Ask anyone on the street to name a state in the northeastern United States that makes great ice wines, and they will probably say New York. While I’m sure this is certainly an easy bet, then ask them to name another state from the same region.…
Jack Daniels whiskey may be the first alcoholic beverage most people think about for Tennessee, but it may surprise you to know that they actually have a thriving wine industry with over 40 wineries spread across the state as well an AVA (Mississippi Delta AVA). It…
Scuppernong was a name I had heard for the first time when I first started making my own wines and is considered the ancestor to many of the now more well known Muscadine varietals. It is one of the larger native muscadine varietals that grows easily…
My guess is that when Rhode Island is mentioned, the first thing that comes to people’s mind is how tiny it is. Then when the vineyards in Rhode Island get brought up, I’m also guessing that most people would respond with, “How? It is so small.…
When I first started looking for wines from Indiana, I fell into a familiar trap that I’ve often caught myself thinking. I grew up in southern Illinois, Indiana’s neighboring state to the west, and tend to assume that Indiana and Illinois are very much alike. So…
Wisconsin is another one of those northern states that must be strategic with the grapes they try to use for wine. With it being just a trip across Lake Superior away from Canada, it’s at the extreme northern end of the Midwest and neighbors one of…
Nowadays Florida is more well known for palm trees, nice beaches, Disney World, and Spring Break; but once upon a time over 500 years ago settlers were attempting to turn it into a major wine producing location. Like most states of the southeastern US, the native…
Texas’ wine industry has always puzzled me. I’m a bit surprised that it hasn’t become more popular by now. All of the right pieces are there, yet you won’t find any major retailers selling Texas wines (except locally within the state itself). Texas was first explored…
Pop question! Which state had the USA’s first AVA awarded? I’m sure based upon the state this article is about, you may have guessed Missouri. If so, you are correct. When people think of US wine history, most average wine drinkers will probably think of California…
Often times when someone mentions the defining moment that put the US on the world wine map, experts immediately mention the Judgement of Paris in 1976 where Napa took center stage. What many people didn’t realize (myself included) is that it may have actually been two…
