The best guide to wonderful natural wines & amazing food in United States!

The big country! Exploring the United States means immersing yourself in a unique superpower that opens up a world of possibilities. Its spirit is fascinating, its young history is exciting, its traditions are captivating, its natural landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see and its cities attract visitors like magnets. Embark on an extraordinary adventure now!

A vast terrain to explore

By car, it takes 4,500 km (2,796 mi)  to get from New York to Los Angeles! The country's surface area, spread over 50 states, is almost equal to that of the European continent... Mind-boggling! At the same time, the territory is so diverse and so shaped by the country's incredible history that it almost seems like a world unto itself. To help you get an idea, here is a quick tour of the major regions of the United States!

In the Northeast, you'll be at the heart of the American Revolution. Here you can visit the iconic cities of Boston (Massachusetts), where the colonial delegates revolted against the British monarchy, and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. These are pleasant, dynamic cities with charming historic centers. Between the two is New York City, with its skyscrapers, Statue of Liberty, and lively, cosmopolitan neighborhoods (see the Raisin article dedicated to the Big Apple). Together with the federal capital Washington, D.C. (often underrated but well worth a visit), these four cities form the Megalopolis, a powerful economic, political, and cultural center.

Nature lovers can take a trip to the splendid Catskills (rocky coastline of Maine), Acadia National Park (Maine), the White Mountains (New Hampshire), the Adirondacks (Iroquois lands in New York State), and the spectacular Niagara Falls (New York State). In autumn, the region's forests are ablaze with absolutely mesmerizing colors that cannot be found anywhere else.

In the Midwest, you will discover an authentic region, a legacy of the crucial role it played in the territorial expansion and economic development of the United States. This is thanks in particular to the National Road, the first major highway built in the early 19th century and a gateway to the West. The region then became a major industrial center, with many cities retaining its imprint (and the vintage feel that goes with it), notably Chicago, for heavy industry during the Industrial Revolutionand Detroit, the cradle of automobile production in the early 20th century. Today, Chicago is renowned for its culture, iconic architecture, and high-end restaurants (particularly well showcased in the series The Bear: Dine-In or Take-Out). And it is from this city that the legendary Route 66 begins its journey through eight states. The Midwest has always been an important agricultural breadbasket for the country, particularly for grains and soybeans. The Heartland (as it is nicknamed) also offers a fabulous outdoor journey through the wild prairies of Kansas, the national parks of Minnesota, the majestic peaks of Nebraska, and everything that unfolds along the mighty Mississippi River. The iconic Great Lakes, which border several states, also provide an opportunity to take a pleasant tour of other cities, such as Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Columbus (Ohio), and Cincinnati (Ohio).

The Southeast is a vast region whose many facets you can explore, including its dark history of slavery, evidenced by the numerous plantations (which used slave labor), particularly in Virginia, Georgia, and Louisiana. It was also in this region that the national racial segregation established by the Jim Crow laws of 1877, which were finally abolished in 1968, was most violently manifested, thanks in particular to the mobilization and actions of the civil rights movement and figures such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Angela Davis. Today, many cities and memorial sites allow visitors to learn more about this past, notably in Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, but also in Atlanta, Georgia, Jackson, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee. But there are many other things to see in the Southeast. For example: St. Louis, Missouri, where the famous Lewis and Clark expedition to the West began in 1804; Miami, Florida, for its beaches and Art Deco buildings; New Orleans, Louisiana, for its festive atmosphere and unique architecture; Everglades National Park, Florida, for its incredible subtropical ecosystem; the Bayous (Louisiana) dotted with cypress trees and populated by alligators; the Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina), a scenic road winding through the Appalachian Mountains; the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee), famous for its misty panoramas, waterfalls, and biodiversity...

