Winery Article Section

This article, the author shares his opinion on the South Coast Temecula Valley Winery.  It is a rather detailed article that discusses everything from the wines served at the winery to the winery experience specifically.  Many gold medal wines come out of this winery and one day one may take the trip down to this California region.

Wineries: San Diego County and the Temecula Valley by Ann Elwood

In one of my first articles I mentioned an anniversary trip that my wife and I had made to South Coast Winery in Temecula. After writing that post I noticed that the winery is active on Twitter, so I sent them a quick message and told them that I had mentioned them in my blog. Although I'm happy to share personal information on this blog I am hesitant to show personal family pictures-at least those that are so very personal as an anniversary trip... at least showing those in my 2nd blog entry seemed a little soon.

I was surprised and very encouraged that South Coast took the time to respond both via Twitter. I asked them to send me a few more photos of their winery and resort since it is a unique place in Temecula and as I said before(and I really do believe) that it's a great trip, especially for anyone from San Diego, the OC, LA or anyone visiting Southern California.

One thing that South Coast has brought up with me via email is that they were named the 09-10 Golden Bear State Winery of the Year, which is the second year in a row they've won the award.

I mentioned before that the resort itself is great, luxery villas, spa a very good restaurant on site etc. The thought of combining relaxation and leisure activities is certainly one way that South Coast and I see eye to eye.

Since this is a wine blog and my intention isn't to ever sound like a PR person for a winery we need to take some time to discuss the wines themselves.

Let's start with some general information, South Coast has only been producing wine for about 5 years now so for a winery it's a young one. Additionally they really focus on the $15-$20 per bottle range....so obviously you're not going to get a 100 point wine there.

What are you getting though?

Since I'm not blessed with an incredible palate and quite frankly everything tastes better when I'm there with my wife thoroughly enjoying myself I wanted to find an outsiders view of the wine. I found a nice review posted by Was Hagen who is the winemaker at Cois Pepe Vineyard in Santa Barbara and has written in more then a few publications about wine as a profession.

Some highlights:

"The judges were put up at Jim Carter's South Coast Winery Resort and Spa-which is absolutely spectacular. Very nice digs with a good restaurant and solid hospitality. The South Coast wines, vinted by Jon McPherson and his team, were also a standout. Their Sparkling Shiraz is an unapologetic slut of a wine and I drank most of a bottle myself in the hotel room the day before the competition began. Good match with some Ghost Recon 2 on the XBox 360 I snuck into the room."

He goes on to state that Temecula winemakers are in an interesting predicament, their best wines are often not the best known wines around. I've seen a similar problem in the central coast of California (think Pinot Noir before Sideways)

"Almost all of Temecula Wines are sold in tasting rooms, and as a result they choose the 'big' varietals (Cabernet, Chardonnay, Syrah) that get attention, and off-dry and sweet styles (Gewurtz, Riseling, and Viognier being some of the best) that appeal to the tour-bus and amateur taster.

Temecula stands at a crossroads: do they want to make the BEST varietals suited for their region, struggle to teach the wine world about their choices, and take a hit in the pocketbook for a decade to be taken seriously, or do they want to make soft and slightly sweet wines that few 'geeks' will take seriously, and laugh all the way to the bank as they focus their business around casual tasters, events, weddings, limo and bus tours, etc.?

What varietals belong in Temecula? The best wines I drank were 'fringe' varietals. Petite Sirah and Tempranillo for Riverside County Fruit. The Cabs and Merlots were hard as nails and many had too much Brett(anomyeces) to be palatable. Interestingly, the San Diego County Bordeaux varietals showed much softer and palatable fruit character and were, as a rule, better wines."

Not surprisingly I enjoy tasting in Temecula because the bold petite Syrah's are a favorite of mine, maybe it is because I was introduced to port by my in laws as soon as I was of legal drinking age.

