The USA & California

If California was a country it would be the fourth largest wine producing country in the world. This, coupled with the diversity of climates to be found across not just California, but into Oregon and Washington as well as the ice wines of the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, means that the USA produces a huge array of wines at every price and in every style. At one end, super-boutique wines and at the other, huge volumes of fairly undistinguished gluggers.

Happily there are also brilliant but humble producers like Calera, Marmesa and Morgan that produce "bespoke" wines at affordable prices, including of course, Pinot Noir for fans of "''Sideways". They champion a wonderful blend of commercial and artistic wine values which is proving very popular - the Golden State is in good shape indeed.