The United Grapes of America - California - Flora Springs Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Franc

It was only a matter of time that we turned to a California wine in our The United Grapes of America series and I want to feature one of our favorite Napa valley wineries, Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards. This three generation, family owned farm winery is best known for their Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, Meritage blend, and Chardonnay. Dezel from MyVineSpot, just reviewed these wines last

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month. And Dezel also provided me with a bottle of their limited release 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc ($50) as a birthday gift last year. A year later, I finally opened the wine.  More often than not, I consume either Chinon or Virginian Cabernet Franc, and the Flora Springs was neither; more full bodied than a Chinon, and less peppery and earthy than a Virginian. It was actually more Pinot-ist: fruity, feminine, and creamy with just a touch of pepper at the tail. Basically, it was delicious; the cherry and vanilla flavors melted throughout the palette and the finish was nice and easy. Too bad it's not an annual release. Cheers.

The United Grapes of America - Maryland - Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Comus

Even though we live in Virginia, the closest winery to us is actually in Maryland, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard. We've been heading up I270 on a regular basis for the past seven years  to hike up the mountain and then enjoy some nice wine afterwards. The winery is owned by a family conglomeration, the offspring of Dan and Polly O'Donoghue - who purchased the farm in the early 1960s - included the signature bright red barn (built in the early 1900s). When deciding to plant vines, they hired vineyard consultant, Lucie Morton, who meticulously surveyed the property and determined which Bordeaux varieties would excel in each lot. They then double downed on success by hiring Carl DiManno as their vineyard manager and winemaker. Morton and DiManno have contributed to dozens of successful east coast wineries, and most definitely SMV.

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In 2011, Benoit Pineau took over the wine-making responsibilities and can claim credit for our current profile - the 2011 Comus. The wine's namesake is both the Greek god of revelry and merriment and also the road in which the winery is situated. It is composed of several Bordeaux varieties and aged in used French oak resulting in a flavorful dark fruit and slightly spicy profile. It is medium - full bodied with subtle tannins - easy to drink alone or pair with tenderloin, pork roast and game (as the winery suggests).  This is a really nice wine, one of my favorites from the state.  The judges at the 2013 International Eastern Wine Competition also enjoyed this wine, giving it Best in Class for Bordeaux styled red blends. Cheers to that and to the upcoming DrinkLocalWine.com conference scheduled for April 13th in Baltimore. Spend the day tasting the many quality wines Maryland has to offer. You won't be disappointed.

The United Grapes of America - Kansas - Davenport Winery Matrot Norton

When regularly traveling to Overland Park, Kansas - many years ago, I settled Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery and Davenport Winery at least once a month. Holy-Field was easiest to reach, situated not far from Interstates 70 and 435 and on course to the airport. Davenport, on the other hand, required a special trip to Lawrence, about 30 miles away. Fortunately, owner Greg Sipes accommodated my schedule by hosting regular business hours until 7PM on Wednesdays - lucky me. Like their neighbors in Missouri, Kansas wine consumers enjoy a good Norton and a couple Kansas wineries such as Davenport comply. Sipes has produced several styles of Norton, with one being the Matrot Norton, named after the Matrot Castle, a Topeka landmark since 1883 and a clandestine Prohibition hangout. Davenport Winery now operates a satellite tasting facility from the castle.
into a routine where I would visit both

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Returning to the Matrot Norton, it was made from Kansas grown grapes and aged in used whiskey casks.  I purchased this non-vintage wine in 2006, so it has had six and a half years to mature in bottle. My Missouri friends tell me that you should never open a Norton before three years in the bottle, so this wine should be primed.  The nose starts with an interesting combination of grape (almost concord-ish) and leather, followed by creamy vanilla cherry on the palette. The grapiness completely subsides resembling more of a Cabernet Franc profile particularly with the spicy, green peppery finish. And no trace of the whiskey. Not bad at all and at, I believe $15, easy on the wallet. Also pairs well with leftover Valentine's Day chocolate.

The United Grapes of America - New Jersey - Tomasello Winery Rkatsiteli

From the plans of the southern Caucasus in the Republic of Georgia Tomasello Winery.  The winery is one of the country's oldest, opening right after Prohibition was repealed (license #68). Three generations of Tomasellos have operated the winery, producing an assortment of vinifera, labrusca, hybrids, and fruit wines - can you say New Jersey blueberries. And Outer Coastal Plain Rkatsiteli ($12). We had hoped to share this wine during our Discovering Georgian Wines for #winechat tasting, but the
to the outer coastal plain of New Jersey, the ancient Rkatsiteli has found a home at
logistics of online ordering failed us. Oh well. This wine starts with typical floral aromas, and continues with some apricots and spice on the palette. The wine seems drier than the Horton Vineyards and Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars - although the sugar levels are similar.  Not as acidic either, but just enough to balance the equation. Kudos to Tomasello Winery for producing a truly unique wine.