In conclusion he gives us some more information:

"Temecula represents a larger issue for all of us to consider. Sometimes that which sells easily, whether by leaving a wine sweet (like many in Temecula) or by trying to appeal to the 'kingmaker critics' keeps newer winegrowing areas from developing a true regional identity by producing well-matched varietal wines that showcase their somewhereness as opposed to masking it by virtue of sweetness or the 'New World'/overripe style. It's hard to convince a newer wine region to strut its 'terroir' in a wine culture where people buy ripeness and extract over craft, balance and elegance.

I had a blast wading through 200 wines in Temecula. Even my least favorites had something to teach, and the best wines were truly Gold Medal quality. Take time to go visit and taste. And if you like your wines a little dryer, or would like to see more Petite Sirah or Tempranillo, or Grenache Rose', make sure to tell the staff, the owner or the winemaker."

To me all of this reminds me of a few trips I've made overseas. Having been to both France and Italy fairly recently I can easily remember waking up on the train in Italy and not realizing that I was no longer in Southern California. If Temecula is able to focus on more Mediterranean style vintages as opposed to the Bordeaux style that is seemingly becoming more popular I do believe we may yet get the kind of high quality, affordable, local wine that everyone in Southern California is yearning for.

Want more wine information? Want to join a real wine club that is interested in more then just taking your money for their real business? Use promo code EZine to take 10% off your first wine club order just for reading this article!

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More Temecula Winery related resources:

Temecula Events – Annual Endless Entertainment

The abundance of wineries in Temecula with the charm of the region by surprise with fresh food outlets, enchanting scenery and live entertainment, wine classes and special events like holidays appointment Temecula Romantic Valentine ...

Publish Date: 02/04/2010 18:30

http://www.thecompanymarketing.com/entertaining/

In the following article "Celebrity Chef, Winery Blend Best of Both Worlds", it talks about the partnerships that some wineries are making with famous figures.  The particular winery, Viansa Winery is a California winery in the Sonoma  valley that has partnered with a famous chef who will educate visitors on the delights of food and wine pairing.

Much like the chicken and the egg conundrum, those with a palate for fine wine and good food often debate whether it is the wine that makes food taste better or the other way around. Either way, one cooking expert is showing that the two actually bring out the best in each other.

In a new venture with Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace, celebrity chef Curtis Aikens hopes to enlighten both diners and would-be culinary artisans to the wonders of cooking and eating with wine. A pioneer in "California Italian Nouveau" cuisine, Aikens will be creating signature dishes and food products for the winery. His recipes will appear in Viansa's monthly publication, Tuscan Club Magazine.

Viansa is a destination winery at the entrance to the Sonoma Valley Wine Country. In addition to offering an array of award-winning California varietals, Viansa is the premier producer of Italian varietals in the United States. The winery is marketed by the publicly traded 360 Global Wine Company (www.360wines.com).

This year, Viansa Winery was rated by the Sonoma radio station KVON 1440 as "The Best Wine Country Experience" in Sonoma.

Aikens' achievements include a number of published books, appearances on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Entertainment Tonight" and a regular guest spot on "Good Morning America." He has been a food consultant to the U.S. Open tennis tournament, the New York City Plaza Hotel and the United Nations.

This dish pairs well with Viansa "Pierina" Vernaccia, Arneis or Chardonnay.

VIANSA CHICKEN ROLLATINE

(Makes 4 servings)


2 large chicken breasts, sliced in half lengthwise to make four strips

1 1/2 tablespoons Cucina

Viansa Roasted Red Pepper Pesto

1 1/2 tablespoons Cucina

Viansa Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

1 1/2 tablespoons Cucina Viansa Artichoke Pesto


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Flatten chicken pieces with a mallet or the bottom of an empty wine bottle.

Spread 1 teaspoon of each pesto evenly over each piece of chicken. Roll up the chicken strips and close with toothpicks.

Bake chicken rolls in oven for 10 minutes, then lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake 20 minutes longer. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into rings to serve.

Link: http://officialwinery.com/winery/search_results.php?keyword=&category=2&location=texas&zip_miles=&submit=Search

In this article some of the wineries of Fredricksburg Texas are featured.  This is a short article that briefly mentions some of the wineries.  The wines of Texas are not really all that well known outside of Texas.  This is a good article that can give you some idea of the wineries in this area.  Fredricksburg Texas is about 70 miles west of Austin, and about 65 miles northwest of San Antonio.

