Exploring the South one vintage at a time!
By this time in the year the traditional harvest is done, even when it runs late. The grapes have been stomped and the fermentation is in full swing. The leaves on the vines are starting to turn gold and brown, a great time to go out and snip some vines for grape vine wreathes. The... Continue Reading →
American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) are designated geographical regions in the United States where wine grapes grow well. Usually, a certain grape or group of grapes will thrive there and natural barriers like mountains or rivers separate the regions. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) defines the regions for tax and marketing purposes, i.e.... Continue Reading →
If 750 ml isn't enough, you may soon be able to super-size your vino in the sunshine state. Florida State Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) has introduced a bill that will allow larger sizes of wine bottles to be sold in the state, including one that holds as much as 50 liters. He also seeks... Continue Reading →
The first wine made in America was made in Florida. French Huguenots, settling along the St. John’s River in the mid-1500s, engaged in the production of the first wine recorded in the new world. It was the 1565 vintage. Unlike much of the wine we drink today, it was made from the wild, native Muscadine... Continue Reading →
Think wine, think California, or France, or anywhere but North Carolina. Think again. Since the mid-1990’s North Carolina wines have been making a comeback and grape and wine production are pushing the Tar Heel state back to its former wine glory. Long before vines were planted in the Napa Valley, North Carolina viticulturists were... Continue Reading →
Southern Wine Trails 