West Virginia is one of the smallest wine states but has three AVA’s: Kanawha River Valley, Ohio River Valley, and Shenandoah Valley, with the latter two shared with neighboring states. The climate can be challenging, but French-America varieties generally do well. Great Grapes: Baco Noir Created in France in response to the phylloxera epidemic, Baco … Read more
DC Update Congress is now gone for the year, and maintained its record of having the least productive legislative session in 92 years. It also teed up next year as even worse, with new budget deadlines in late January and early February, plus impeachment hearings on President Biden and a possible contempt citation of his … Read more
Washington State is like a mini-California and a maxi-New York. It is by far the second largest grape and wine producing state, though its 836 wineries are only about a fifth of California’s 4,795—but nearly twice New York’s 470. And the growth has been explosive: When I came to the industry 41 years ago, New … Read more
Chag Sameach! L’chayim! Last night’s onset of Hanukkah reminds us that it’s the season for all types of celebrations across countries and cultures, and wine is part of that. If music is the universal language, wine is the global toast. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to clink glasses, and while “Cheers” always sounds good, many … Read more
The Commonwealth of Virginia is full of history—American and wine—where in 1619 the House of Burgesses created “Acte 12” requiring colonists to plant vineyards. What a civilized law! Virginia is also home to our nation’s oldest grape, Norton, which is still grown and transformed into big blockbuster reds. Then there was Thomas Jefferson, whose love … Read more