In the Southwest, you will follow in the footsteps of Native Americans, the first Spanish settlers, and the pioneers of the conquest of the West, synonymous with development but also with the colonization of Native American territories (and the tragic forced displacements that resulted). For example, the Cliff Palace, cave dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado) occupied by the Anasazi, Montezuma Castle carved into the rock (Arizona), the Petroglyph National Monument (New Mexico) and its drawings engraved in stone, Santa Fe (New Mexico) founded in 1610 and its typical architecture, San Antonio and the site of Fort Alamo (Texas)... But also Oklahoma City (Oklahoma) and Dallas (Texas) with their Wild West culture and cowboys in wide-brimmed hats, Albuquerque (New Mexico) and its pretty old town... This arid region is also famous for its desert landscapes, endless skies, and natural sites such as the unmissable Grand Canyon (Arizona), the spectacular Monument Valley and its geomorphological formations (Arizona, Utah), and the magical Antelope Canyon, with its polished sandstone walls resembling pink and orange waves (Arizona).

The West is an extension of the Southwest, even more infused with Native American presence and where canyons, mountains, and great plains meet. Las Vegas (Nevada), the casino capital, is a good starting point for exploring wonders such as Death Valley or Red Rock Canyon. Denver (Colorado) is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains, spread across five states (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana), with their snow-capped peaks, ski resorts (the most famous of which is Aspen), and green valleys. And the fabulous Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming-Montana-Idaho) with its geysers, hot springs, and incredible colors! Special mention goes to the original Mount Rushmore, a monumental granite sculpture carved between 1927 and 1941 into a section of rock in the Black Hills, representing the faces of the four presidents who had the most significant impact on the country's destiny at that time (in chronological order: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt). Or how to trace 150 years of history in one place... As an anecdote, it was in these Black Hills that a series of conflicts between the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes and the US Army took place, including the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876.

Finally, at the end of the road, the Pacific region, the ultimate quest in the conquest of the West but also the gold rush, which attracted thousands of fortune seekers to California in the mid-19th century, and later to the Klondike (Canada), departing from Seattle (Washington State). . Surrounded by water, forests, and mountains (including a breathtaking view of Mount Rainier volcano), it is a cool and trendy city with lots of nice cafes and eclectic neighborhoods. California is undoubtedly the star of the region, with its high-tech valleys and legendary cities: Los Angeles with its movie-movie atmosphere, San Francisco with its hilly streets and Golden Gate Bridge, San Diego and its historic district... But also its nature reserves such as Yosemite National Park and its granite peaks, or Redwood State Park and its giant sequoias. We love the Pacific Coast Highway, a coastal road in California offering breathtaking views of the ocean. We also love the discreet charm of Oregon, its wild beaches, and its natural beauty spots such as Crater Lake, a lake formed in the caldera of an ancient volcano, and Portland, its trendy, eco-friendly, and alternative capital.

Let's end this grand tour with the antipodes of Alaska and Hawaii, two separate paradises. One boasts vast unspoiled lands, immense glaciers, wildlife, the Northern Lights, and indigenous culture. The other promises outdoor living, turquoise waters, spectacular volcanoes, lush valleys, and local culture.

A unique melting pot culture

American culture is a blend of influences, inseparable from the country's history, to which each community adds its own mark while contributing to the common identity. Rich, dynamic, and constantly evolving, it manifests itself in all areas. This adds charm and interest to the trip...

This is why families across the country gather for Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November to celebrate the harvest of the first settlers, why people walk around with pumpkins lanterns in hand on Halloween, parade with fanfare for Mardi Gras in New Orleans or dressed as lions for Chinese New Year in the Chinatowns of major cities, and raise a glass in a pub for St. Patrick's Day... In the West, rodeos celebrate the cowboy heritage and Native American powwows pay tribute to indigenous cultures.

A pillar of cultural identity, music permeates all of America. It does not have a long history, but it has given rise to a whole host of styles that have spread throughout the world: the blues of Memphis (B.B. King, etc.), country music from Nashville (Johnny Cash, etc.), jazz from New Orleans, hip-hop from New York (Run-DMC, Afrika Bambaataa, etc.), grunge from Seattle (Nirvana, etc.), techno from Detroit (Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, etc.) and Chicago, as well as rock ‘n’ roll (made popular by Elvis Presley), soul (Otis Redding, etc.), the unique R&B sound of Detroit's Motown label (Diana Ross, The Jackson 5, etc.), funk (James Brown, etc.), punk, disco, and more. Of course, we won't review all the singers and musicians of local and international renown in the United States, as the list would be far too long. We'll leave you to make your own playlist of favorite artists!

