Virginia #VAWineMonth
“Virginia is for Lovers” and for lovers of wine. The wines of this East Coast state have come a long way since Thomas Jefferson tried and failed with his vineyards.
We visited Monticello and walked the gardens. The small vineyards do much better today. In the state, over 300 wineries produce wine.
There are 10 different regions and 8 AVAs across the state, from the Heart of Appalachia region in the westernmost part of the state with just 3 wineries to Central Virginia with almost 80.
They are growing a range of varieties here, but the stars are Viognier, Cabernet France, and Petit Verdot.
Then there is Norton, the grape variety discovered by Dr. Daniel Norton in Richmond, Virginia. (A place not far from one of my apartments when I lived in that city.) He was developing wine grape strains on his suburban farm when he discovered this seedling in his experimental vineyard. While this grape became popular in Missouri, taken there by German immigrants, it is still grown and made in Virginia, notably at Chrysalis in Northern Virginia.
It’s not easy to grow here. Disease pressure in the humid climate makes farming without chemicals challenging (hence Thom’s troubles), and some vineyards have chosen to work with disease-resistant hybrid grapes to eliminate these chemicals. Sadly, I could only find 1 Organic Certified vineyard in the state. The East Coast climate is tough for that. Only a handful of organic-certified vineyards are on the United States East Coast.
They work hard to be green in other ways, such as solar arrays, biodiversity, and recycling practices. Some avoid insecticides, working with herbal tea sprays similar to biodynamic preparations. But fungicides? It’s near to impossible to get a harvest in without using those here.
If you want to taste at a variety of wineries, Charlottesville is a great central location to start. Keep in mind that wineries are out in the country, and the roads are winding, so designate a driver or charter a car service.
While you are there, take in some of the history with a visit to Monticello or a stop at Michie Tavern for a hearty lunch buffet of traditional fare in this historic tavern that first opened in 1784.
The Viognier and Cabernet Franc, coming out of this state, have found their own way and are delicious.
Visit https://www.virginiawine.org/ for more details.
Pennsylvania Wine Month #PAWineMonth
There are over 200 wineries in Pennsylvania! They are happy to tell you that when in Pennsylvania, you are never more than an hour’s drive from a winery. With 6 regions with wine trails, there are 5 AVAs in the state, some of which are shared by bordering states.
The most significant number of wineries can be found in the Southeast corner of the state near Philadelphia.
While they grow over 2 dozen varieties here, most often you will find Catawba (a native variety), Chambourcin (hybrid), Chardonnay, Concord (native), Merlot and Traminette (hybrid).
Visit https://pennsylvaniawine.com/ for more details!
Texas Wine Month #TXWine
I am not an expert on Texas Wine. I have tasted one bottle, brought back by a friend from Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country, and it was tasty!
I know several wine writers and other content creators who call Texas home, and I expect we will see lots from them this month, regaling you with the best Texas wines. I will use it as a learning experience.
In the meantime, here are a couple of stats on the wines of Texas.
While you often hear about the first vineyard in America planted in California, Texas claims the first vineyard in North America, planted around 1662 by Franciscan priests.
The state has 8 AVAs (American Viticulture Areas) and plenty of vineyards outside of those AVAs.
They break the state into 5 growing regions with over 5,000 acres of vineyards. The most significant concentration of vineyards is in the high plains and panhandle region.
The bottle I tasted was an Aglianico, but they are growing over 45 varieties around the state.
It will probably not surprise you that Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted grape variety. They do promote “Texas Bold.”
Texas ranks 5th on the nation’s list of largest wine-producing states!
70% of the wine produced in the state is red. Considering all the cattle in the state (the top-producing cattle state), it seems fitting. What grows together goes together and all that.
Visit https://www.txwines.org/ for more details!
If you want an in-depth peek at Texas Wine, visit https://thecorkscrewconcierge.com/category/us-tx/
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Robin Renken is a wine writer and Certified Specialist of Wine and WSET 3 Certified. She and her husband Michael travel to wine regions interviewing vineyard owners and winemakers and learning the stories behind the glass.
When not traveling they indulge in cooking and pairing wines with food at home in Las Vegas.
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