I really like the wines of north west Michigan. Not the U.P., but the Traverse City, Leelanau Peninsula area. I think it is an up and coming area for wine, and I think the wine drinking public will recognize some really good wines from this area soon.

QOTD: Virginia — Loudoun County — chardonnay.

I live in Austin, TX, and work at a local restaurant. We offer both of the Texas Hills wines you tasted today. I’ve never had the opportunity to taste them, but I like to sneak a little sniffy-sniff when pouring a glass for someone else. The TX Hills Sangiovese seems to me to have a truly unmerciful nose. One glass on a table can dominate the dining room. And not in a pleasant way. It always reminds me of the cheapo wines I started out on, and got sick on, back in the day… 😉

QOTD: Been racking my brain trying to remember a wine I’ve enjoyed, or even tried, from the “other” United States. Nothing comes to mind.

PS: Tried my first Tempranillo today, thanks to you, Gary! I’m finding this one to be a little thin and boring, but certainly distinctive from other varietals under my belt so far. Tried a Malbec last week and really enjoyed it. Thanks again, Gary. You’re the best.

Gary: Don’t forget the JETS pan when you score an 85! I just put a reminder in my Outlook calender to visit Texas in 25 years. Hope it works.

QOTD: I think I had some Rhode Island Red, Sakonnet Cab Franc a little while back. Not too mind blowing at all.

I love it! Mess with Texas! I don’t think I can ever try a wine from Texas until the red wine stain on the metaphorical white shirt of our country that is the Bush years fades from memory. Well, that isn’t fair, so I guess I ought to try some. Texas isn’t all Bushies.

QOTD: I really liked the Barboursville Octagon wine, from near Charlottesville, VA, I think it was a 2004. It was delicious. They don’t make it every year, so I could be wrong about the vintage. It is pretty costly, and wines equal or better than this can be found from other states we aren’t allowed to mention for way less money, but I assume that it is volume / business / marketing thing. Anyways, all their wines are pretty good. They even make a Nebbiolo, which was tough going down, but I applaud the effort!

Super Talbot from Little Ashby Vineyards in Easton, Maryland. Fabulous wine and the owner, Warren Rich was just a great guy.

Other Wineries to look for in Virginia are Kluge, Cooper, Grayhaven and Horton. These wineries are experimenting with Rhone, South African and Italian varietals and doing a pretty good job. Even some of the sweet stuff is interesting.

For anyone interested in the Texas wine industry:

http://www.gotexanwine.org/

Gary:

After reading most of the responses to your QOTD I’ve come to realize how little the vayniac nation really knows about american/french-american hybrid grape varietals and wines in this country.

We are doing some interesting things here in Iowa. Growing such varietals as Marechal Foch, St. Croix, Norton, DeChaunac, Vignoles, St. Pepin, La Crosse, Seyval Blanc, Edelweiss, Swenson Red and so many more. We’ve even got a vineyard 75 miles northeast of Omaha, NE growing Cab. Franc.

I propose a show based on the Midwest (especially focusing on the Iowa/Nebraska region). Definitely something different than most people have ever experienced. Even you Gary!!!! So, I’m calling you out. Try some Iowa wines!!!

I live in Texas, would love to support the state, but I don’t really like any of their wines. The ones I do like (Flat Creek Super Texan for one) are not worth the price they are charging. I can buy wine I really, really like for that price.
Most of the Texas wines are too sweet, wonder why that is? The heat?

QOTD -> Wow, kind of eye-opening. I have never had anything OTHER than WA, OR, CA, or NY! Had some cheap stuff from Niagara once that I didn’t care for at all, but I guess that is in Canada anyway. Kind of hard…I can recall episodes of the Thunder Show that covered wines from the South, now Texas, Virginia, etc…so since I live in WA, and spend my time tryign different ones here and Europe…just haven’t found one fro mthe other states that seems to be REALLY worth going out to find.

QOTD> I am a longtime Lurker, and I must admit that it feels pretty good to step out of the shadows. I’m trying to keep my diet as local as possible, and watching my food miles. That being said, I live in Virginia, and this time of year I’m really enjoying the 2007 Viognier from Veritas Vineyards, and the Sparkling Viognier from Horton Vineyards.

Before the Civil War the wine making capital
of this country was Ohio.
Some wonderful wines being made here
by many different wineries.
Check out Kinkead Ridge in particular.

