Critic picks

Decanter's top-rated wineries in California

Decanter scores on the 100-point scale. Its 983 ranked California producers run from 96 to 99 points, each with at least two rated wines.

Ranked by Decanter's mean score across every wine of theirs Decanter has rated. Highest average first; ties go to the producer with more wines rated.

983
Producers Decanter rates
99
Top score
194
Wines scored, top 25

The list

  1. 199Hundred AcreRutherford, United States17 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  2. 298Fairchild EstateSt. Helena, United States2 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  3. 398HarbisonOakville, United States6 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  4. 498FutoOakville, United States4 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  5. 598ProphetSonoma County, United States2 wines ratedCRITIC-RATED→
  6. 697Devil ProofCalifornia, United States3 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  7. 797Haynes Family CellarsNapa Valley, United States3 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  8. 897Cathiard VineyardNapa Valley, United States4 wines ratedDISTINCTION→
  9. 997Marston Family VineyardSt. Helena, United States2 wines ratedDISTINCTION→
  10. 1097Kinsman EadesNapa Valley, United States11 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  11. 1197Vida ValienteNapa Valley, United States10 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  12. 1297Fe WinesNapa Valley, United States4 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  13. 1397Fortunate SonNapa Valley, United States12 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  14. 1497Karl Lawrence CellarsSt. Helena, United States3 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  15. 1597Morlet Family VineyardsSt. Helena, United States28 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  16. 1697Fait MainCalifornia, United States11 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  17. 1797KapcsandyYountville, United States2 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  18. 1897VeriteSonoma County, United States10 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  19. 1996To Kalon VineyardCalifornia, United States8 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  20. 2096AD VIVUMNapa Valley, United States5 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  21. 2196ParadigmOakville, United States13 wines ratedDISTINCTION→
  22. 2296BureSonoma County, United States9 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  23. 2396Boich Family CellarNapa Valley, United States4 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  24. 2496PilcrowNapa Valley, United States7 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→
  25. 2596Screaming EagleOakville, United States14 wines ratedCRITICS' PICK→

How we choose

Decanter rates individual wines, not estates. Each producer's place here is its average Decanter score across every wine of theirs the critic has scored. A producer needs at least two such wines to appear: the guard stops a single lucky score on one bottle from outranking an estate with dozens of rated wines. More on how the list works

Frequently asked

How many California wineries has Decanter rated?
983 wineries in California, United States have at least two wines scored by Decanter. Only those appear here.
Which California winery does Decanter rate highest?
Hundred Acre, at a 99-point average from Decanter, followed by Fairchild Estate and Harbison.
How is this list ranked?
By Decanter's average score across each winery's wines. A winery needs at least two Decanter-rated wines to be listed, so a single high score cannot top the ranking.
Does this use user reviews?
No. Only Decanter's professional ratings. There are no crowd star averages in it.

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