I really enjoyed Texas whenever I visit. The women there are the best!

this episode has given me an idea (and forgive me if it has already been suggested) how about a ‘wines from places you didn’t know made wine’ episode…

I had a blackberry wine a few years ago in PA that I really liked, but probably because I was enjoying it with my sister who lives there and I just don’t get to see her enough!

QOTD: 🙁 I’ve never had an American non Cali-Oregon-Washington wine! Wow…I feel like such a callow wine drinker….just when I thought I was getting cool, you rip me from my pedestal. But really, where the heck am I going to get a wine from Michigan, or some other state when I live in California?! I guess I need to do more traveling…

Oh…and I like their ideas about an episode that covers wines from places we didn’t know made wines. Yes, do that!

Interesting show… it looks like Texas is struggling a bit just like Arizona. There are two wineries in Arizona who’s wine I have tried and liked. The two are Dos Cabezas and Callaghan.

qotd: for me it has to be the llano estacado signature white wine. i tasted it on a tour of the winery and i found it to be one of the best white wines i ever had. it was crisp and clean, yet sweet enough that it wouldn’t be completely despised by non-wine drinkers. and if you do another show about texas wines, i wouldn’t mind hearing about some reislings or something like that, because texas is kind of big on the sweet wines. thanks for putting my state on the wine map here.

So Texas didn’t quite cut it there – I’ll hold on a few years before looking for some Lone Star offerings 🙂

QOTD – England. Yeah, you heard me, I mean a lot of people say we are the 51st State! Otherwise I’ve never had any US wines out of the “Big 4”.

Favorite Non big 4 wines: 1) Becker Cabernet. Your sender sent you the Claret, but the Cabernet could run circles around most of the Napa Cabs in the same price range. 2) Gruet Syrah – Very much a Rhone style syrah in a world full of Aussie Shiraz wannabes 4) Gruet: Anything else they produce, especially their sparkling wines. 5) Llano Estacato’s Signature Meritage… I also have to give high marks to Becker’s Prairie Rotie and Zin… Maybe one day you’ll get to try this – next time I make it to my Texas Home I’ll grab a bottle of these to send you.

Thanks for keeping the wine world real… Matt.

Hi Gary! The only U.S. wine I’ve had not from CA, NY, OR, or WA is the Gruet Blanc de Noirs from New Mexico, which was pretty good! There’s a winery near me, Nashoba Valley Winery, which I probably will tour some time (not expecting greatness, just for fun).

QOTD- Blenheim Vineyards Cab Franc from VA.
Winery owned by Dave Matthews. Good vino.

I had the cheaper “Star Label” one which was like 12 bucks.

Hey Gary,

I know its hard for you to get Michigan wines but some of the wineries out here are bringing serious thunder, and not just with Reisling (although that is the star of the state.) My favorite winery is Wyncroft. and all though their wine is really hard to get and expensive I have never had a bad wine from them. 2003 Wyncroft Lake Michigan Shore Avonlea Vineyard “Shou” which is a bordeux blend is out of this world good. It really is more bordeux than anything I have ever had from Washington or California. I really wish you could get down with some Wyncroft wines on the show!

QOTD – I could name some “Idaho” wines, but the only ones I like are made with Washington graps….. So, the only other wine I can think of that I had that didn’t make me gag that was from outside the areas you mentioned is a wine called “Black Dog”, a red blend of some sort from Chateau Morissette in Virginia. It was ok, but nothing to write home about. I don’t even remember where I got it – a gift, I think.

Interesting show, Gary! Makes me want to go out and buy some Texas wines…. seriouly, I think wine has become so huge that people are planting grapes where they shouldn’t be planting them. They shouldn’t allow some of this stuff to be called “wine”. Maybe the term “plonkahol” would be good? 😉

Well now, I very much appreciate your honesty, and hope the two wineries are listening and can improve. We do have a large number of wineries and would encourage you to check some of the others out.

Two that come to mind, hence the QOTD –

Fall Creek – Chenin Blanc 2005

Pheasant Ridge Cab. Sauvignon 2000.

