Napa: Heard of it? Of course you have. Some of the world's best wines come from Napa (and it's neighbor, Sonoma) Valley -- the rolling hills that first put the United States on the map. Its exquisite mixture of the sybaritic, the sublime and the sinfully delicious make it the nation's premiere destination for oenophiles. But there's more to American wines than Northern California.All 50 states now produce wine in some form (cue the jokes about Oklahoma reds or Dakota whites). Now, just because all 50 states are capable of producing wine does not mean they all should. There are, however, some pretty impressive bottles of vino coming out of some pretty surprising places.Blessed with ideal conditions, weather stacks the odds heavily in California's favor. But other states boast ideal conditions for their own varietals of both old world and new world grapes, and you'll find a lot less noses in the air.With autumn fast approaching, wineries in these regions will celebrate the fresh start of a new vintage with harvest festivals, tours, tastings, winemaker's dinners, special events and more.

Indeed, the fall harvest is one of the busiest, most exciting times to visit wine country.If you can't make it to California, why not swirl your glass a little closer to home:Pacific Northwest: Walla Walla, WashingtonHere's what people think of when you mention Washington: Boeing, Microsoft, coffee and, mistakenly, the nation's capital. Here's what they should be thinking: Walla Walla wine. Believe it or not, Washington is the U.S.'s second-largest wine-producing state, despite the fact that wine growing didn't establish a foothold until the 1970s. new age red wine priceThese days, a new winery opens up every two weeks in Walla Walla, "the town so nice, they named it twice," though its isolation (about four hours from Seattle, Portland or Boise) has kept it from getting too Napa-fied.Try: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, SyrahEverything's bigger in Texas, so it should come as no surprise that the Lone Star State is home to the country's second-largest AVA (American Viticultural Area) with more than 9 million acres. ice wine in the uk

Upwards of 30 wineries blanket this bumpy terrain in the heart of Texas with row upon row of Bordeaux blends and Italian varietals. Some 5 million annual visitors make Hill Country the third-most visited region in the nation, though many outside the state have no idea it even produces wine. Its location just north of San Antonio and west of Austin helps bring in the crowds, as does a collection of truly Texan events like the "Wine & Swine."what is the best homemade wine recipeTry: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, SangioveseThere's a fruit fight fermenting in northern Michigan: cherries vs. grapes. Once known as the Cherry Capital of the World, Traverse City has grown in popularity over the last decade as an exciting new region for wine. Situated along the 45th parallel (the same as Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace) and sheltered from harsh winters by its proximity to Lake Michigan, the peninsulas on each side of West Grand Traverse Bay are home to the majority of Michigan's 71 commercial wineries and undoubtedly its finest.

Many boast soaring hilltop views of the bay, and all offer crisp, refreshing whites (both dry and ice wines) and silky, cool-climate reds.Try: Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Pinot BlancVirginia is the Old Dominion and the Mother of Presidents -- a state known for its historic battlefields, rolling hills and politically minded Washington commuters. But in the last two decades, the state has grown a reputation for something altogether different: fine wine. Wine Enthusiast magazine recently named Virginia one of its top 10 wine travel destinations for 2012, adding to a growing list of awards and accolades. Though wine-making in the state is hardly a new phenomenon -- it dates back to the early 1600s in Jamestown Colony -- the state has seen a dramatic increase in wine production over the last decade from 64 wineries in 2000 to 213 in 2012. Much of that growth has been in Loudoun County, whose historic farmlands, just 45 minutes from the nation's capital, have become a popular weekend escape for politicians, foodies and suburban housewives alike.

Try: Viognier, Petit Verdot, NortonNortheast: North Fork Of Long Island, New YorkForget cheese. Wine is best paired with a nice view. Just two hours outside of the United States' largest city lies a calm oasis of unspoiled beaches and sprawling vineyards. Envision a hybrid of Cape Cod and Tuscany, and you'll begin to understand Long Island's North Fork. The burgeoning wine region is now some 40 years in the making, and the tourism industry has been quick to plant its seed. Yet, this sinewy strip remains a much quieter alternative to the pomp and circumstance of the Hamptons below. With a bottle of wine and two patio chairs, you could easily get lost in a lazy afternoon conversation for hours.Try: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, ChardonnayItaly is quite possibly the oldest wine-producing region in the world, and archaeologists have found evidence that Etruscans were making wine well over 2,000 years ago. Writers dating back to Petrarch and Dante have mentioned Chianti and Sangiovese, varietals that are still grown in the same regions today.

Exploring Italy's wine country offers abundant pleasures for wine-lovers, including the opportunity to taste and learn about new wines and enjoy excellent vintages with Italy's finest food, as well as tour the beautiful Italian countryside. Tuscany Tuscany is in Central Italy, along the southern portion of the Apennine Mountain, a range than runs down the Italian peninsula. The region is famous for its Chianti and Sangiovese wines, as well as its Montepulicano and Brunello varietals. Siena, a beautiful medieval city on the edge of the Chianti foothills, is known as the gateway to Tuscan wine country and provides a good base to explore several vineyards. Tuscany's largest vineyards include Castello Banfi, Casa Vinicola L. Cecchi and Biondi-Santi, all of which are easily accessible through Siena. Emilia-Romagna Emilia-Romagna encompasses Emilia, the region west of Bologna in the Po River valley, and Romagna, which is in the Po delta. Perhaps the most highly-regarded wine from the area is Lambrusco, a light red that is often characterized as flavorful and zesty.

The grapes for Lambrusco are grown on tall trellised vines on the hillsides of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The Cantine Romagnoli vineyard in Modena is a good place to start exploring the area's best wines. Bologna is the area's largest city, and two popular areas to stay include Rimini, a scenic resort town, and historic Ravenna. Both are on the Adriatic coast. Veneto Veneto, located near Venice on the Adriatic Sea, is characterized by humid flatlands and is one of the most important wine-growing areas in Italy. Valpolicella, Bardalino and Soave come from Vento, and the Amarone della Valpolicella, grown near the hills of Verona, ranks among the best red wines in the world. The vineyards near the small town of Valdobbiadene are prized for making sparkling prosecco, Italy's answer to Champagne. Verona is home to prominent vineyards in Veneto, including Azienda Vinicola Fratelli Fabiano and Fratelli Bolla, and serves as a good base for visitors. Other popular places to stay are Treviso and Padua.