The Other 46 » Industry

Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia Wine

Brian Kirby — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:17:40 +0000

West Virginia wine? I asked the same question and was surprised to learn there are 18 active farm wineries spread throughout the state. There are 3 designated American Viticultural Areas including the multi-state Ohio River Valley, Kanawha River Valley (part of the much larger Ohio River Valley) and the Shenandoah Valley AVA (which includes a small portion in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia). Wineries grow and produce a wide variety of grapes including French-American hybrids (Vidal Blanc, Seyval and Chambourcin), Native American varieties including Concord, Niagara and Delaware and even the occasional European variety. Fruit wines are also popular and include apple, peach, blueberry, blackberry and strawberry.

Mostly overlooked by neighboring states such as Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and even Ohio, West Virginia offers visitors a unique tasting experience. Most wines are only sold in tasting rooms, but several wineries participate in festivals throughout the year where visitors can taste and purchase wine. And for the true wine adventurer, why not jump on the trail (but make sure you call ahead).

This week we enjoy a taste of West Virginia from Potomac Highlands Winery and Watts Roost Vineyard. Cheers!

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The Georgia Wine Industry, Finding Their Voice

Brian Kirby — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:24:55 +0000

Prior to arriving to North Georgia, a wine lovers’ rendezvous just north of Atlanta, I spent a little time perusing the web in anticipation of my trip to wine country. Much to my surprise and dissatisfaction, there is no single site that covers the industry as a whole. Instead, visitors are left to choose between 3 poorly designed websites that attempt to represent the Georgia Wine Industry. The Georgia Wine Council, The Winegrowers Association of Georgia and finally Georgia Wine Country (in my opinion, the best of the 3) do their best impression of an all encompassing website for tourists and visitors alike. With little help from the state, wineries are left to fend for themselves and/or band together via trade associations to help spread the word.

Now numbering in the high 30s, the growth of the wine industry is nothing short of astounding. From the fruit and Muscadine wine grapes grown and produced in the south to the American, European and Hybrid grapes in the north, Georgia is producing a variety of wines to satisfy every palate and budget.

Three Sisters Vineyards and Winery owner and winemaker, Doug Paul, recently published a great piece on the Georgia Wine Industry, State of The Grape – A Year End Review of 2010 Wine Production in Georgia. Doug Paul, who I had the pleasure of meeting on my visit and the focus of an upcoming post, provides a recap of 2010 and a recommendation that sums up my thoughts exactly:

It is my thought and the thought of many of my colleagues that the State of Georgia and the citizens would benefit from the formation of a state managed “Georgia Wine Commission” charged with the task of promotion, marketing and educational research. To be successful and fair to all concerned, a Georgia Wine Commission must be completely nonpartisan, inclusive and not controlled by private business or any personality in the wine business. It should be state funded through a portion of all alcohol excise taxes collected on behalf of retailers, wholesalers and farm wineries. In Georgia, these taxes are currently collected and paid directly to the Georgia Department of Revenue. All excise taxes collected on alcohol in the state are placed in the “general fund.” As with successful neighboring states with wine regions, an annual budget should be established by the General Assembly to support an impartial Executive Director to manage promotion, marketing and oversee research grants.

Outside of the single, nonpartisan organization, I believe the state needs more vintage consistency and a grape variety the state can hang its hat on. Until the state realizes its own potential, I’m afraid the industry will continue to be saddled in silos trying to find their voice…

BlackStock Vineyards and Winery located in Dahlonega, Georgia

Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula

Brian Kirby — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:33:28 +0000

Michigan is home to more than 70 wineries and 4 federally approved viticultural areas (AVAs). In the northwest part of the state lie the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. In the southwest lie the Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville AVAs. Experiencing explosive growth over the past 10 years, wine production has increased from 365,000 gallons in 1999 to 1,169,000 gallons in 2009. Michigan grows a variety of wine grapes, especially cool-climate varieties like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc.

The majority of wine grapes are grown within 25 miles of Lake Michigan where the lake-effect provides a favorable microclimate for grapes. The northern wine regions have a 145-day growing season and a 160-day season for the southern regions. With more than 2,000 acres devoted to grape vines, the majority of wine production is from Michigan-grown grapes (a statistic I love to see).

