America's Secret Pleasures: Wineries Off the Beaten Path

It's a good bet that the last American wine you drank came from California, Washington or maybe Oregon, but you're missing out on a lot of interesting tastes from wineries scattered across the rest of the nation.
 
I began thinking more about the great variety of U.S. wines after reading a book that I got for Christmas, Wine Country USA: Touring, Tasting, and Buying at America's Regional Wineries. The book's author, Matthew DeBord, is a former Wine Spectator editor who crisscrossed the country in search of interesting wines and wineries to write about.

The story begins on the East Coast with a look at Long Island (try the Cabernet Franc from Schneider Vineyards)  and the Finger Lakes of New York.

 
I've tasted wines from both of these regions and visited several wineries around Seneca Lake, which can provide a delightful weekend adventure if you're ever in New York with time on your hands. I can personally recommend the Riesling from Red Newt Cellars, which can give some of Germany's good white wines a decent run for their money. Plus, there's something really enjoyable about sitting on the deck of the Red Newt Bistro, sipping wine made from the adjacent vineyards on a warm summer evening.
 
The author meanders from New York down the Atlantic coast and through the Southeast before hitting the Midwest and Southwest and then paying homage to Oregon, Washington and California.
 
It's a fact-filled read that includes touring tips and sightseeing suggestions along with hotel and restaurant recommendations.
 

I was intrigued mostly by his finds outside the more established wine-growing areas, including Blue Mountain Vineyards  in eastern Pennsylvania, Linden Vineyards of Virginia and Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. In Michigan, the author extolled the virtues of the L. Mawby Winery, especially its  Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine, calling it "one of the nicest $16 sparklers you're likely to find anywhere in America."
 
To the west, DeBord points to the Viognier from Alamosa Wine Cellars as a delicious white wine from an improbable location (the Texas Hill Country) and to Becker Vineyards estate-bottled port made just off Highway 290 southwest of Austin.
 
In western Colorado, he found a tasty Chardonnay from Two Rivers Winery and an up-and-coming Cabernet Franc from Plum Creek Cellars.
 
The takeaway here is to try something new, from someplace different. You just might find a treasure in an unlikely location. And let us all know what you find out!

EXPERIENCE AT-A-GLANCE

Recommended Reading:

• Wine Country USA: Touring, Tasting, and Buying at America's Regional Wineries

Other American Wine Books to Browse:

• American Vintage: The Rise of American Wine by Paul Lukacs
• A History of Wine in America by Thomas Pinney

Colorado

• Colorado Wine Association

New York

• Long island Wine Country
• Finger Lakes Wine Country

North Carolina

• Savor NC Wine
• Yadkin Valley Wine Trail

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Wine and Wineries

Texas

• Texas Hill Country Wineries
• Texas Wine
• Wine Society of Texas

Virginia

• Virginia Wines
• Virginia Wine Guide

Southern United States

• WeekendWinery.com