QOTD: I’ve had some really good wines from Traverse City, MI.

If we’re not allowed to count Canadian icewine, then Gruet sparkling wine from New Mexico. However, the list of wines I’ve ever tried in the US from outside the 3 west coast states is pretty miniscule.

Best wine I have had outside the big 4 is Canyon Wind’s 2004 port. Canyon Wind is located in grand valley Colorado.

by america, do you mean the united states of, or north america? because i’m gonna take it as the latter and go with a jackson triggs icewine

QOTD:

Rhode Island: Sakonnet Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc

Have had some good Cab Franc and Viognier from Virginia. Wish I could get them in Pa. where the constitution was written and then forgotten.

Throwin the M up. This time its for Michigan baby. great, moderately sweet whites. i dunno about pinot noir though. no way.

Hey, don’t forget that of the three, LaGrange did very well, nice color, good nose and 87 pts. It’s a shame that the other two wineries were picked as representative of the whole State. There are 140+ wineries in the Old Dominion and we here in the industry know who the superstars are, I wish we could have picked the other choices. The two varietals that do very well in VA are Viognier and Cab Franc, with alot of good examples to choose from. We all know the big 4, but guess who is number 5.

QOTD: well, that’s an easy QOTD, because outside of the ‘Big 4’ states, I’ve only tasted a couple of VA wines and a dozen MD wines. The best was MD Linganore Winery’s CHAMBOURCIN; their Cab Sauv & their ‘Baccioni’ were decent (if overpriced). They also had a decent blush (Fox Hunt?) but all seemed to be rather overpriced, except the for the first 3 I mentioned. http://www.linganore-wine.com/dryredwines.html

Gary…are you drunk from that Washington wine????

I want so bad to name a Texas wine that I thought was really good but just can’t with good conscience. I have had a decent tempranillo one time but don’t remember from where? There are also a few decent dessert wines. Of course in Texas, you can make a crappy wine with imported grape juice from a bag, add a little chocolate flavoring, call it a “chocolate” port and sell it out in no time at $30 a bottle. (Huh, wait a minute, maybe I should be doing that??)

The problem is that wine makers don’t make wines more suited for Texas because they don’t sell well. And they don’t sell well because people only know what is popular from the big 4.
I don’t see Texas making better wine until someone “changes the wine world” and people realize (whether they like it or not) that there is more to wine than just Cab and Chard.

QOTD – I don’t remember sampling U.S. wines from states outside “the big four” with the exception of some reds from Sawtooth Winery in Idaho.

QOTD: . . .As soon as I get back to SF, it’s in the mail.

QOTD: I’ve only had one: a hybrid clone weird wine from Michigan…not good.

QOTD: Leelanau Cellars Winter White

An ice-wine from Alaska called “frozen water”. Maybe a little bit diluted but what can you expect from Alaska?

A Cabernet from Anderson Valley Vineyards in New Mexico. The owner was the late balloonist Maxie Anderson. The label included a view of his balloon over the Rio Grande.

GV- I cant turn off those stupid comments that everyone writes while your show is going on. QOTD: Sakonnet Vidal Blanc. Dude, its money and from Rhode Island.

Hey, the Winery at LaGrange Fletcher’s Chardonnay was a 2006 not 2003. They didn’t open until Labor Day 2005. Come on down to ol’ Virginia and we’ll hook you up with some wines that will score 90 + and rival anything in the big 4 or europe.

It’s a shame the VA wines you got to try weren’t great. You need to try Virginia Viogniers, Gary. We’re starting to get known for those a little bit.

QOTD: Best non-big four? Chateau Morrisette 2001 Cabernet Franc, Meadows of Dan, VA. That was a great year. The 2005 is less old-world, more new world and fruity, but still good. I also really enjoy their Chambourcin and Viognier, if I want to spend a*little* money. If not, their low-end stuff, Our Dog Blue and Black Dog, are plenty good for everyday.

This is so sad….I wish that you had tried Linden Chardonnay. Linden is Virginia’s gem in the wine world. The wine maker, Jim Law is genius. His Chardonnay is very Burgundian in style. I’m sure your response would’ve been much different.

QOTD: Gabrielle Rausse Geddes Mountain Viognier- VA

As a Virginian, I am always disappointed with Virginia wines. Too little flavor too high a price. My favorites outside of the big 4 are from Lllano Estacado from Lubbock. Their Viviano Tuscan and their reserve Cabernet Sauvignon are outstanding wines to my taste.

Hands down the Robusto from Creedside Cellars, Evergreen Colorado.

QOTD. Tough! Probably that sparkling wine from New Mexico. Big surprise.