Hollywood cinema and television are also omnipresent in this culture. From the early days of silent films to blockbusters, TV series, and cult films, the United States has mastered the art of telling universal stories that are popular around the world, as well as stories about its own history, such as segregation and the trauma of the Vietnam War.

In the United States, there is a deep appreciation for spectacle, which can be found in many details and often in XXL format: numerous television shows, drive-ins (open-air cinemas... in your car!), sporting events (the Super Bowl on Sundays, for example), amusement parks, musicals... You'll never be bored!

In general, art and creativity are cultural drivers. True to their reputation, Americans have large arts centers, some of which are dazzling. Here are ten must-see museums in different cities across the country: the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the Met in New York; the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.; the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland; the Art Institute in Chicago; LACMA and Getty Center Museum in Los Angeles. These museums feature international artists as well as many influential American artists such as James Whistler (Impressionism), Edward Hopper (American Realism), Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keeffe (American modernism), Alexander Calder (kinetic art), Jackson Pollock, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler (abstract expressionism), Mark Rothko (lyrical abstraction), Robert Roschenberg, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein (pop art), Jean-Michel Basquiat (neo-expressionism), Jeff Koons (post-modernism), and more.

As for literature, poetry, and theater, the choice is as wide as it is in music! But we will still mention a few key writers who shaped the American spirit or shed light on American society at different times, such as Benjamin Franklin, Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck, Toni Morrison, Bret Easton Ellis, Paul Auster, Armistead Maupin, Stephen King, and more.

A generous cuisine open to the world

American cuisine reflects the country itself: multicultural and constantly evolving. Nourished by its unique history, it draws on the ingredients and recipes of the indigenous peoples of North America, the European settlers of the 17th and 18th centuries, and the waves of immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries

There are, of course, the iconic dishes, which some might be tempted to consider stereotypes, but which are nonetheless part of the experience. Because leaving the United States without having tasted a juicy hamburger, a soft hot dog, a well-filled bagel, a tasty cheesecake, sweet pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, or comforting muffins would be a real shame. Not to mention roasted corn on the cob, donuts, and apple pie.

And you can't leave the US without having a coffee, consumed at any hour and anywhere, especially in a 1970s style diner.

Each region also has its own culinary traditions and influences, including the following:

clam chowder (a thick soup made with clams, potatoes, and cream); lobster roll (a brioche sandwich filled with lobster and mayonnaise); gumbo (a stew made with smoked sausage and Cajun spices, served with rice); fried chicken (crispy fried chicken seasoned with spices); huevos rancheros (fried eggs on corn tortillas, topped with spicy tomato sauce, refried beans, and avocado); buffalo wings (chicken wings cooked in a pepper sauce, served with celery and blue cheese dressing); deep-dish pizza (pizza with a thick, buttery crust, topped with meat, cheese, tomato chunks, and Italian spices); mac ‘n’ cheese (macaroni and cheese, ultra-regressive); and, of course, the unmissable institution that is barbecued spare ribs (pork or beef). But we also love all kinds of casseroles (a kind of gratin with meat, vegetables, potatoes, or pasta—everyone makes their own version), chicken pot pie, and pecan pie. As you can see, wherever you go, there is plenty of good food to be had!

American cuisine is also a cuisine that knows how to reinvent itself.

It was in the United States that the concept of fusion cuisine exploded in the 1990s. Also known as New World Cuisine, it combines ingredients, techniques, and flavors from several cultures with the aim of creating (or even improvising) original (or even disruptive) dishes. California, in particular, is at the forefront of this trend, with dishes such as fish tacos and California rolls (crab meat, avocado, and cucumber rolled in rice and nori, sushi style).

Since the 2000s, with the farm-to-table movement, we have seen a return to local and seasonal ingredients (many of which are also organic), with a particular focus on quality and traceability. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are also on the rise, embodying a desire to rethink classics and opt for a more eco-friendly diet. The same goes for natural wines, which are popping up all over this vast country on bar and restaurant menus and in wine shop shelves (Raisin will of course tell you where to find them near you).

Extensive winemaking expertise

As the global market leader in terms of revenue, the United States is undoubtedly a wine-producing country. Its wine routes attract millions of visitors every year.

