25:["$","$L26",null,{"category":"$27","relatedArticles":[{"id":"cG9zdDo1ODQ3MA==","databaseId":58470,"postId":58470,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo1Mw==","databaseId":53,"userId":53,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e108c21a7f5933aad20a2fed390a87d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Amanda Dixon is a personal finance writer and editor with an expertise in taxes and banking. She studied journalism and sociology at the University of Georgia. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, AOL, Bankrate, The Huffington Post, Fox Business News, Mashable and CBS News. Born and raised in metro Atlanta, Amanda currently lives in Brooklyn.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Amanda","fullName":"Amanda Dixon","lastName":"Dixon","name":"Amanda Dixon","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":184,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"adixon","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":89,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$28","date":"2016-12-23T10:00:48","excerpt":"

\n","featuredImage":{"id":"cG9zdDoxOTk5NTA=","databaseId":199950,"altText":"How Long Does It Take to Get a Credit Card?","date":"2023-05-16T22:06:34","fileSize":49253,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","modified":"2023-05-16T22:06:34","sourceUrl":"https://smartasset.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/12/long-credit-card-1-1.jpg","__typename":"MediaItem"},"modified":{"datetime":"2023-7-31","readable":"July 31, 2023"},"multipleBylinesByRole":{"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"writtenBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null,"hideAuthor":null,"__typename":"Post_Multiplebylinesbyrole"},"adTargetingOverrides":{"fieldGroupName":"adTargetingOverrides","pageGroupNewKey":null,"__typename":"Post_Adtargetingoverrides"},"seo":{"canonical":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-credit-card","metaDesc":"To get a physical credit card, if you're automatically approved by the issuer, typically takes 3 - 10 days. Learn all the factors that impact that timeline.","metaKeywords":"","metaRobotsNofollow":"follow","metaRobotsNoindex":"index","readingTime":6,"title":"How Long Does It Take to Get a Credit Card? - SmartAsset","__typename":"PostTypeSEO"},"slug":"how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-credit-card","status":"publish","title":"How Long Does It Take to Get a Credit Card?","uri":"/credit-cards/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-credit-card","tags":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"PostToTagConnection"},"__typename":"Post","adPageGroupOverride":null,"bylines":{"writtenBy":{"id":"dXNlcjo1Mw==","databaseId":53,"userId":53,"avatar":"$29","description":"Amanda Dixon is a personal finance writer and editor with an expertise in taxes and banking. She studied journalism and sociology at the University of Georgia. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, AOL, Bankrate, The Huffington Post, Fox Business News, Mashable and CBS News. Born and raised in metro Atlanta, Amanda currently lives in Brooklyn.","additionalMeta":"$2a","email":null,"firstName":"Amanda","fullName":"Amanda Dixon","lastName":"Dixon","name":"Amanda Dixon","postCount":"$2b","slug":"amanda-dixon","__typename":"User"},"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null},"category":{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":"$2e","databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":89,"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"},"isModifiedBeforePublished":false,"contentBlocks":["

Applying and getting approved for a credit card can be done in minutes but receiving a physical card in the mail typically takes 3 – 10 days. Some credit card issuers will offer instant use of your credit account and in order to take advantage of that, they may offer you access to a virtual card. Using credit can be important to building your credit score and preparing yourself for a larger purchase, like a house. However, if you start to be unable to pay for the credit you’re using you may need to consult with a financial advisor to help you get your finances back on track.

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How Long Does It Take to Get Credit Card Approval?

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These days, applying for a new credit card usually isn’t too hard. You can simply fill out an online form, make a phone call, or mail in a paper application. You’ll have to provide some personal information on the application. This includes your Social Security number, your employment status, and details about your bank accounts. But generally, you can expect approval for a new credit card fairly quickly.

","

In some cases, like with online applications, approval for a new credit card comes in a matter of minutes. Many card issuers like Capital One, Discover and American Express have instant approval credit card offers.

","

But sometimes, approval for a new credit card can take a couple of weeks. That can happen if you mail in your application. Firstly, it will take time for the credit card company to receive the form. Then they have to input your information manually.

","

The process could also take longer if you applied for a card that requires excellent credit. That kind of application could require a manual review of your application. When the credit card issuer needs to further review your information, it will take more time to receive a response of your approval.

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Knowing which companies offer instant credit approval can be helpful, especially if you don’t have much time to waste. If you’re going abroad in a month, for example, you’ll want a card without a foreign transaction fee – and quickly.

