Winemaking Spreads Across America
Posted by Matthew Mann on January 11th, 2008Alright. I confess. I have for my entire adult life been a California wine elitist. For years, I simply could not accept the idea that wine produced in any other state could come within a mile of a California wine in quality. Even when I moved to Oregon for law school I would continually look down my nose at the wineries of the Willamette Valley as inferior to the lovely wines from California with which I was familiar. Fortunately for me, recently I have overcome this jaundiced view of geographical snobbery. A friend gave me a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir that blew me out of the water. Stylistically so unique to its region, different than anything from the Russian River, yet exceptional in its own way. Then, my mom gave me a bottle of Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Delicious, unique and eye-opening. As I removed my blinders, I saw that more and more, excellent wine was being produced in many states. I had previously thought it fool-hardy to put the time and resources in a capital intensive business such as grapes and winemaking in an state without a proven history of winemaking success.
I must now admit I was wrong. Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Idaho, Michigan, New York and many other states are now developing wine industries successfully producing top-notch juice. These visionary winemakers can truly be called pioneers because they went against convention and pursued their dreams. They have done so wisely by carefully selecting grape varieties that will thrive in their particular meso-climates.Â
Finally, these burgeoning wine regions are beginning to receive recognition and awareness by the wine drinking public. One key element of this newly found recognition is the increase in the number of states permitting direct shipment of wines to consumers. As more states realize the benefit of implementing permit systems that allow their residents to buy wine from other states, more consumers are able to access wine from small producers who lack the nationwide distribution systems dominated by the mass producers. Such individual sales are critical to economic viability of these small wineries and states are beginning to realize the value they give back in fostering tourism and the local economies. Don’t make the mistake I made. Go online, look around, and expand your wine universe. As more wines become available through direct shipment, you will find great wines and new discoveries in every corner of the United States.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Yes wine is being produced in many places and I believe the sooner we make shipping uniform between states the better it will be for the consumer and the industry. The revenue stream would be identical for all states and the winery reporting the same too, then wineries would be freed of a large amount of paperwork and could free up funds for wine not bureaucracy!
January 14th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I couldn’t agree more. Fifty states with fifty different statutory schemes is what really intimidates wineries from direct shipping. If a uniform system were developed most wineries wouldn’t have a problem complying with the existing paperwork. Looking for the law in each state becomes more work than most people want to take on. If they just knew what they needed to do most of the issues would go away and everyone would prosper: the wineries, the consumer, and even the states as they realize the increased revenue they would receive in taxes.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I’m glad you posted this. My favorite domestic region has to be Sonoma. Last Thanksgiving, I was on a mission. I grew up near the New York, Vermont border. I was used to seeing Taylor Wine and Great Western jug wines (both from New York). I wanted to see if the area has matured since I moved out of the region 20 years prior. My mom lives near Albany, New York. Based on her recommendation, we visited a large wine store and I inquired about New York Wines. I walked out with three very nice bottles that proved to be interesting and good values.
From a consumer perspective, I believe that market share should be earned by providing good products and services. Trying to do it with artificial barriers such as state lines is a waste of taxpayer revenues.
Best Regards
Steve
May 6th, 2008 at 9:46 am
You should check out Colorado reislings and Gertwurztraminer’s, especially those produced by Olathe Wineries/Cottonwood Cellars or Holy Cross Abbey (they also make a good Cab Franc). Most wine production in Colorado occurs in the Grand Valley region on the West Slope, but there is a river canon on the southest plains, the Purgatorie, that migh tbe an incredible place for vineyards.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Thanks Robert, I’ll check it out. I do not know as much about Colorado winemaking as I should. Are these wines produced on the sweeter end of the spectrum or can you find producers making a dry or off-dry version? Generally I prefer an off-dry. The tinge of RS is just enough to bring out the fruit of these wines without making them too cloying and nectary.