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The United Grapes of America - Arizona - Arizona Stronghold Tazi

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Blood Into Wine, the story of Maynard James Keenan and Eric Glomski quest to Arizona Stronghold Vineyards is a cult winery, popular not only on the left coast but on the right. And on our coast some of their wines are available through Wholefoods by Vino 50 - such as the Tazi - Aromatic White Blend ($23). And aromatics is what you get. Orange and flowers linger on the nose, moving to citrus flavors and a crisp dry finish. Pretty impressive. The 2011 blend consists of 28% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Riesling, 18% Malvasia, & 16% Chenin Blanc; the composition changes year to year - but the results are the same. This is why they turned blood into wine.
produce world class wine in the northern Arizona desert. Ever seen the movie? Well they did it; sorry to ruin the ending. And now their

The United Grapes of America - Indiana - Oliver Winery Camelot Mead

Prior to Prohibition, Indiana was the 10th largest wine producer in the states, largely due to the vibrant wine industry centered around Vevay. A century earlier, John James Dufour, a Swiss immigrant, had planted a  a hybrid labrusca grape, Cape, in the vicinity of present day town of Vevay.  The grape flourished and soon after “Vevay" wine was sold to the remainder of the country.  After Prohibition, the decimated Hoosier wine industry was resurrected with the help of the world's oldest fermented beverage: Mead.  Remnants of this libation has been found in Chinese pottery vessels dated 7,000 BC and later in diverse areas as Egypt and northern Europe. A truly global beverage.

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In the early 1960's Indiana University law professor William Oliver started making wine in his basement. He established a vineyard northwest of Bloomington and with abundant harvest explored opening a commercial venture. He assisted in steering the 1971 Indiana Small Winery Act through the Indiana State Legislature and opened Oliver Winery to the public the following year.  Ever since, their best seller has been the Camelot Mead, a lighter bodied mead, but off-dry with a considerable honey finish. This is an excellent Mead - one that I can consume by the full glass; not just small doses as a dessert wine. It is lighter then most, with no syrupy texture and is made from my favorite honey - Orange Blossom. And at $9 - well worth the price from the Grateful Red in Arlington Virginia. Cheers. 

The United Grapes of America - Virginia - The Trifecta

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Being a resident of the Old Dominion, I am somewhat familiar with the wines produced from the 210 or so wineries operating in the Commonwealth. Many of my favorites are included in this Northern Virginia Magazine post on Wine Recs From Local Winos.  And there is such nice grape variety in Virginia - from Viognier, Chardonnay, Bordeaux varieties, Vidal Blanc, Petit Manseng, Albarino, and of course, Norton. And yet, I have been able to narrow my favorites to The Trifecta: the Glen Manor Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, the Boxwood Winery Rosé, and the Barboursville Vineyards Octagon.Why these? Just check out the VirginiaWineTV video below comparing these wines to some I found in the Sunshine state. Cheers.

The United Grapes of America - Tennessee - Countryside Vineyards Chambourcin

I leveraged a trip to the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion  to visit Countryside Vineyards & Winery, located not far down Route 81 in Blountville, Tennessee. There are about three dozen wineries operating in the Volunteer State (visit Tennesse Wine Country), with most producing wine from French hybrids, native labrusca grapes, or country wines from berries. Countryside opened just over a decade ago and owner-winemaker Jim Thomas is most proud of his Chambourcin. This French-American hybrid was developed by Joannes Seibel in the Loire Valley of France in the 1860s - probably to help alleviate the affects of the phyloxera epidemic. However, it wasn't until the 1970s that the grape was planted widely in the United States for commercial use. Since then, its planting
has exploded because of its vineyard hardiness (cold and humidity) and diversity in styles. It can be vinified into a full or medium bodied dry red, a rose, or even a sweeter wine. Countryside's Chambourcin is a medium bodied wine, with smooth cherry-chocolate flavors, and a slightly peppery finish. The is a nice, easy drinking wine; affordable ($13); and worthy of the winery's praise.