Hey Gary, I was initially stumped by the QOTD, but remembered that one of my very favorite wines is Gruet Blanc de Noirs (and the others in the Gruet lineup) from Albuquerque NM. I’ve been wanting to try some still wines from the region, figuring they must be fairly strong if they are producing such great sparklers. The wines I’ve had from MI and TX have generally been thin and awkward as well, although i’ve heard on trips back that they are stepping up their game. Anyone have suggestions for trying out MI?

I’ll second Harry H:

QOTD: Gruet sparkling wines from New Mexico!

QOTD> You must know about Llano wineries in the panhandle of Texas, and it would be a credit to WLTV to do a show on that winery. The others mentioned, Falls Creek and Messina Hof are good-but the blushes tend to be sugary. However, a brand-new baby winery in Marfa, Texas shows promise. It’s Luz de Estrella and they have a knock-out Cabernet (@ 35 bones). While visiting the winery last spring, I tasted this very special cab, and it was the first time I tasted one of “those” wines you talk about being complex. If you haven’t tried this one–you should–I don’t think you’d be disappointed.

The main thing the Texas wine industry has going for it is the unwaivering dedication to the love of everything Texas. (Yes, it’s OK to roll your eyes now). It takes many years of failure, of getting it wrong before getting it right. But there is a degree of pride and initiative that will ultimately guide TX winegrowers and winemakers to get it right more often than not. Right now the industry is young and still running around like a “blind squirrel”. Hey, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and again. So, if your looking for “a good nut” try wines from the Texas High Plains. Newsom Vineyards supplies many wineries in TX with good High Plains fruit, and some of these wineries are getting it right more often than not. In fact, Inwood Estates, a winery based in Dallas, sources its Tempranillo fruit from the High Plains. This winery scored a “Top 10 Wines of 2006” by Appellation America for its 2005 Palomino-Chardonnay. So, it can be done and with time and dedication it will begin to happen more often.

Peace out.

The main thing the Texas wine industry has going for it is the unwaivering dedication to the love of everything Texas. (Yes, it’s OK to roll your eyes now). It takes many years of failure, of getting it wrong before getting it right. But there is a degree of pride and initiative that will ultimately guide TX winegrowers and winemakers to get it right more often than not. Right now the industry is young and still running around like a “blind squirrel”. Hey, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and again. So, if your looking for “a good nut” try wines from the Texas High Plains. Newsom Vineyards supplies many wineries in TX with good High Plains fruit, and some of these wineries are getting it right more often than not. In fact, Inwood Estates, a winery based in Dallas, sources its Tempranillo fruit from the High Plains. This winery scored a “Top 10 Wines of 2006” by Appellation America for its 2005 Palomino-Chardonnay. So, it can be done and with time and dedication it will begin to happen more often.

Peace out.

QoTd
Have never tried or seen wines from any other state than those that were disqualified by this question. The closest would be in Canada (at least it’s N. America!) and that would be ICE WINE, which rocks!

Gary:

Here are some of my favorites from around the US:

Shelton Vineyards (Yadkin Valley, NC) Madison Lee White Table Wine.

Chaddsford Winery (Pennsylvania) 2006 Miller Estate Vineyard Chardonnay.

Kluge Vineyards (Charlottesville, VA) any of their many sparkling wines.

QOTD: Easy question, b/c I haven’t had that many that I like, which is probably an unfair statement, b/c I haven’t had that many PERIOD. But I will go with Shelton VY Riesling out of NC.

Appropos of absolutely nothing – I love when you wear T-Shirts. They’re always interesting.

Have a great weekend! LG

My favourite non-traditional wine growing state wine originates from Altus, Arkansas. Big Daddy, flexing his bicep as Arkansas grape wine vinted by Mount Bethel Winery. Alc 19-21%

My favourite non-traditional wine growing state wine originates from Altus, Arkansas. Big Daddy, flexing his bicep as Arkansas grape wine vinted by Mount Bethel Winery. Alc 19-21%

BTW, cute bobblehead! WLTV Tshirt and all! 🙂

P.S.- When does Mott get his T-Shirt?! wristband? please?….

GV,

What do you mean tou don’t like the Cowboys!! That’s ok, my dad hate’s the Cowboys also. My dad grew up back east and is still a big Jets fan and heckles me about the Cowboys all the time. All I tell him is one thing, “when was the last time the Jets won a super bowl”…When somebody name Joe was the quarterback….

Ok, back to wine…I live in Texas and I have not found any Texas wines yet that I really like.

DFC from Dallas
Go Cowboys!!