Inherited from European settlers, vineyards developed mainly in California, thanks to Spanish missionaries in the 18th century (with the aim of making sacramental wine!) and then during the gold rush in the 19th century. The iconic regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, with their favorable soils and Mediterranean climate, began to take shape, laying the foundations for modern viticulture and prestigious estates. This development was seriously hampered by the ravages of the phylloxera aphid in the mid-19th century and the Prohibition period, which banned the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol in the early 20th century.

Resilient, American viticulture was reborn in the 1960s and propelled Californian wines to the forefront of the international scene in 1976, during a blind tasting in which experts awarded them scores higher than those of the best French vintages.

But California is not the only American wine-growing paradise. There are vineyards in every state, particularly in Washington State and Oregon (Willamette Valley), Virginia, Texas, and New York State.

American viticulture relies almost exclusively on Old World grape varieties (derived from the European species Vitis vinifera) such as the great classics Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay, Riesling, etc. It should be noted that many American grape species (Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rupestris, etc.), which are less well known and rarely used, are naturally more resistant to disease and cold. This makes them excellent bases for creating more resistant hybrid varieties and rootstocks (the buried part of the vine that supports the graft). This is an advantage in a context of climate change and increasing uncertainty.

Another typically American feature is the fairly common separation between viticulture and winemaking. After Prohibition, the United States adopted a legal and economic framework known as the “three-tier system,” which encourages specialization. This three-tier system separates grape growers (winegrowers), wine producers (winemakers), and retailers (wine merchants, etc.). It has encouraged wine brands to focus on winemaking and branding and to purchase grapes rather than owning vineyards. This model lowers barriers to entry and allows everyone to limit economic risks.

The same logic is also applied by federal law, which authorizes transparent arrangements for sharing or outsourcing production facilities: “alternating proprietorship” (several owners legally alternate the use of the same winery) and “custom crush” (an approved winery produces on behalf of a third party).

Labels reflect this degree of involvement: “Estate Bottled” is only possible if the estate has controlled the entire production chain; conversely, terms such as “Produced/Made/Vinted & Bottled by” are permitted when the named establishment has only carried out part of the work. This philosophy is based on transparency and freedom of business model, in contrast to the European integration model.

One last interesting detail: the “USDA Organic” label, the most stringent in the US, is an agricultural and processing standard that prohibits the addition of sulfites but allows certain additives and processing aids (enzymes, yeasts, bentonite, etc.). In short, to be sure you are buying natural wine, trust your wine merchant and/or Raisin!

Yes, it's true: Californian red wines, rich, fruity, fairly full-bodied, with a high alcohol content and produced with the help of chemical treatments, have largely shaped the “American taste” and therefore the image of wines that goes with it. But that is changing... More and more American winemakers are turning to more sustainable practices, a de-standardization of taste, and the use of less traditional grape varieties. Among them are emerging natural winemakers, keen to redefine what American wine is and to make the most of the richness of this immense terroir. So don't hesitate to support them by visiting them; you'll find a number of them on Raisin.

Like a breath of fresh air

The vastness of the spaces, the gigantism of the cities, the density of history, the pioneering spirit that constantly pushes the boundaries, the permanent positivism, the size of the cars, the warm welcome and the ease of striking up a conversation with strangers... in the United States, everything seems bigger, more open, easier, but also more exaggerated and crazier than elsewhere. It's a bit like going to see a movie at the cinema, enveloped in the action in panoramic mode thanks to the magic of the big screen, rather than watching it on television.

This perception is probably linked to the very specific values that underpin the country: the American dream, a founding concept based on the idea that anyone can succeed through hard work and determination, which is ingrained in the collective imagination despite the highly unequal social and economic realities; the very strong (almost messianic) feeling of belonging to an exceptional nation; and the resulting American way of life, which is life, personal freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. And one wonders if all this is not contagious for the traveler who watches, somewhat stunned, as this way of life unfolds before their eyes in this great and surprising country.

So enjoy it! There's no doubt that you'll come back feeling pumped up and ultra-energized, telling yourself that everything is “awesome,” “inspiring,” and that “yes, we can!