North Carolina began growing grapes in the 17th century, was first to cultivate Scuppernong, and today ranks tenth in grape and wine production in the U.S. Like all state wine industries, North Carolina’s was wiped out by Prohibition and took time to bounce back, but today is vibrant and growing. While Scuppernong remains the single … Read more

Even when Congress is on its long, annual, August/September recess, they can manage to spoil the summer with threats of a government shutdown on October 1 unless a small minority of House members get their way. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have both called for a “continuing resolution” … Read more

As a proud native New Yorker (Rochester-born, Finger Lakes for the past 40+ years) and someone who created and ran the New York Wine & Grape Foundation for 30+ years, it’s hard to be brief when describing the New York wine industry’s origins and evolution, but I’ll do my best with a series of brief factoids. New … Read more

Disaster Relief Request Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have formally requested that the US Department of Agriculture provide quick approval of disaster relief funds for New York farmers under a Federal Agricultural Disaster Declaration. The measure was in response to a severe cold snap across New York State on May 17 … Read more

New Mexico was one of earliest places in the country to grow grapes, which were planted by Franciscan priests in 1629 in what is now the Middle Rio Grande Valley AVA. The state’s two other AVAs are the Mesilla Valley and Mimbres Valley. In the 1880’s census, New Mexico had twice the grape acreage of … Read more