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What Credit Card Issuers Consider Before Approving Applications

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Credit card issuers consider a number of factors when reviewing applications for new credit. Many will be able to automatically approve you if you meet the minimum requirements for each of their consideration categories. But if you are on the border of being approved you’ll likely have to be reviewed by an internal team. The things that these companies review to approve your credit can include:

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How Long Does It Take to Receive a Credit Card?

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If you’re approved for a new credit card, most companies say that your card will arrive within seven to 10 business days. That’s just an estimate and consumers usually don’t have to wait that long to get their credit cards. In many cases, you can receive your new card in the mail in five business days or less.

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If you can’t wait a week or two to receive your new card, you can find out whether your credit card company offers expedited shipping. You may have to pay a fee for that, though, if the company does offer expedited shipping.

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If your card still hasn’t arrived after weeks of checking your mailbox day after day, there was probably a snag with your application. Maybe you made a mistake on your application and the credit card company took more time to review your information. Or maybe you applied for the card over the weekend and the issuer couldn’t start processing your card until the next business day.

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Bottom Line

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Nowadays, it doesn’t take very long to get a credit card. Consumers can get approved for a card instantly or in a couple of weeks. At the latest, you’ll receive your card in the mail seven to 10 business days after you’re approved. However, it’s very likely that you’ll receive it much sooner than that. It’s also possible that you could get access to your newly approved credit account through the use of a virtual card, in some circumstances.

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Tips For Getting New Credit Cards

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Photo credit: ©iStock.com/baona, ©iStock.com/PeopleImages ©iStock.com/Juanmonino

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\n","featuredImage":{"id":"cG9zdDoxODQzMTk=","databaseId":184319,"altText":"How to Win a Credit Card Dispute","date":"2023-01-26T02:02:57","fileSize":43862,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","modified":"2023-01-26T02:02:57","sourceUrl":"https://smartasset.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/04/dispute-1.jpg","__typename":"MediaItem"},"modified":{"datetime":"2023-4-2","readable":"April 2, 2023"},"multipleBylinesByRole":{"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"writtenBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null,"hideAuthor":null,"__typename":"Post_Multiplebylinesbyrole"},"adTargetingOverrides":{"fieldGroupName":"adTargetingOverrides","pageGroupNewKey":null,"__typename":"Post_Adtargetingoverrides"},"seo":{"canonical":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/win-a-credit-card-dispute","metaDesc":"Don't assume that challenging a credit card charge is a waste of time. There are strategies you can implement if you're trying to win a credit card dispute.","metaKeywords":"","metaRobotsNofollow":"follow","metaRobotsNoindex":"index","readingTime":5,"title":"How to Win a Credit Card Dispute - SmartAsset","__typename":"PostTypeSEO"},"slug":"win-a-credit-card-dispute","status":"publish","title":"How to Win a Credit Card Dispute","uri":"/credit-cards/win-a-credit-card-dispute","tags":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"PostToTagConnection"},"__typename":"Post","adPageGroupOverride":null,"bylines":{"writtenBy":{"id":"dXNlcjo1Mw==","databaseId":53,"userId":53,"avatar":"$33","description":"Amanda Dixon is a personal finance writer and editor with an expertise in taxes and banking. She studied journalism and sociology at the University of Georgia. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, AOL, Bankrate, The Huffington Post, Fox Business News, Mashable and CBS News. Born and raised in metro Atlanta, Amanda currently lives in Brooklyn.","additionalMeta":"$34","email":null,"firstName":"Amanda","fullName":"Amanda Dixon","lastName":"Dixon","name":"Amanda Dixon","postCount":"$35","slug":"amanda-dixon","__typename":"User"},"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null},"category":{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":"$38","databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":89,"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"},"isModifiedBeforePublished":false,"contentBlocks":["

Reviewing your credit card statement every month is important. If you toss it in the trash as soon as you receive it, you may miss the chance to catch a mistake. A merchant may have charged you twice for the same item. Or there could be an unauthorized charge on your bill. Don’t assume that challenging a credit card charge is a waste of time. Here are a few strategies you can implement if you’re trying to win a credit card dispute.

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1. Contact the Merchant First.

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If there’s a clerical error or another issue with your credit card bill, it’s best to try and resolve it with the retailer. That’s usually the quickest way to solve your problem. If you’re dealing with a fraudulent charge, however, it’s OK reach out to your creditor first.