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The United Grapes of America - Washington - Chateau Ste. Michelle Rieslings

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We continue our Pacific Northwest and the Summer of Riesling binge with Washington State's oldest winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle.  The winery was founded in 1934 - that's getting an early post-Prohibition start - and is located northeast of Seattle, in Woodinville. Although the estate vineyards are located in the Puget Sound AVA; many of their wines are made from grapes harvested in the Columbia Valley AVA. This is the largest AVA in the Evergreen State, accounting for "99% of wine grapes. (See the Washington Wine Commission for more facts on Washington wines.)  Riesling is a major player in the area and benefits from the warm, sunny days and cool evening temperatures. And Chateau Ste. Michelle produces three versions of Riesling which the recently sent me: a 2011 Columbia Valley Dry Riesling, a 2011 Columbia Valley Riesling, and a 2011 Columbia Valley Harvest Select Sweet Riesling.

I tasted these wines on multiple occasions over the weekend, and all are very nice; and every time I preferred the 2011 Harvest Select Sweet Riesling.  This wine possesses a strong peach profile - both in the aroma and flavor - but the wine's acidity has no problems balancing the 5.2% R.S. At times this wine reminded me of several local Petit Mangseng wines I've tasted recently - refreshing even with the sugar.  The Columbia Valley Riesling is made semi-dry at 2.2% R.S. and like the previous, the acidity had no problems balancing the sugar. In fact, I didn't even notice the sugar, just this time an apricot profile with the lemon-tart finish. And this wine tamed a couple spicy fish tacos. The Columbia Valley Dry Riesling is very clean, with more citrus flavors accompanied by the now familiar crisp acidic finish. Yet, this wine just didn't have the full flavor profile as the others. Not bad, but for my tastes, I seem to prefer a little more R.S. in my Riesling. All in all, a nice set of wine; cheers to Columbia Valley Riesling.

The United Grapes of America - Idaho - Sawtooth Winery Riesling

It's still the Summer of Riesling so we turn to Idaho where Sommelier Vino50.com recommended Sawtooth Winery and we selected their 2011 Riesling (a blend of 95% Riesling and just 5% Muscat Blanc).  Any discussion of Northwest wine production should not be monopolized by Oregon and Washington; Idaho and British Columbia should be included - particularly since the first vines in the Pacific Northwest were planted in Idaho in the 1860s. The terrior in Idaho is similar to that of eastern Washington & Oregon except its higher elevation produces a larger diurnal temperature variation. We are talking 30*-40*  at the highest elevations. The Snake River Valley was Idaho's first designated American Viticultural Area (AVA) and encompasses the strategic 43°- 46° latitudes.  Sawtooth Winery was founded in 1987 as started as Pintler Cellars, with early plantings of Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon.  In 1998 Pintler joined Corus Estates & Vineyards and was re-branded as Sawtooth Winery - honoring the Sawtooth Mountains. Today Sawtooth is one of about forty wineries operating in the Gem State.
Andrew Stover of

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The grapes for the 2011 Sawtooth Winery Riesling were harvested from the winery's Skyline Vineyards, a new vineyard with slopes facing in all directions. The east and north facing slopes are planted with cooler climate grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling; whereas the south and west facing slopes are warmer and host Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Interesting - different micro-climates within he same vineyard.  The wine is made semi-dry with 2.0% RS but tons of acidity to balance the sugar. The aroma exudes peach, whereas the flavor is primarily lemon grass similar to some Sauvignon Blancs. There is also a honey richness to the wine that is followed by the pleasing acidic finish. Also pleasing is the price, $12 at Norms Beer & Wine. Cheers to that.

The United Grapes of America - New Mexico - Gruet Winery Blanc de Noirs

It was unanimous. Every chef and sommelier interviewed by StarChefs.com selected Gruet Winery as their preferred winery from New Mexico. There are about 40 wineries in the "Land of Enchantment" producing wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Johannisburg Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel grapes. This Labor Day Weekend, wines from New Mexico will be showcased at the New Mexico Wine Growers Association Harvest Wine Festival at the Southern NM State Fairgrounds in Las Cruces and in Bernalillo at the 25th Annual New Mexico Wine Festival.

Gruet Winery is probably the most popular winery - assisted by its wide distribution network - selling over 100,000 cases to 48 states. The winery was founded by French champagne producer Gilbert Gruet after he and his family visited the American southwest in 1983. As a result of meeting a group of New Mexican winemakers, they (Gruet; his children, winemaker Laurent and daughter Nathalie; and family friend Farid Himeur) planted an experimental vineyard with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes near the town of Engle.  The vineyards are situated at 4,300 feet, allowing for large diurnal temperature change between the extremely hot days and cool nights. Plus, there's little humidity to contribute to grape rot. An excellent location. And using the traditional grapes from Champagne, New Mexican sparkling wine was born.

