1798 was the year the first grapes were planted in Kentucky, starting earlier than most of its midwestern neighbors. But, like them, the wine industry that had developed over the next century was wiped out by Prohibition. Today the state has a growing wine industry and acreage in two AVAs, the Indiana Uplands, and Ohio River Valley.
Stonebrook Winery in northern Kentucky produces a wide variety of fruit, grape, and seasonal wines (like Pumpkin and Apple Hard Cider), serves food, and has an Airbnb for visitors who want to stay a while. Their vineyards include Cayuga White, Vidal Blanc, Concord, Cabernet Franc, Norton, and Foch. Owner Dennis Walter has also produced a series of short “Virtual Wine Tastings” on their website featuring the different wines in less than a minute each.
Great Grapes: Cayuga White
This popular variety, released by Cornell University in 1972, has reasonable cold-hardiness and a pleasant flavor profile similar to a Medium Dry Riesling, making it a versatile wine for sipping alone or as an accompaniment to fruit and mild cheeses.