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But what if a merchant ignores you or fails to do his part to make things right? At that point, you may need to file a complaint with your credit card issuer.

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2. Avoid Procrastinating.

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If you need to dispute a credit card charge and/or request a chargeback (the cancellation of a transaction and the issue of a refund by a bank instead of a retailer), you’ll need to do so as soon as possible. There are laws that protect consumers with credit card issues, such as the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) and the Truth in Lending Act. But often, they only fully apply when you file a dispute within a specific time frame.

","

According to the Federal Trade Commission, billing errors include mathematical mistakes, charges you never authorized, incorrect charges and missing returns and credit card payments. Under the FCBA, you can dispute these kinds of errors within 60 days of receiving your bill. Of course, depending on your credit card company, you may have as many as 120 days to open a credit card dispute.

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Does that mean you shouldn’t try to dispute a charge if you’ve waited too long to address it? No. But not handling it right away may reduce your chances of winning your credit card dispute.

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3. Prepare to Make Your Case.

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In many cases, you can dispute a credit card charge simply by calling your credit card issuer or completing an online form. But you may need to write to your creditor. If you’re required to submit a letter, it’s best to mail it via certified mail. Don’t forget to request a return receipt so you know your credit card issuer got everything it was supposed to receive.

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Regardless of how you attempt to resolve your billing issue, it’s a good idea to gather any important documents. Receipts, canceled checks, proof of returns and emails between you and the merchant involved may help your case if you’re trying to dispute a charge.

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4. Know Your Rights.

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Understanding the laws that protect consumers is imperative. Being familiar with the FCBA, for example, can be helpful if you’re thinking about disputing a billing error.

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Keep in mind that you can take legal action against both a merchant and your creditor, if necessary. For example, if your credit card issuer isn’t following the rules under the FCBA, you can complain to the Federal Trade Commission or file a lawsuit.

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5. Stand Your Ground.

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Persistence may be the key to winning your credit card dispute. If your creditor starts an investigation but nothing happens, you can try using the claims and defenses argument. You’ll have up to a year to file this kind of complaint with your merchant through a letter or over the phone. But in order to take advantage of it, you’ll need to meet certain criteria.

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For example, the value of whatever you paid for must exceed $50. And in order to dispute your charge, you must have attempted to get the merchant to fix the issue first. If you didn’t buy the product in your state, you must have purchased it within 100 miles of your home. Finally, if you’ve already paid off credit card debt that you now want to dispute, you won’t be able to complain about it through the process for claims and defenses.

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You should also use the claims and defenses complaint to challenge a credit card charge if the quality of the product or service you invested in doesn’t meet your expectations. This type of issue cannot be resolved using the dispute process that applies to billing errors.

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Bottom Line

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Disputing a credit card charge may take time. But winning a dispute is possible, especially if you’re aware of the laws that protect you and you have plenty of documents that can help your case.

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Just remember that merchants have rights too. And even if you think a credit card dispute is over, the retailer may still come after you. It’s important to keep up with any paperwork in relation to the dispute even after it’s over.

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Financial Planning Tips

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Photo credit: ©iStock.com/AntonioGuillem, ©iStock.com/FS-Stock, ©iStock.com/AzmanL

"],"experts":null,"link":"/credit-cards/win-a-credit-card-dispute","published":{"datetime":"2017-4-7","readable":"April 7, 2017"},"shareInfo":{"title":"How to Win a Credit Card Dispute","origin":"/credit-cards/win-a-credit-card-dispute"},"isNewsArticle":false},{"id":"cG9zdDo2NTg2MQ==","databaseId":65861,"postId":65861,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo1Nw==","databaseId":57,"userId":57,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a4ba5699dffd6ba2dae17837c96b683a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Derek Miller is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh where he studied economics. He is passionate about using data to help people make better financial decisions. Derek is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®) and a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. He is a data journalist whose expertise is in finding the stories within the numbers. Derek's writing has been featured on Yahoo, AOL and HuffPost. He believes the biggest financial mistake people make is waiting too late to save for retirement and missing out on the wonders of compounding interest. Derek lives in Brooklyn.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Derek","fullName":"Derek Miller, CEPF®","lastName":"Miller, CEPF®","name":"Derek Miller, CEPF®","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":254,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"dmiller","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":89,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$3b","date":"2017-06-27T07:00:10","excerpt":"

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Identity theft is a major problem in the U.S. Over 15 million people were victims of identity theft in 2016, a 15% increase from the year before. While everyone is at risk of having their identity stolen, some people are at increased risk. This is especially true when you look at state data. Some states have more elderly residents, one of the most targeted groups for identity theft, or have wealthier households, another prime candidate for attempted identity theft.