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For our tasting ,we selected the Gruet Blanc de Noirs available from Whole Foods for $15. Composed of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the wine follows traditional Champagne Methodoise practices, maybe too much - since the secondary fermentation gave this sparkler an explosive amount of bubbles. But after the initial fireworks settled, the wine was very tasty, 100% dry with creamy apple flavors and a tart almost citrusy finish. This is a solid sparkling wine, and at that price, why not drink a sparkler a day.

The United Grapes of America - Missouri - Stone Hill Winery Norton Port

Missouri=Norton. That's basically what you need to know about the ^® (thanks Chrysalis Vineyards) to a new level of quality and consumer acceptance.   In order to learn more about the native Virginia grape, we recommend Todd Kliman 's The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine.  And it was Kliman who recommended the Norton wines from Stone Hill Winery in the The United Grapes of America. And why not. The winery is listed in  Paul Lukacs book, The Great Wines of America: The Top Forty Vintners, Vineyards, and Vintages because of their ability to produce quality Norton wines each and every year. Before prohibition, it was the second largest winery in the United States and was "winning gold medals in eight world's fairs, including Vienna in 1873 and Philadelphia in 1876". All that fell apart after prohibition until Jim and Betty Held purchased the property in the mid 1960s. They restored the winery, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and resumed producing quality wine recognized by Lukacs and seven Missouri Governor's Cups since 1994. As detailed in Kliman's book, cuttings from Stone Hill were used by Dennis Horton at Horton Vineyards to revive the Norton grape in its native Virginia.
Missouri wine industry. Yes, there's Vignole, Chardonel, Chambourcin, & St. Vincent; but Missouri wineries have raised the Real American Grape!

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Norton is so popular in The Show Me State that we attended a National Norton Festival in St. Louis which showcased the versatility of the grape. It can be vinified into a full bodied  tannic wine or as a fruit forward summer wine served slightly chilled. Or it can be fortified into a Port style wine like the Stone Hill Winery 2002 Port. I purchased a couple bottles of this wine years ago in Kansas City, in a forgotten time when wine was allowed on-board planes. At the time it had just received some love from Wine Enthusiast magazine who had selected it as the best American Port. And two previous vintages had been awarded the  Missouri Governor’s Cup.

We learned in at the National Norton Festival that Norton wines should mature in the bottle for at least three years after bottling. Most Missouri wineries join Stone Hill in cellaring the wine for you for a couple years before releasing. The same holds for their Port. Along with their vinification methods, the wine does not possess any of the highly acidic and grapey characteristics of young Norton.  The flavor is rich with a blackberry profile and a hint of nuttiness & spiciness that is usually associated with Old Aged Tawny Port. Yes this wine isn't Portugal - but it is a very good American and Missourian port styled wine. 

Talking Norton and DLW with Jennifer McCloud

The United Grapes of America - Oregon - A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir

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Pinot Noir. That's what fellow bloggers will be consuming this week in Portland Oregon for the 2012 Wine Bloggers Conference. Yes, there will be other wines, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, and your standard Bordeaux fare; but in the Beaver State - Pinot Noir is King - or Queen. There is even an Oregon Pinot Noir Club. The first post-prohibition The United Grapes of America I decided to feature one that is priced below $20 and readily available: the A to Z Wineworks 2010 Pinot Noir. The wine was produced from grapes harvested from 30 different vineyards and 60 different fermentation. Plus, 62% of these vineyards are certified sustainable - a very important attribute for environmentally conscious Oregon. The wine itself is medium bodied with red cherries and raspberry flavors, velvety mid-palatte, and a slightly acidic and spicy finish. All in all - a nice, easy drinking wine with plenty of value.
Pinot Noir was planted in the Willamette Valley and by the 1980s.  Today there are over 400 wineries in Oregon - probably closer to 500 - so there are plenty of Pinot Noir to sample. For

The United Grapes of America - New York - Warwick Valley Winery's Black Dirt Red

Black Dirt Red Overlooking Greenwood Lake

New York State is the 4th largest producer of wine in the The United Grapes of America and most readers already are familiar with the popular wine regions of the Finger Lakes and Long Island. Less well known are the wineries of the Hudson Valley - specifically those on the Shawangunk Wine Trail. One of these wineries is a personal favorite, Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, with their portfolio of wines, ciders, brandies, and Gin. On every trip to Greenwood Lake, we stock up on their Doc's Draft Ciders (Apple, Pear, and seasonal) as well as some wine - like today's feature - the Black Dirt Red.

