The Other 46

When it comes to Virginia wine, the two varieties most mentioned are Viognier (the state’s official wine grape variety) and Cabernet Franc.  Both are deserving of the discussion.  And just for the record, I’m a fan of both.  But for those new to Virginia wine, you would be remiss if you overlook Merlot, a variety [...]

I was never swayed by the ”Sideways Effect” on Merlot, which now seems a distant memory. I’ve continued to enjoy Merlot regularly, albeit with a twist.  I now prefer local Merlots over any others.  From Long Island, New York to Dahlonega, Georgia, I’ll pour a local Merlot over Napa Valley any day.  In fact, I need to host [...]

‘Tis the season for great wine and no free time.  With Christmas fast approaching and not to mention the dreaded “year end” in the business world, free time is a commodity these days.  That said I’ve managed to escape to North Georgia for some winery visits and have had the opportunity to taste some great [...]

At an elevation of 951 feet, Bluemont Vineyard offers visitors a spectacular, panoramic view that stretches from Loudoun County, Virginia to Washington DC.  I finally had the opportunity to take in the views firsthand while visiting during the DrinkLocalWine.com conference in April.  After making my way up the long and winding driveway, I was excited [...]

The Idaho wine industry has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, increasing from 11 wineries in 2002 to just over 40 in 2010.  With the recent designation of the Snake River Valley AVA, Idaho’s wine industry is well-positioned for continued success and growth.  Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to experience an [...]

A few weeks prior to the DrinkLocalWine.com conference, a few of us tossed around the idea of a Twitter Tweet-Up in Virginia.  Jennifer Breaux Blosser, Director of Sales and Hospitality at Breaux Vineyards, jumped on board and rolled out the red carpet for our small group this past Saturday.  Anyone who follows my blog, knows [...]

The DrinkLocalWine.com conference festivities kicked off with an informal gathering of wine writers at Lansdowne Resort to enjoy a tasting of wines from the other 47 states.  Hosted by Dezel Quillen at On The Potomac, we each brought an assortment of wines from New York, Texas, Colorado, Maryland, Hawaii, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia, the [...]