The Volunteer State first had grapes and wine in the 1800’s, but as elsewhere the industry was wiped out by Prohibition. Today the wineries are spread across the state, with one statewide Wine Trail having Eastern, Middle, and Western sections for wine lovers to visit. That trail was formed just a year ago, and this … Read more

Label Approvals: Submit Now Yes, we’ve warned of a potential government shutdown before and it didn’t happen, but this time it’s far more likely due to the ongoing chaos in the House. This would occur on November 17, meaning TTB would close, and label approval turnarounds would go from a couple days to weeks or … Read more

South Dakota Wine Country South Dakota had its first vineyard in the 1800’s, but it wasn’t until the 1990’s that today’s wine industry began to take root. The state’s northern latitude in the middle of the country brings temperature extremes of very hot summers and very cold winters that are not particularly conducive to growing … Read more

Lifestyle, Diet, Wine and Health As a welcome break from reporting on the continuing chaos in Washington (though happily I do so from the Finger Lakes wine region), I am in Toledo, Spain attending a conference featuring 30 of the leading scientists from around the world—Europe, North America, South Africa, and Australia. As the event’s … Read more

Due to its hot and humid climate, South Carolina presents a challenging environment for growing many types of grapes, but is very hospitable to Muscadine varieties—as well as people who enjoy a good time just relaxin’. Deep Water Vineyard, the Charleston area’s only winery located on Wadmalaw Island, provides a good example of what can … Read more