One of the things attracting people to the Texas Hill Country is the budding wine industry. The area around Fredericksburg, Texas has quickly established itself as a competitor to other wine areas throughout the US, such as Napa Valley, California.

Woodrose Winery is in the little town of Stonewall, a quick 10 minute drive from Fredericksburg. This is a relatively new winery, opening in 2001, but since then has doubled its wine production and added a new 3000 square foot expansion area.

A few more miles down Highway 290, is Torre di Pietra. This is another winery that started out fairly small but has greatly expanded their business and is planting larger and more expansive vineyards. They also offer live music on Saturday from 2 to 6.

About a mile from Torre di Pietra is a winery that has been a prominent winery in the Texas Hill Country since 1985, Grape Creek Vineyards. Several years ago, Grape Creek Vineyards was purchased by the executive of a Fortune 500 company, who added a beautiful new expansion; a combination of native Texas architecture with and touch of an Italian villa.

A couple of miles down the road is Becker Vineyards, one of the most well known wineries in Texas. Their wines have won many awards over the years, and their operation just keeps getting better and better. They also operate a small B&B, rent out an event hall, and host numerous events and festivals every year, including the very popular Lavender Festival, held every May.

Pedernales Cellars is a brand new winery already making a name for themselves. This winery has recently redone its tasting room and there is a walkway over to Rose Hill Manor, a Fredericksburg Bed Breakfast, (a quaint five minute walk), so it's a logical choice for finishing a day of wine tasting.

When you are done tasting wine for the day be sure and enjoy Fredericksburg Texas Music and nightlife.

In the article titled: "The Undiscovered Anderson Valley Wineries"  the author mentions several California wineries in the Mendicino County area that are in the Anderson Valley.  These wineries are all special in their own right and take advantage of the soil and climate of the area to  produce some unique wines.    Each wine has it's own specialty type from the Pinot Noirs to the Reislings and the gewürztraminer.  Read on for more on the specific wineries and what they have to offer.

Surrounded by 2500-foot high mountains, Anderson Valley opens up its beauty to the coast towards its eastern end, allowing the summertime fog to touch its surroundings. Let's explore and have a taste of what a visit to Anderson Valley wineries is like!

Navarro Vineyards

Tucked in a small valley beneath the rolling hills is the Navarro Vineyards, famous for the Alsatian varieties, especially its big-nosed gewürztraminer. You can only take advantage of these wines here and at some indie restaurants and shops. If you are a non-drinker, worry not because this one of the best Anderson Valley wineries offer you a wide selection of deliciously prepared unfermented grape juices.

Lazy Creek Vineyards

The smallest among all the wineries in the area, the Lazy Creek Vineyards serves gorgeous wines that are exceptionally paired with delectable dishes. Most wines here are unfiltered and organic, lending its tasters the specific fullness to satisfy their mouth's desire. Among all Anderson Valley wineries, this is the only winery that grows pinot blanc, and its popular gewürztraminer vines belong to the oldest species in the U.S. Its funky little wine tasting room is also the winery's barrel room so expect it to be chilly inside.

Esterlina Vineyards

Esterlina Vineyards lies high above the Anderson Valley. It has spectacular views, making it a perfect spot for a family picnic. Because this winery gets its fruits from five different vineyards, it makes a wide variety of delicious wines. Aside from the local specialties, chardonnay, pinot noir, and Riesling, Esterlina also offers big, chewy cabernets and zinfandels. The hilltop location of this winery makes it a perfect place to visit if you want a combination of wine tasting activities and scenic drive.

Husch Vineyards

Creeping roses can be seen at the four corners of this 100-year old redwood wine tasting room. Among all the Anderson Valley wineries, Husch Vineyards has the oldest and healthiest pinot noir vines, almost 40 years old. This winery makes both Burgundy and California- style pinots. It also offers two styles chardonnay. All its wines are grown and bottled at the estate and most of them are of single varieties.

