Wine-Growing Areas
Pinot Blanc in California
Here is an overview of principal California American Viticultural Areas, (AVAs), the U.S. equivalent of appellations, associated with Semillon. For a deep dive into specific regions, please visit our Regional Guides.
California Pinot Blanc Acreage by County (2021)
| COUNTY | 2021 TOTAL GRAPE ACRES (bearing and non-bearing) |
2021 TOTAL GRAPE HECTARES (bearing and non-bearing) |
|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 84 | 33.99 |
| Monterey | 68 | 27.52 |
| Mendocino | 28 | 11.33 |
| Stanislaus | 28 | 11.33 |
| Napa | 21 | 8.50 |
| San Luis Obispo | 9 | 3.64 |
| Santa Barbara | 8 | 3.24 |
| Alameda | 5 | 2.02 |
| Riverside | 3 | 1.21 |
| San Benito | 3 | 1.21 |
| Other | 1 | 0.40 |
| STATE TOTAL | 258 | 104.41 |
The aforementioned Pinot Blanc/Melon confusion notwithstanding, Pinot Blanc is grown in just 12 of California’s 58 counties, with a full third of production in Monterey County … home of Chalone Winery and epicenter of much of the grape’s historical identity confusion. Confusion notwithstanding, today fewer than 134 ha/330 acres are planted to Melon.
Pinot Blanc Around the World
In the ranking of vineyard area of the world’s wine grapes, Pinot Blanc comes in at number 55 (13,779 ha/34,059 acres), just behind Nero d’Avola and Touriga Franca and just ahead of the Moldovan variety Fetească Albă (Pinot Noir is #12 and Pinot Gris is #20).
- France: Alsace, Moselle
- Italy: Friuli, Alto Adige
- Germany: Baden, Rheinhessen
- Austria: Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Steiermark
- Other European countries: Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, Moldova, Russia
- Australia: New South Wales (Hunter Valley), Western Australia (Margaret River), South Australia (Adelaide Hills)
- New Zealand: North Island (Gisborne)
- South Africa: Stellenbosch, Swartland, Franschhoek
- The Americas: Canada (BC’s Okanagan Valley), the United States (Oregon), Argentina
- Other countries: Russia, Japan, Australia (Yarra Valley)