English wine region

How to pronounce California

California is pronounced kal-ih-FORN-yah. The stress falls on FORN.

kal-ih-FORN-yah

What is California?

The largest and most important wine-producing state in the United States, responsible for nearly 80% of American wine production. California's diverse climate zones support a wide range of grape varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel as the leading grapes.

Tips for saying it

Often heard as kah-lih-FORN-yah.

Start with the flat English a of cat, not a German a: kal-ih-FORN-yah.

Related pronunciations

All English wine terms →

Practice saying it out loud with Vinolingo

Listening is the first step. In the Vinolingo app you say California yourself and get an instant pronunciation score, then spaced repetition keeps it fresh — along with 213 other wine terms.

Download on the App Store