, crafted specifically to celebrate aromatic white wines from Washington State’s Columbia Valley. Sourced from the windswept, sun-soaked vineyards of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, this brand balances massive Pacific Northwest scale with small-lot, precision craftsmanship.
Tasting Notes:
The 2024 Estival Sauvignon Blanc ($19) is incredibly vibrant, fresh, and textured. Winemaker Lacey Steffey captures the essence of the terroir perfectly, noting: “The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is Estival’s inaugural wine, capturing the best of Horse Heaven Hills AVA. It’s vibrant and textured, layered with pineapple, citrus and passionfruit, while beautifully shaped by a balanced growing season that brought bright acidity and minerality.”
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: This bright, mineral-driven profile makes it an exceptional match for the grill. Pour a glass alongside grilled chicken skewers slathered in direct-heat citrus marinade, classic grilled hot dogs topped with a tangy pineapple relish, or a fresh, herb-packed grilled halloumi cheese platter
New York has a deep history of viticulture dating back to 1677, when French Huguenot settlers planted the first documented vineyards in the Hudson Valley. While early efforts focused on native and hybrid grapes, modern fine winemaking was revolutionized in the mid-20th century. Long Island’s first commercial vineyard was planted in 1973, taking advantage of a unique maritime climate. New York currently features 11 officially designated AVAs.
Producing Wine Since: 1995.
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Right in our backyard on the North Fork, Macari is a pioneer in biodynamic and sustainable farming. They make pristine coastal wines that perfectly reflect New York’s marine climate.
Tasting Notes: The Macari “Horses” Sparkling Cabernet Franc is crisp, lively, and filled with white peach and fresh strawberry. Their Static Cabernet Franc is medium-bodied with bright red cherry fruit and a gorgeous touch of bell pepper and graphite.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: Pop the sparkling “Horses” alongside classic boardwalk hot dogs or grilled elote. Pair the elegant Cabernet Franc with grilled portobello mushroom caps or a classic fish taco platter.
Texas holds an unexpected place in history as one of the earliest states to plant European wine grapes, with Franciscan missionaries establishing vines near El Paso in the 1650s—long before California or Virginia. After being virtually erased by Prohibition, the state’s modern wine industry experienced a massive revival in the 1970s. Utilizing expansive high elevations and a warm, dry climate, Texas vitis vinifera thrives. The state is currently home to 8 distinct AVAs.
Producing Wine Since: 2008.
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Championing varieties that thrive in intense terroir, William Chris focuses strictly on 100% Texas-grown fruit, offering a deep and expressive side of Texas High Plains viticulture.
Tasting Notes (Texas High Plains Cabernet Franc): Rich and expressive, balancing ripe plum and dark cherry flavors with savory notes of dried sage and warm earth.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: A beautiful match for a charred black bean and quinoa burger or grilled flank steak with chimichurri sauce.
Michigan’s wine history began in 1780 when French settlers discovered abundant wild grapes along the Raisin River south of present-day Detroit. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the state became a major hub for native varieties and juice production. The modern era of fine wine was born in 1971 when Tabor Hill planted the state’s first European vinifera vines, proving the Great Lakes’ shoreline created a protective macroclimate for delicate grapes. Michigan is divided into 5 distinct AVAs.
Producing Wine Since: 1971.
Why We Should Be Drinking This: This Michigan staple has serious political pedigree; President Gerald Ford selected their Demi-Sec for a White House state dinner in 1974, and it remained a staple across multiple administrations.
Tasting Notes: The Tabor Hill Classic Demi-Sec is a delightfully off-dry white blend bursting with sweet pear and apple. Their Chardonnay is crisp and fruit-forward, emphasizing bright green apple and tropical pineapple over heavy oak.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: The Demi-Sec is fantastic for spicy grilled food like jalapeño-cheddar veggie sausages. Pair the Chardonnay with grilled white fish or a summer pasta salad.
Producing Wine Since: 2024.
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Founded by female winemaker Erin Reddan, ecr Vintners is a fresh label making expressive, low-pretense wines sourced from exceptional California vineyards, focusing on unique varietals and minimal intervention.
Tasting Notes: The ecr 2024 Sparkling Rosé is an 80/20 blend of Mourvèdre and Tempranillo, light and dry with cherry-forward sweetness. The 2024 Trousseau Gris offers clean citrus aromas and a palate of fresh grapefruit and crisp minerality.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: The Sparkling Rosé is an elite pairing for a classic American veggie burger. The Trousseau Gris is a brilliant match for grilled oysters or a fresh summer avocado salad.
Oregon’s modern viticultural story officially kicked off in 1961 when Richard Sommer defied conventional wisdom and planted the state’s first fine wine grapes in the Umpqua Valley. Shortly after, in 1965, David Lett brought Pinot Noir to the Willamette Valley, establishing a cool-climate haven that would eventually rival Burgundy. Blessed with complex volcanic and sedimentary soils, Oregon has established global dominance for elegant, deeply expressive winemaking across its 23 distinct AVAs.
Producing Wine Since: 2020 (Inaugural 2018 Vintage)
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Created by professional athlete CJ McCollum and his wife Elise, this label represents a gorgeous convergence of passion, community, and top-tier land stewardship. Partnering with the legendary Adelsheim Vineyard and acclaimed winemaker Gina Hennen, they’ve transitioned into estate production on their 318-acre property in the prestigious Yamhill-Carlton AVA. This isn’t a vanity project; it’s a serious, LIVE Certified sustainable and Salmon-Safe operation built for long-term legacy.
Tasting Notes:
The 2022 McCollum Heritage 91 Pinot Noir is beautifully transparent and dark ruby in the glass. Give it a brief swirl to unlock a vibrant aromatic mix of fresh black cherry, red plum, and ripe strawberry. Hiding just beneath that juicy fruit profile are sophisticated, darker elements of cocoa, lavender, and a kiss of red licorice. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and silky smooth, balancing a savory raspberry tea character with a fine mineral backbone, supple tannins, and a fresh, mouthwatering finish.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: Pinot Noir is famously the ultimate crossover wine for food pairings. The bright acidity and fine structure of this 2022 vintage cut beautifully through the richness of grilled wild salmon fillets or a wood-fired veggie burger packed with earthy mushrooms. It is also spectacular with classic charcoal-grilled hot dogs topped with savory relishes.
Before the domestic American wine industry truly took root, our founders looked to the great trading routes of the world. One fortified wine stood above the rest, earning an eternal spot in American history.
Producing Wine Since: 1745.
Why We Should Be Drinking This: Madeira was used to toast the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Cossart Gordon offers a direct connection to the celebratory wine favored by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Tasting Notes (Cossart Gordon Rainwater Medium Dry): Pours a beautiful topaz color with intense dried fruits and orange peel on the nose. On the palate, it is fresh and balanced with a firm citrus backbone and a long, warming finish.
Food Pairings & Grilling Options: Serve slightly chilled alongside an artisanal cheese board featuring sharp American cheddar, or pair it with grilled peaches topped with vanilla bean ice cream.
Martha Cisneros Paja is an Engineer, Cava Educator and WSET Level 2 certified, founder of Latinas Wine Club Inc. and author of Mexican Wines: A guide to Fall in Love with Wines of Mexico . Read more about one of the most hard-working Latinas in Wine here.
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