Handley Cellars

Do not forget to check out the cool collection of Eastern and African artifacts at this winery. The Handley Cellars makes really good estate-grown chardonnay and gewürztraminer. You can also find worthwhile pinot gris, pinot noir, and pinot rose. The wines here are definitely worth tasting; however, it is really the artwork here that captures any visitors' imagination.

Anderson Valley has more than 40 different wineries to select from. To learn about all of them make sure you visit MendoSearch.com for a complete list of Anderson Valley Wineries.

In the following article, 'The History Of American Wines - Where Did The California Wine Boom Come From', the author obviously focuses on the California wine industry, as it seems the birthplace of the American wine industry, however wineries have been in existence earlier on the east cost in places like Virginia. However when it comes to making a mark on the world, California wineries have been some of the first to get this International exposure. Prohibition put wineries back by decades... There used to be productive vineyards out of Colorado as well, before prohibition. Anyway, read the article for more on this fun topic!"

It’s only been within the past 30 years that American wineries have made since a large mark on the world. For hundreds of years it’s been the French and the Italians that have defined the world of wine, so how did America become a front runner? Here’s a brief history of the grape and it’s evolution in the United States.

Spanish missionaries planted the seeds for winemaking in 1779 in and area that is now known as California. At the time the land was still Mexico’s and the missionaries were bringing the seeds to the San Juan Capistrano Mission. A century later European immigrant farmers began to move to this area. These immigrants were mostly Italian, but there were also French, German and Hungarian farmers that had knowledge about the winemaking process. These farmers moved to California to produce wine. Since the French, Italians and Germans had a preference for red wine, most of the early American wines were red. Even the people who came to California during the gold rush stayed behind and found a different kind of fortune, the kind found on a vine.

Some of the vineyards that these farmers planted over 100 years ago are still in existence today. Many of the fine wine shops in California carry wines containing grapes from these vines. Those same wines are often award winning vintages. These wines are a major part of the United States wine family vine and are a must have for collectors.

Prohibition almost completely destroyed the wine growing and producing industry in the United States. After prohibition was overturned, the Depression and World Wars also put a damper on the production of wine. Without buyers, it was hard for producers to stay afloat. It wasn’t until the late 1970’s that winemaking started to become what it is in the US. Before the 1970’s there were very few producing wineries in the United States. 90% of them were based in California specializing in red wines, true to their predecessors.

Today there are thousands of wineries spread out around the United States. The states best known for wine production are California, Oregon, Washington and Michigan. The growth and popularity of wine in the past 30 years is amazing and shows no signs of slowing down. Many wine enthusiasts hope that it never does.

John Gibb is the owner of Wine guides For more information on wine check out http://www.Wines-Guidance.Info

Link: http://officialwinery.com/winery/Spero-Winery.html

If you live in Arvada Colorado you have probably driven by Spero winery a dozen times and haven't realized it. Tucked back on a plot of land behind a fence, it is very easy to miss. You don't realize there as a winery there until you pull in and see the sign hanging on the building.

A winery that is expanding their space for storing and aging wine, the owners of Spero Winery (June and Clyde Spero) believe in doing their wine the old fashion way... Time. They take the time to age the wine instead of using chemicals to bring on the aging process. It shows in their wines. From their large assortment of red wines and a small assortment of dessert wines, you won't get a more flavorful and full=bodied wine. Low in sulfates, these wines hold their own in almost any competition.

They have many award winning wines that are just incredible, and each year is different because of the grapes. These owners don't use chemistry to imitate wines of previous years. They allow the grapes to speak for themselves. If you missed an award winning year, then that was an opportunity that passed you by.

The Spero Winery owners throw the member of their Case of the Year club a party every May as their way of saying thanks for their support. After having tasted the wines, it is not difficult to fill up a case every year...

Their tasting room is open every Saturday from 1 to 5pm. That is a chance to taste their award winning wines.

Tags: spero winery - winery

Link: http://officialwinery.com/winery/cullary-vineyards-and-winery.html

In this article about the Cullari Vineyards, a Pennsylvania winery, it discusses the York Wine Trail, and the history of the winery. It really gets into the kinds of grapes that are grown on and near the winery and the kinds of wines that they are known for. Read on to discover more about the winery and the viticultural area it is located in.