GV good call on the wines. The Becker Viognier is one my go to wines (being from TX I like to drink the local wines when they are good). I find most Texas wines too sweet and simple, I think that it has more to do with the age of the vines (most vineyards are quite young still). The Hill Country has these great limestone and clay soils and could probably grow great Rhone/Provence/Spanish varieties. I think with some better vineyard management and the use of canopies like they do in Northern Argentina to enhance even ripeing, there will be better Texas wines in the next 10 years or so. My other favorite wine not from the big 4 is Gruet Blanc de Noir Brut from NM. It is an amazing sparkler for 14 bones, rich and toasty.

It’s great to hear about different wines from other, less traveled regions of the country.

QOTD: The Vidal blanc, Estate Chard, Pinot Rose, the Sirius (late harvest Vidal), and the 2002 Port, all from Little Compton, RI.

http://www.sakonnetwine.com/

Newport Vineyards is also pretty good.

QOTD: Some of the North Carolina wines are really up and coming, particularly those from the Piedmont part of the state (although not those from Biltmore Estate which I find to be way over-priced for what they offer). I can’t remember any names unfortunately right now, but definitely worth looking into.

QOTD; I’m sorry to say I have had 0. It’s hard enough to get any wines from the US thats not from California. “Impossible” outside the 4 you said. But I’m going over soon, then I will seek out some new stuff!

We toured the Texas Hills wine country earlier this year and it was pretty brutal. Almost as bad as when we did NC. Maybe in 20 from now as Gary said.

QOTD. There was that New Mexico sparkler that was drinkable.

Yo Gee, Fuuun Episode!!! Ya are NOT gonna make too many Vayniaks outta
da Texas “sports fans” though…… 🙂

QOTD: i remember drinkin’ a Horton Viognier (Virginia, i think) looooong
time ago dat was pretty YUUUUMMY !!!

Believe it or not, there is an emerging wine region and passion for the vine coming out of Elgin, an area about 40 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona. Located above 4000 feet, the vineyards are producing some surprisingly good wines-especially those made by Callahagn. It’s still an area in its infancy,and next time you are in the area, Gary, you should check it ou. There a young wimne maker there, Keith Manning, 26 years old, who got his degree in wine making in Australia. Look for some serious wines from him at the Kief-Joshua Vineyards!

QOTD: had my first non-Cali/Oregon/Wash/NY wines this weekend in Wisconsin. most were not memorable, but the Lautenberg’s Orchard Country Winery Audrey Grace was very good. low in tannins but a nice spice and long smooth finish. Blend of Marechal Foch & Frontenac – cold weather varietals common in Wisconsin.

GV,
Tough QOTD. Because I’ve had a LOT of US wines outside of the big 4. I’ve probably had the most in VA, (although I’ve tried all the wines TX you tasted in this ep and most in MI). So here’s a puzzling one – probably not the BEST VA wine but I would probably rate it as my favorite — Seyval Blanc made by Jim Law at Linden Vineyards in Virginia.
BTW, I agree with your TX sports analysis. Used to be a Cowboys fan (as a young boy) but grew up and grew smart and now root for anyone opposing the Cowboys. The Texas exception is the Spurs, who are near and dear to my heart.
Go Spurs!

I’ve visited some out-of-the-way wineries up here in the frozen hinterlands. Right off the top I cannot recommend enough, with all my heart, a wine that totally shocked me and made me a devotee is the 2005 Late Harvest Vignoles from Fenn Valley Winery in Fenn Valley Michigan. We are growing a ridiculous amount of grapes here on the Fourth Coast, and I know that people would really like the complex and delightful 2005 LHV. You can even have some fun with it because you can also taste the regular Vignoles as well, it’s a wonderful contrast.

I’ve also had the pleasure of visiting a itty-bitty (maybe 100 acres) little burp of a winery in of all places, Minnesota. Morgan Creek Winery puts out some surprising product for what amounts to being a USDA Zone 2 to 3 growing region. Specifically their blend wine St. Winceslaus is a cherry jam fruit hydrogen bomb and their Relativity is a huge surprise. It’s a winery that exists for sheer willpower and science – there is a nasty vile little grape that grows throughout the entire region, all the way up into Manitoba – the University of Minnesota crossed this vile little monster (which can survive -40F) with it’s more cultured and tastier bretheren and they’ve got vines that for the most part can survive a Zone 2 winter. It’s no Napa Valley award-winner area, but if you like to explore and you are curious what a Zone 2 wine might taste like, you can’t beat it. Morgan Creek is a stones throw outside of New Ulm, Minnesota.