Category Archives: the United States

Wine regions of the United States: New York State

New York has one of the most comprehensive wine industries in the United States. New York’s expansive wine-making industry is a point of pride for the Empire State, and the state ranks as the third-largest producer of wine in the U.S. New York has become well known for white wines like Riesling and Chardonnay, as well as reds like Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. At one time, New York was not just a source of wine but also a major contributor to America’s brewing game: post-Prohibition, New York City produced more beer than any city except Milwaukee. While it… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Virginia

Virginia is the fifth largest wine producer in the United States. Virginia is the fifth largest wine producer in the United States. It also has a rich history of viticulture, dating back to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate and beyond. Today, Virginia boasts more than 230 wineries and is home to a variety of wine styles, including Albariño, Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Meritage blends. Virginia wines can be found throughout the country and enjoyed at top restaurants such as Blue Duck Tavern in Washington DC. Virginia’s vineyards are a half-century older than those in California. Did you know that Virginia is… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Washington State

Washington State is the second largest wine producing region in the United States. You may be surprised to learn that Washington State is the second largest wine producing region in the United States. California is, of course, #1; Oregon comes in at #3, New York at #4 and Texas at #5. Other states produce wine as well! Because the state has been producing wine for over 125 years, Washington State’s wineries have a wealth of experience and an unparalleled knowledge of the area’s grape-growing regions. Wine grapes are grown throughout 13 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Pennsylvania

Overview America is a land of wine, and Pennsylvania is often considered the epicenter of the industry. Philadelphia has been called “the nation’s second-most-important city,” primarily based on its flagship industry. The state has more than 200 wineries and more than 8,000 acres dedicated to wine-growing (and even more in the federally protected Allegheny National Forest). The oldest registered winery in America can be found in the state capital of Harrisburg, according to Penn State. American Viticulture and American Winemaking Associations put Pennsylvania as number one when it comes to total production volume of wine—it produces almost 20 percent of… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Missouri

Missouri is one of the United States’s lesser-known wine regions Missouri is one of the United States’s lesser-known wine regions, but it has a long history of winemaking. French settlers were making wine here as early as the 1790s. One of its most famous wines is Norton, an obscure grape variety that many in the wine business pushed for years to have recognized as America’s first grape and wine. While native grapes certainly have a place in American viticulture, there are plenty of other varieties grown in Missouri today. Catawba is another native variety that grows well in Missouri. It’s… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Texas

Overview of the Texas wine region Texas is a large state with a wide variety of climates and soil types. As such, the exact number of Texas wineries varies depending on who you ask and what their criteria for counting vineyards is. According to some sources, Texas has over 200 wineries, but it’s important to note that many of these are “boutique” wineries that do not have land or equipment of their own—they make wine using grapes grown at other vineyards. The Texas Department of Agriculture claims that there are over 60 commercial vineyards in the state, however. The main… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Michigan

Overview You might not immediately think of Michigan when you think of wine, but the Great Lake State lives up to its name in this regard. It is the 11th largest state by area in the country and is known for its four distinct seasons (with some folks engaging in a friendly debate as to which one is their favorite). It’s divided into two peninsulas by Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, with Lansing being its capital city. The state has a long history with wine dating back to the 1800s where it was produced commercially, though prohibition forced many winemakers… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Oregon

Oregon is widely recognized as one of the world’s premier Pinot Noir–producing regions. It’s a fitting moniker for the state that produces 90% of all Pinot Noir in the United States. We’ll give you a full rundown on what makes Oregon Pinot Noir so special, but let’s start with the basics. Pinot Noir is one of the most popular red wine grape varieties all over the world. It is a difficult grape to grow and has many different clones with varying degrees of quality, so it can be grown successfully in a number of places around the globe. While California… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Ohio

The Ohio wine industry is more than 175 years old Ohio is the birthplace of wine in the United States, and it’s home to more than 25,000 acres of vineyards. Ohio is a cradle of American viticulture that has led the nation in wine production for approximately 200 years. Ohio produces roughly $800 million worth of wine each year and also boasts one-third of all American wineries. The state’s long history with viticulture has earned it the nickname “Vineyard State.” The Catawba grape, a hardy hybrid that ripens early, was the first commercial wine-making grape grown in Ohio; native Isabella… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: California

Geography and climate California is the largest state in the United States, located on the west coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east and Mexico to the south. It’s divided into two distinct regions by a mountain range running through its centre: northern California, which experiences cooler temperatures than southern California. The geography of this massive state is incredibly varied, including deserts, river valleys, forests and coastal plains. The climate of California varies from Mediterranean along its Pacific coastlines to subarctic in parts of its northernmost counties. The temperatures don’t fluctuate very much year-round… Read more