The Cullari Vineyards and Winery is the newest member of the Uncork York Wine Trail in Central Pennsylvania. Founded in 2007, Cullari Vineyards is the culmination of over 40 years of wine making for owner Salvatore Cullari. A native of Italy, Salvatore has a long family tradition of wine making but until recently, only family and friends were lucky enough to enjoy the fruit of his labor. The Cullari family has a farm located a couple of miles from the tasting room and began growing wine grapes there in 2000. As of now, the Cullaris have about four acres of the farm dedicated to growing grapes. This land accounts for about 65% of the grapes that are featured in their wines. The rest of the grapes that make up the 5,000 gallons of wine they produce each year are grown at various locations within 350 miles of the winery.

Brenda and I arrived at the tasting room at 1251 E. Chocolate Ave. in Hershey, PA on a cold gray Sunday afternoon. We were greeted at the door by Dante Cullari, Salvatore's son. It was apparent from the beginning that Dante is as passionate about the wine as his father and that the family business will be in very good hands for many years to come. Dante showed us around the tasting room and described some of the wines before we sat down to taste.

Dante was especially enthusiastic about Cullari's White on White and Old Country Red wines. The White on White is a unique semi-dry wine that can only be purchased at the winery. Sine I'm not a wine expert, I'll just say that it had a crisp, fresh taste that I found very enjoyable. The Cullari's are especially proud that the 2007 supply of White on White sold out within a month of becoming available.

The Old County Red is blended from a "secret family recipe" of various vinifera grapes brought to this country from Europe. Salvatore Cullari has been making this very dry red wine for over 40 years. It's dry feel and rich taste was definitely my favorite of the Cullari offerings. At a modest $11.00 per bottle, I'd strongly recommend Old Country Red to anyone who enjoys a dry wine with strong tannins.

Other Cullari specialty blends include a Simply Red series of three wines. Simply Red Number 1 is a blend of Chambourcin (a grape commonly grown in Pennsylvania) and Chancellor with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. Simply Red Number 2 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese grapes. Simply Red Number 3 blends equal amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with a "hint" of hybrid grapes.

Cullari Vineyards and Winery also offers a complete line of traditional wines like Chardonnay, Niagra, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and for after dinner, they have two Port-style wines that will go great with your favorite chocolate or a fine cigar.

The Cullaris invite you to bring your picnic lunch and enjoy it on their deck, or when the weather is lousy like today, there is plenty of room inside to enjoy your food and a glass of wine. Wine by the glass is available for $3.00 except for the Ports style wines which are $5.00 per glass.

Cullari wines are also available at the Farmstead Farmers Market in Palmyra, Pennsylvania and are featured at Dafnoe's Restaurant in Hershey.

Winter hours for the tasting room are Thursdays from 3:00 - 6:00 PM, Fridays from 3:00 - 7:00 PM, Saturdays from noon - 6:00 PM and Sundays from noon to 4:00 PM.

This Article was written by Alan Kassirer. By day, I'm an executive at a Youth Advocate Programs in Harrisburg, PA. By night and by weekend, I'm "The Pennsylvania Wanderer". Rarely does a weekend go by that I'm not on the road to visit wineries, historical sites or other places of interest in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. Stay tuned for more stories about the places I visit and the people I meet.

When you visit Cullari Vineyards and Winey bring your picnic basket and tell them The Pennsylvania Wanderer sent you.

Tags: pennsylvania winery - Cullari Vineyards

Very fascinating article on how wineries in some parts of the country may begin to be the center or focal point of communities. This article talks about what they are doing in North Georgia to incorporate green living in community planning and design. Develop a community around a winery. This could have some very interesting cultural and societal implications. Read on for more!

Right up until the housing crash, developers were building golf courses one after the other. The amount of land, water and maintenance was unsustainable. The houses in these projects were enormous and expensive requiring even more resources. Thousands of homes and lots have been developed with a faulty model. Numerous developers and builders have gone out of business. The remaining developers have been seeking a new paradigm ever since.