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Check out the best rewards credit cards.

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In order to find the states most vulnerable to identity theft, SmartAsset looked at data on identity fraud complaints, identity theft complaints, percent of the population under the age of 10 or over 65, average number of open credit cards per resident and the percent of households with an income over $74,999. To see where we got our data and how we put it together, check the data and methodology section below.

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Key Findings

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Retirement states – The two most popular retirement states in the country, Arizona and Florida, are also some of the most vulnerable to identity theft. Florida ranked first overall and Arizona ranked eighth.
Identity theft doesn’t discriminate – Whether you’re old or young, rich or poor, identity theft can happen to anyone. But that doesn’t mean becoming a hermit is your only way to protect yourself, there are ways to stay safe while leading an active financial life. Monitoring your credit report is a great start to catch identity fraud before it becomes a problem.

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1. Florida

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Florida ranks as the nation’s most identity theft prone state, according to our data. The Sunshine State ranked first in in identity fraud complaint rate and third in identity theft complaint rate, which suggest the state may be heavily targeted by identity thieves.

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What may make Florida a juicy target is the large number of children and senior citizens in the state. Florida leads the nation in percent of residents who are under the age of 10 or over 65. Close to 30% of Florida’s population falls into these categories. Research shows these are among the most vulnerable citizens.

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2. Maryland

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Maryland is another state which appears to have a target on its back. Residents of the Old Line State complained about both identity fraud and identity theft to the FTC at top 10 rates. While Maryland does not have a large number of residents who fit the age profile of those most vulnerable to identity theft – only 25% of Marylanders are under 10 or over 65 – it does have a large proportion of high earners.

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For people looking to steal credit card information, it’s safe to assume they want the credit card information of a wealthy person. Maryland has the highest percentage of households in the country who make over $74,999 per year, making them a potential target.

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3. Delaware

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With 807 identity fraud complaints per 100,000 residents, Delaware had one of the highest identity fraud complaint rates in the country. Delaware has the third-highest percent of residents inside the at-risk age brackets in the top 10. Just under 28% of Delaware residents are under 10 or over 65.

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The state also has a high number of average credit cards per resident. While having many open credit cards is not necessarily a bad thing on its own – having multiple credit cards may allow one to optimize rewards, for example – it could increase the chance of having your identity stolen.

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4. New Jersey

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New Jersey residents have two things which may make them likely targets for identity theft. First, they have a relatively wealthy population. Just under half of households in New Jersey make more than $74,999 and on average New Jersey residents each have 2.76 open credit cards. For those two metrics, New Jersey ranks second and first, respectively.

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5. Connecticut

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The Constitution State comes in fifth for states most vulnerable to identity theft. This state has the second-highest identity theft complaint rate. Connecticut residents are also more vulnerable because of the average number of credit cards the state’s residents have. Our data shows that, on average, Connecticut residents have 2.56 open credit cards. That’s fourth-highest rate in the nation. Plus, Connecticut residents are some of the wealthiest. Just over 47% of Connecticut households make over $74,999 per year.

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6. Rhode Island

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The smallest state in the union is home to some of the most vulnerable residents to identity theft. Residents of Rhode Island complain to the FTC about identity fraud at a rate of 765 complaints per 100,000 residents and about identity theft at a rate of 141 complaints per 100,000 residents. For both those metrics Rhode Island ranks in the top 10.

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Rhode Islanders have the sixth-highest average number of open credit cards in the country. If you think your identity was stolen through one of your credit cards and are not receiving much support from your financial institution, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) might be able to help. One of the most common financial complaints that it receives is about identity theft linked to credit cards.

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7. California

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Did you know that California has the highest debt-to-income ratio of any state in the country? A large chunk of that debt is held over multiple credit cards. Californians, on average, have 2.48 open credit cards, the ninth-most in the country. If you do have a lot of credit cards, make sure you are carefully checking all your monthly statements to look for any transactions which you did not make.

