Author archives: Brian Kirby

A lot has happened in New Jersey since I last featured the state (read more here). Effective May 1, 2012, Governor Christie signed winery direct shipping into law, which allows direct shipping of wine to New Jersey residents. Although not without its shortcomings, direct shipping is a major milestone nonetheless, and…

There are moments when I think I could only drink one regions wine and be perfectly happy. The Finger Lakes happens to be one of those such regions. I credit Lenn Thompson and the New York Cork Report for the introduction and making my bank account a bit smaller. What…

The sister winery to Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards, San Sebastian Winery in St. Augustine, Florida, has been a popular destination in America’s oldest city since 1996. Located just a few blocks from historic downtown, the 80,000 case winery produces a number of different wines from hybrid and Muscadine grapes. The San…

With the rebranding complete, Donald Trump and team can begin their new endeavor in the wine business with Trump Winery. Situated in the heart of the Monticello Wine Trail in Charlottesville, Virginia, the previous Kluge Winery has undergone a major transformation since I last visited. Although the winery reopened in late…

Earlier this week, well-respected winemaker and owner, David Harris of BlackStock Vineyards, made the difficult decision to close their doors. A pioneer in the North Georgia wine industry, David established the vineyard in 1996. This marks the second time in a little over a year that a large winery has announced…

Another year has come and gone. The blog turned 4. TasteCamp paid a visit to my home state. And local wine is stronger than ever. A great year, by any measure. One with great memories, noteworthy wines and exceptional wine experiences. Before I kick off 2013, I thought I’d recap…

Renowned for their sparkling wines, Gruet Winery also produces a small number of still wines. Although limited in numbers, the winery produces an estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and a Chenin Blanc (just released for the first time). One of the few wineries from the other 46 states with distribution…