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The wine is composed of 100% Baco Noir, a French-American hybrid grape produced by crossing Folle Blanche, a French wine grape, and an unknown variety of Vitis riparia indigenous to North America. The grape is cold tolerant so does well in the Northeast and Canada - and particularly the Hudson Valley. The wine's name refers to the agriculture area centered in Warwick, New York - the Black Dirt Region. This area is comprised of very fertile black soil,  "left over from an ancient glacial lake bottom augmented by decades of past flooding of the Wallkill River".

Doc's Draft Ciders

Warwick Valley Winery's Black Dirt Red has all the standard Baco Noir attributes: medium bodied, cherry flavors, and easy drinking - but his seems to have a more powerful flavor profile as well as a slight spicy - almost leathery - finish.  Plus, the wine fits squarely into our budget for a nice table wine, $10.99. So give Baco Noir a try and specifically, check out the wines from New York's Hudson Valley.

Note: the Doc's Draft Ciders are also highly recommended. I tried the Apple, Pear and Sour Cherry - all have great fruit - which produces a fuller flavor profile than most dry ciders.

The United Grapes of America - McPherson Cellars Texas Tre Colore

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Depending on who you talk to, Texas is either the 5th or 6th largest wine producer in the The United Grapes of America and the Lone Star State seems to have found a home for Italian and Rhone grape varieties. McPherson Cellars from Lubbock is featured in the StarChefs.com article and I picked up their 2010 Texas Tre Colore specifically because of the southern Rhone blend of Carignan (27%), Mourvedre (62%) and Viognier (11%).  I mean, what a great combination of grapes and this is one excellent medium bodied, easy drinking wine. There are very little tannins in this wine, thus its perfect for consuming solo and the red cherry flavor fits our palette perfectly. Even our Pinot Noir centric friends enjoyed this one. Winemaker Kim McPherson and his father "Doc" were instrumental in jump starting the early Texas wine industry and you can read about that history at the winery's website.  Cheers to a fine Texas wine.

Notes: The Tre Colore was purchased at Wholefoods for $15.

The United Grapes of America - Florida's Keel And Curley Winery Blueberry Wine

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You know you may have a problem when on the day your son is flying home from Florida you frantically call his host to include two bottles of your favorite Florida wine, the Keel And Curley Winery Dry Blueberry. Now the original The United Grapes of America StarChefs.com article mentions wines from Schnebly Redland's Winery, but these tropical fruit based wines are generally too sweet for my tastes. On the other hand, the K&C blueberry is completely dry with a big nose and can be mistaken for a medium-full bodied malbec if one was tasting blind. The wine is made from High-Bush Blueberries grown in their Plant City farm about 20 miles east of Tampa Bay. The blueberries are fermented on the skins which helps retain the key benefits of this super fruit: vitamin C and antioxidants. In fact a new University of Florida study fund that "wine made from southern highbush berries had more antioxidants than white wine and all but 20 percent of the reported values for red wines..." That could be why in 2011,  300,000 bottles of blueberry wine were sold throughout the Sunshine state. Glad I scored my two bottles. Cheers.

The United Grapes of America - Michigan's Chateau Grand Traverse Ship of Fools

Ship of Fools with the Ocracoke Lighthouse

This week's The United Grapes of America features a wine from Michigan, the Ship of Fools from Chateau Grand Traverse.  While sampling this wine at Wholefoods, another customer was shocked that Michigan produced wine. Andrew Stover, Vino50 Selections, responded that Michigan shares the all important 45° north latitude with Burgundy, Northern Rhone, and Oregon's Willamette Valley AVA. And with over 100 wineries, the Michigan wine industry is nowhere near a nascent industry.

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Chateau Grand Traverse has been operating for over three decades - specializing in Riesling, but for this post we feature their Ship of Fools ($15) Pinot blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir. That may be a one of a kind catch.  Obviously the 45° latitude caters to Pinot and the 55% Pinot Blanc provides a suitable bearing to savor this wine, with the Pinot Blanc the sails and the Pinot Noir the nautical rustic charm. Seriously, this is a nice wine - balanced between the subtle grapefruit flavor and mild acidity - with good texture in between. I would also recommend pairing any Pinot Blanc based wine with food.  And take a voyage through the Great Lakes to Lake Traverse Michigan. Cheers.