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8. Arizona

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One of the most popular states for retirees is also one of the most targeted by identity thieves. Data from the FTC shows that Arizona complained about identity fraud at the 14th-highest rate and about identity theft at the 16th-highest rate. Arizona residents are also right in the most vulnerable age range. Census data shows that 28.8% of Arizona residents are under the age of 10 or over the age of 65. Both demographics that identity thieves tend to target.

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Young children are vulnerable because they have no way of protecting themselves and if they do have their identity stolen, they often do not find out for many years. By then the damage is already done. One way to help protect your child’s identity is to set up a credit file for them and check it regularly.

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9. New Hampshire

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New Hampshire residents have some of the highest proportion of high income earning households in the country. Our data shows that 44.5% of New Hampshire households earn over $74,999. Residents of the Granite State also tend to have a lot of plastic. The average New Hampshire residents has 2.5 open credit cards.

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10. Texas

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Texas closes out our top 10. Texans complained to the FTC about identity theft and identity fraud at top 10 rates. Many households in Texas are relatively wealthy, which may make them bigger targets of identity thieves. Over 35% of households in Texas earn more than $74,999.

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Data and Methodology

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In order to find the states most vulnerable to identity theft, we looked at data on all 50 states. Specifically we looked at data on the following five factors:

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We ranked each state across each of the five metrics, giving equal weight to each metric. Then we found the average ranking for each state. Last, we used this average ranking to create our final score. The state with the best average ranking received a score of 100. While the state with the worst average ranking received a score of 0.

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Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com.

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Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Michael Krinke

"],"experts":null,"link":"/credit-cards/the-states-most-vulnerable-to-identity-theft","published":{"datetime":"2017-6-27","readable":"June 27, 2017"},"shareInfo":{"title":"The States Most Vulnerable to Identity Theft","origin":"/credit-cards/the-states-most-vulnerable-to-identity-theft"},"isNewsArticle":false},{"id":"cG9zdDo2MjI2Mw==","databaseId":62263,"postId":62263,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo1Mw==","databaseId":53,"userId":53,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e108c21a7f5933aad20a2fed390a87d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Amanda Dixon is a personal finance writer and editor with an expertise in taxes and banking. She studied journalism and sociology at the University of Georgia. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, AOL, Bankrate, The Huffington Post, Fox Business News, Mashable and CBS News. Born and raised in metro Atlanta, Amanda currently lives in Brooklyn.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Amanda","fullName":"Amanda Dixon","lastName":"Dixon","name":"Amanda Dixon","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":184,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"adixon","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":89,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$44","date":"2017-02-28T07:00:41","excerpt":"

Is a wine-soaked vacation on your bucket list? Ours too. If you’re on a budget or short on vacation days, the good news is you don’t have to head all the way to France or Italy to visit wine country. There are premier wine destinations right here in America. For the wine lovers who want […]

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This is the second annual study of America’s best wine destinations. Read the 2016 study here.

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Study Specifics

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SmartAsset found the best wine destinations in America by ranking 103 counties with at least five wineries. We looked at the same five factors that we included in the 2016 edition of our study, such as the total number of wineries in each county and the concentration of local wineries.

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Two of our factors come from the list of the 101 best American wineries in 2016 created by The Daily Meal. Specifically, we used their results to find the total number of top-ranking wineries in each county and the highest-ranking winery in each county. We also checked the average price of an Airbnb rental in each wine county. For more information on how we conducted our analysis, read the methodology and data section below.

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Key Findings

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Check out California. Most of the counties that rank in the top 10 are located in the Golden State. But since California is home to famous wineries in places like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, that probably comes as no surprise.
See what the Northeast has to offer. Much like we found in the 2016 edition of our analysis, a handful of New York counties ranked in the top 25. This time, Fairfield, a county in Connecticut, also made the list.

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1. Yamhill County, Oregon

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For the second consecutive year, Yamhill County ranks as the best wine destination in America. There are more than 80 local wineries in Yamhill County, or one for every 8.4 square miles. Seven of them rank as some of the best wineries in the country, according to The Daily Meal. Domaine Drouhin Oregon – which took the ninth spot on their list – ranks as the top destination in Yamhill County for wine lovers.

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2. King County, Washington

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King County ranks as the second-best wine county in the nation, up from fifth place in last year’s study. It has more than 60 wineries (or about one winery every 32 square miles) and over a dozen of them have opened in recent years.