During the industrial age Americans fled the farms for work in the cities. The post World War II, suburban movement led a mass exodus from the cities to the suburbs in search of space. Concerns for sustainability has led to two recent trends--urban redevelopment and New Urbanism. Urban redevelopment has attracted many young couples and empty nesters seeking the conveniences of city life. New Urbanism developers have tried to create with varying degrees of success the feel of a city in the suburbs.

A possible counter-trend to New Urbanism is New Ruralism. Americans have lost all touch with their food chain and with the land. Reconnecting with the land combined with sustainable development and green building has a real appeal to large segments of the US population. While these developments take large tracts of land, dedicating portions to agriculture, walking trails, parks and other outdoor activities has tremendous appeal.

Atlanta, Georgia has two good examples of New Ruralism. Serenbe, south of Atlanta, centers is development around a 25 acre working farm and an old farmhouse converted into a bed and breakfast. It's success has been limited by difficulty with its builder group in the midst of a housing recession. Whatever difficulties faced in the housing sector have been overshadowed by great success in food and culture.

The second example is a development a little more than an hour north of Atlanta in Georgia wine country. Being built by Beecham Builders, Montaluce is a community based around a winery, vineyards and lifestyle. Known for high quality construction, the Beechams, decided to expand their business. A visit to Georgia wine country inspired them to create a community centered on a winery.

The theme of Tuscan architects falls back on an old philosophy of ancestral homes but using green building practices. The most basic of principles used is size. American homes have become so large that energy bills can be one of the largest bills families have to pay. The Beechams envisioned smaller homes with larger entertainment areas and outdoor spaces. This translates into lower cost of construction and lower energy usage.

While downsizing plays a large role, homes at Montaluce are constructed with deep wall cavities filled with blown in fiberglass on the inside and concrete block with stucco on the outside. The energy efficiency attained greatly exceeds current standards. The roofs are made from fired clay from Italy. The tile has cavities that allow air to cool the roof and are renewable as the roof can be ground up and reused as can the concrete block. The use of Energy Star rated windows and doors completes an energy efficient, sustainable and renewable envelope. The latest homes are now incorporating an even more efficient and renewable technique--Insulated Concrete Forms (or ICF).

On the development side, more than 60% of the 400 acres were preserved for greenspace and vineyards. But that is not where it ended. Using unique design Montaluce was able to avoid all detention ponds, curbs and gutters. Roads were also narrowed to add to the rural feel but also reduced the amount of petroleum based, asphalt.

The final piece of New Ruralism is a reconnection with the land. The winery produces all its wine from its own vineyards or from other local vineyards. The restaurant inside the winery building incorporates the same local theme along with seasonal and fresh. In the Fall the restaurant will incorporate vegetables from the one acre garden, as well as eggs and pork from Montaluce's farm.

New Ruralism is certainly not for everyone, but future developers cannot ignore it. After the current recession abates, it is certain to change the behavior of most Americans. Each in his own way, Americans will look introspectively and make a decision to reduce our overall footprint on the planet. Some will do so because of environmental reasons. Others will do so because they seek to avoid future mistakes of overextending ourselves. Whatever the reason developers will have to adapt or go out of business.

Author is a builder and developer of Montaluce Winery & Estates in Dahlonega, GA. The Beecham family has been building in Atlanta for 4 generations. Their quality is know throughout the Atlanta area. Montaluce is the Beecham's first large development project. Montaluce is based around its vineyards, winery and restaurant, all passions of the Beechams. The homes built on the property are built using some of the latest techniques of green building. The development was planned in such a way to preserve more than 60% as either greenspace or agricultural. For more information please check our website http://www.montaluce.com

Tags: green communities - wineries - north georgia

I like this article because it talks about some of the other up and coming wine regions in the country that rival, if not outshine the wineries in California. (Yes, it also discusses the California wineries as well.) The mentions of wineries in New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Kentucky give the reader something to think about in expanding their exposure to the wines of the United States. If you can plan your vacation around some of the wine festivals in the area, that would also be a great way to get more experience with some of the local wines.