This week we’ll sample award-winning wines from the 7 distinct wineries that comprise the Old Mission Peninsula appellation, 2 Lads, Black Star Farms, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Brys Estate, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, and Peninsula Cellars. Lying on the 45th parallel like Bordeaux, Milan and other wine-producing regions, the Peninsula stretches north 18 miles into Grand Traverse Bay. Be sure to check back and jump on the Traverse City Wine Trail for a taste of Michigan. Cheers!

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Bourbon, Derby, and Wine!

Brian Kirby — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:30:02 +0000

Truth be told, wine is not one of the first things that come to mind when someone mentions Kentucky. Renowned for Bourbon and horses, grapes and wine were an important part of the state’s history from the start. America’s commercial wine industry was born in Kentucky in 1798 when the Marquis de Lafayette’s winemaker, Jean-Jacques Dufour, set out into the new nation to find suitable land for growing grapes. Dufour formed the Kentucky Vineyard Society and bought 600 acres on the Kentucky River, in what’s now Jessamine County. Dufour planted what he called the “First Vineyard” and, in 1803, his first vintage went to an appreciative Thomas Jefferson.

Fast forward 200 plus years, Kentucky is once again reclaiming its proud heritage. In just 5 years, the number of Kentucky wineries have grown from 15 to more than 50, with grapevine acreage experiencing similar growth. Kentucky’s geography, climate and soil make it suitable for growing a wide variety of grapes, although French-American hybrids lead the way, especially the popular Chambourcin and Vidal Blanc.

This week TheOther46.com will taste some of Kentucky’s best and hopefully persuade you to pour a Kentucky wine for this years Derby. Cheers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U36dqS0UQE4

* The above video is from the video web series, “Vintage Kentucky Tastings” produced by KentuckyWine.com.

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Free The Grapes Year End Summary

Brian Kirby — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:44:07 +0000

Before I jump back into reviews, I thought I would provide the year end summary received from Free The Grapes. Although a bit delayed, I feel it’s important to share the great progress the organization continues to make in expanding consumer choice.

Tennessee created a direct shipping permit.

Kansas passed a direct shipping statute.

Maine passed a direct shipping statute.

Legislators in Florida, the third largest wine-consuming state, denied the fourth consecutive attempt to impose a capacity cap on shipments. Floridians, get ready to defend shipping in 2010!

Proposed legislation in Maryland did better than anyone expected, and momentum continues to build toward 2010 with a rising base of active, local consumers and interested media. Read the Baltimore Sun’s news piece (11/27/09) at http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-md.wine27nov27,0,5339815.story and their editorial (9/7/09) at http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-09-07/news/0909060036_1_shipment-of-wine-direct-shipment-wine-industry. Marylanders, follow the events of the Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws at http://www.mbbwl.org/

Proposed legislation in New Jersey generated tremendous consumer interest and press coverage.

Industry representatives continued to work with Pennsylvania authorities, demonstrating the many consumer benefits of direct shipping.

The Massachusetts lawsuit challenging the capacity cap was argued before the 1st Circuit US Court of Appeals on November 2. A ruling is expected next Spring.

Arizona’s capacity cap and mandatory trip to winery provision were argued before the 9th Circuit in September.

The Facebook page for Free the Grapes! grew from a few hundred to nearly 5,000 fans.

50% off shipping of 6 or more bottles of wine online with coupon code “wine46″.

The Keystone State

Brian Kirby — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:31:25 +0000

Surrounded by a few of my favorite states (yes I admit, I love New York wine), the Keystone state is quickly making some noise of its own. Home to more than 100 wineries throughout the state, Pennsylvania’s wine industry is growing in both production and reputation. A moderate climate combined with rolling terrain provide ideal growing conditions for an assortment of varieties. With 5 AVAs, 7 wine regions, and 11 wine trails, it’s safe to say Pennsylvania has a wine adventure for everyone!

A few wine facts courtesy of the Pennsylvania Winery Association:

With approximately 14,000 acres of grapes, Pennsylvania ranks 4th nationally in the amount of grapes grown (including juice grapes). The state also ranks 7th in the production of wine.
Pennsylvania is home to the two highest elevation vineyards east of the Rockies.
In just under thirty years, Pennsylvania wineries have increased from 27 to 123. In that same time period, gallons of wine produced has increased from 254,724 to 971,191.