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If you’ve never ventured out to King County, you may want to plan a trip to the Andrew Will Winery on Vashon Island. It produces roughly 4,500 cases of wine each year and is known for making red wines like sangiovese. Best of all, if you and your friends need to spend the night, you won’t need to shell out a ton of money. The average nightly rate for a full apartment in King County, Washington is around $146 on Airbnb. Want to spend smartly on your trip? Check out the best rewards credit cards (but remember to always use plastic responsibly).

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3. Napa County, California

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Napa Valley is one of the most popular destinations in the world for wine enthusiasts. The region has the highest concentration of wineries in our analysis, with more than 300 different wineries and one every 2.2 square miles. Chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon are the most widely grown grape varieties in the area.

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4. San Luis Obispo County, California

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San Luis Obispo County has more than 100 wineries. That means it has the third-highest number of wineries in our study. One place that every traveler might want to visit is the Tablas Creek Vineyard, which The Daily Meal ranked as the second-best winery in 2016 and the best American winery in 2015.

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Many of the wineries in SLO County are only 15 to 20 minutes away from each other, by car. Even if you only have a couple of days carved out for wine tours, you can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. An overnight stay in an Airbnb apartment may cost around $246, so you’ll need to make room for that expense in your vacation budget.

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5. Sonoma County, California

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Sonoma Valley is located just north of San Francisco. It has one of the highest concentrations of wineries in our study, with one every 6 square miles. Some of the most popular places to visit include Littorai Wines and Banshee, a tasting room that has only been around since 2009.

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6. Alameda County, California

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Visiting wineries in Napa and Sonoma Counties can be expensive. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative, you may want to check out Alameda County. Renting out a full apartment on Airbnb would only cost about $181 per night, on average.

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There are at least 40 wineries in Alameda County. If you’re not sure where to start, Broc Cellars could be a good place to check out. The urban winery only uses grapes that are grown in an organic or eco-friendly manner.

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7. Santa Barbara County, California

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Santa Barbara County is home to the Au Bon Climat Winery, which ranks third in The Daily Meal’s list of the best wineries in 2016. Ten other local wineries were recognized as great places to visit, including Sandhi Wines and Jaffurs Wine Cellars, which specializes in wines such as syrah, viognier and grenache blanc.

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In total, Santa Barbara County has more than 70 wineries. Various microclimates – among other factors – allow wine grape growers to produce dozens of varieties. If you can save enough to retire there, the area could be a great place to settle down long term.

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8. Walla Walla County, Washington

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Since its formation in 1854, Walla Walla County has had an economy centered around agriculture. Some of its farms have received recognition on a global scale, including the Snake River Vineyard, the world’s biggest Concord grape vineyard. Walla Walla County has more than 50 wineries, with one every 21.5 square miles.

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9. San Joaquin County, California

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Its long summer days make the San Joaquin Valley the perfect place to grow all sorts of crops, including wine grapes. In fact, it was once referred to as the “food basket of the world.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are at least 35 wineries in the area. The Bokisch Vineyards in Lodi, California is one of the top 100 wineries in the nation.

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10. Amador County, California

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In 2016, Amador County took the No. 31 spot on our list. This year, it managed to rank in the top 10. Census Bureau data reveals that at least a couple of wineries have opened in recent years. Now there is one winery every 33 square miles. Moreover, two of the county’s wineries have been identified as some of the best producers of wine in America. One is the Vino Noceto Winery, which is known for its sangiovese.

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Data & Methodology

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To find the best wine destinations in America, SmartAsset considered any U.S. county with at least five wineries. Ultimately, we ranked 103 counties across the following five metrics:

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After ranking each county according to each of our factors, we averaged our rankings, giving half-weight to the Airbnb nightly rate and full weight to the other four metrics. Then we gave each county a raw score between 0 and 100. The highest-ranking wine destination scored a 100.

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Update: Worried about budgeting for more than just a vacation to a winery? SmartAsset has you covered. So many people reached out to us looking for long-term financial planning help, we started our own matching service to help you find a financial advisor. The SmartAdvisor matching tool can help you find a person to work with to meet your needs. First you’ll answer a series of questions about your situation and your goals. Then the program will narrow down your options to three fiduciaries who suit your needs. You can then read their profiles to learn more about them, interview them on the phone or in person and choose who to work with in the future. This allows you to find a good fit while the program does much of the hard work for you.

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Nick Wallace completed the data analysis for this study.

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Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

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