More and more wineries around the country are offering tours of their facilities and tastings of their products. These tastings are fun for novices and experts alike. You don't have to travel to Europe to experience world class wine and wine-making facilities. Vintners throughout the United States are producing wines which can compete with any wine from anywhere in the world.

The most widely-acclaimed and successful wine-making region in the United States is California's Napa Valley. The Napa Valley is just 30 miles long, only a few miles wide, and nestled in Northern California. A number of world famous wineries are located in this region. One such winery which will appeal to race fans and wine fans alike, is the Andretti Winery in Napa, CA. The Andretti Winery was founded by legendary Indianapolis 500 champ, Mario Andretti. Perhaps the most famous and most successful Napa winery is the Robert Mondavi Winery located in Oakville, CA. Mondavi offers tours year-round except on major holidays. Making an appointment is recommended but not necessary.

California isn't the only place you can visit an American winery. You may not have realized this, but there are also wineries in the Northeast. One such winery is the Mount Nittany Vineyard and Winery located in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Mount Nittany Winery produces a variety of dry and semi-dry whites, dry and semi-dry reds, and sweet and semi-sweet wines. Tours are offered throughout the year. Advanced notice is necessary. Here you'll learn all about the wine-making process as well as some history of winemaking in the Central PA region.

New York features some of the oldest wineries in the country. The first wine grapes were planted there over 300 years ago! The first serious wine-making operation there began in the 1860's. One popular New York winery is the Applewood Winery in the town of Warwick, in the Hudson River Valley, located barely an hour away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. Applewood Winery produces a wide variety of wines, some of which you'll find nowhere else as they're made from unique local ingredients such as Macintosh apples.

Wine makers have set up shop in the South, too. One such winery is the Habersham Winery located just outside Helen, Georgia. The Habersham Winery has been in operation for over 20 years. The Habersham Winery offers tours for groups of 10 or more and requires an appointment. You can visit their gift shop any time, though. Here you'll find their complete selection of wines, as well as gourmet foods, and local treats.

Another lovely Southern winery is Chrisman Mill in Nicholasville, Kentucky. They produce a number of international recognized, award-winning wines. Come by the winery Tuesday through Sunday and enjoy a sumptuous lunch in the Chrisman Mill Cafe. Enjoy their surprisingly excellent wines and be impressed with their chef's top-notch cooking.

If you're looking for a fun way to spend a day, a weekend, or even a whole week, travel to a winery or wine-making region and discover the wealth of wine produced throughout the country.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as wine gift baskets at winegiftbasketsplus.com.

This article talks abotu the wineries of Napa Valley. Napa Valley is a large wine region that is known for their wines. The climate creates some of the best conditions for producing quality wines and over 25% of all California wineries make the Napa Valley region their home. Read on for more details of some of the wineries that are in this region. This is a good place to start before you decide on a wine tour.

California accounts for roughly 90 percent of the total aggregate production of wine in the US. According to the Wine Institute, California shipped 494 million gallons of wine in the US and abroad in 2003. The reputation of California wine is underscored by the fact that 70 percent of wine consumption is California made at the national level, with exports increasing by 30 percent.

Forty-six out of the 58 counties in California grow grapes covering 529,000 acres. A favorable Mediterranean type of climate and soil conditions makes wine production the largest agricultural activity in the state. Wineries consist of vineyards, processing (fermentation), storage and bottling. There are approximately 1400 wineries in California, with Napa Valley having the highest concentration of over 400 wineries.

Most of the wineries in Napa Valley are small and family owned and has been in existence for over 80 years. Some of them are international such as Chateau Montelena, Freemark Abbey Winery and Heitz Wine Cellars. Napa Valley produces world-class red and white wines such as Chardonnays, Rieslings and Sauvignons.

Other than contributing to the $45 billion wine industry of California, many of the wineries contribute to the tourism industry as well. They offer wine tasting and wine tours that attract millions of tourists yearly. Some of the wineries don’t allow visitors or some may require bookings months in advance. Some of the wineries offer gourmet picnic lunches with delicious menus and vintage wines in scenic locations. There are wineries in all the major cities and towns of Napa Valley.

Article by Thomas Morva

Tags: napa valley wineries