Impressive growth to say the least. This weekend I feature 2 award-winning Pennsylvania wineries, Twin Brook and Chaddsford. We’ll sample a pair of delicious Pinot Grigio wines and a Reserve Chardonnay that easily rivals it more expensive California competition. Cheers!

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Caution, High Altitude Ahead

Brian Kirby — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:10:16 +0000

With elevations ranging from 4000 to 7000 feet above sea level, Colorado’s vineyards are among the highest in the world. The continental climate (warm days + cool nights + low humidity) creates ideal conditions for the cultivation of grapes required to produce premium wines. Home to 2 designated American Viticultural Areas, Grand Valley and West Elks, Colorado has a thriving wine industry with more than 60 wineries throughout the state.

The Grand Valley AVA, the largest and oldest AVA in Colorado, is the birthplace of Colorado’s resurgent wine industry and home to more than a dozen wineries. Located just west of Grand Junction, the AVA includes some of the highest vineyards in North America, averaging 4700 square feet. Grapes receive almost 300 days of intense sun, combined with warm, dry days and cool nights, resulting in intense flavors and balanced wines.

The highest altitude vineyards in the northern hemisphere exist in the West Elks AVA. Created in 2001, the AVA includes 10 wineries stretched across a 75-acre area just east of Paonia to the west of Hotchkiss. Similar to the Alsace region in France, the West Elks AVA is producing quality Gewürztraminer and Rieslings, followed by Pinot Noir.

This week I will highlight some of Colorado’s best wineries including Canyon Wind Cellars, Garfield Estates Vineyard and Winery, and Allis Ranch Winery. I invite you along to see why the wine industry is becoming serious business in Colorado. Cheers!

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Maryland’s Growing Wine Industry

Brian Kirby — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:24:13 +0000

Growing at a staggering 25 percent a year, Maryland’s wine industry is no longer the best kept secret on the East Coast. With 38 licensed wineries on the map, encompassing 5 trails, 4 distinct growing regions, and 3 AVAs, Maryland offers visitors a wine for every palate and makes for the perfect weekend getaway.

I recently visited Maryland and jumped on the Frederick Wine Trail to visit 2 award-winning wineries, Elk Run Vineyards and the 2-time Governor’s Cup winning winery, Black Ankle Vineyards. Situated in the heart of the Piedmont region, the Frederick Wine Trail is made up of 6 wineries and their combined 120 acres of vineyards. A short drive from Washington DC, the trail offers everything from quaint antique shops to picturesque landscapes dotted with historic homes and battlefields. A perfect day trip.

Stay tuned this week for a recap of my visit along with a review of the 2009 Governor’s Cup Best in Show Crumbling Rock and Best in Class Cold Friday Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Cheers!

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2009 Regional Wine Week

Brian Kirby — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:36:52 +0000

2009 Regional Wine Week

Today marks day 1 of Regional Wine Week, an annual event started by Dave McIntyre and Jeff Siegel over at DrinkLocalWine.com in 2008. Wine writers and bloggers across the US will be sharing their stories about “wine from around here” -– wherever “here” might be. During the week, DrinkLocalWines.com will act as a portal to allow interested readers to find bloggers who are writing about local wine.

Considering I write about local wine everyday, I decided my focus this week will be on a state I haven’t explored on TheOther46.com, Maryland. I recently had the opportunity to visit and sample some great wines and experience an exciting, growing industry. Be sure to check back this week for my recap and also bookmark DrinkLocalWines.com to stay up-to-date on all of the action!

Remember, think globally, drink locally. Cheers!

The 2009 Maryland Governor’s Cup

Brian Kirby — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:08:04 +0000

The new kid on the block, Black Ankle Vineyards, has won their second Governor’s Cup in as many years. The soon-to-be-released 2007 Crumbling Rock follows its predecessor, the 2006 Crumbling Rock, in winning Maryland’s top prize. The Crumbling Rock is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Situated on the Frederick Wine Trail, Black Ankle Vineyards is located in Mt. Airy, Maryland and offers dry, European-style wines that are hand-crafted from estate-grown grapes. Not to be outdone, their 2008 Bedlam, was awarded best white blend. A tremendous feat for a winery that opened their doors in 2008. Congratulations!

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