WASHINGTON 鈥� Andrew Stover is on a mission to turn Washingtonians on to American wines from unsuspected places. Think less California and more Texas.
鈥淯sually that鈥檚 referred to as 鈥楾he Other 47,鈥欌�� says Stover, who is a certified sommelier and founder of Vino 50 Selections. 鈥淢eaning anything but California, Washington and Oregon.鈥�
Not that he has anything against the wines from the country鈥檚 three biggest wine-producing states. Many of their vineyards and wineries are growing and producing some of the best in the world. But so are wineries in Michigan, Missouri and Virginia.
鈥淪ome people will tell you, and I would agree, that there are some wines already today that exceed quality and value in Virginia, than a comparable wine from California,鈥� Stover says.
Hearing about a wine from Missouri might be new to some consumers, but Stover says it shouldn鈥檛 be. Many of these 鈥渦nusual states鈥� have been making wine for centuries.
鈥淔or example, Missouri was making wine as early as the 1830s,鈥� Stover says, adding that the state鈥檚 Stone Hill Winery was once the second largest winery in the U.S., and at the turn of the century was shipping 1,250,000 gallons of wine per year.
Virginia also has a long history with wine that dates back to the days of colonization and extends through the early 1900s. However, this all came to a halt when prohibition was enacted.
鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 really realize what prohibition did for American wine production. Locally, here, it pretty much decimated the industry, and the same thing in Missouri,鈥� Stover says.
Wineries out West were also affected, but Stover says they rebuilt their operations faster (in the 1960s and 鈥�70s) than many East Coast wineries, which started to see regrowth in the industry in the 鈥�80s.
Today, progress continues to grow on the East Coast, as well as in several other regions throughout the country.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a boom in New York, there鈥檚 a boom in Virginia. We鈥檙e seeing a small boom in Maryland. Really, we鈥檙e seeing a boom everywhere, except in California,鈥� Stover says.
And these states are all experimenting with a number of different grapes and varietals, based on their specific regions and climates.
Virginia, for example, has success with Norton, Viognier and Cabernet Franc. Winemakers in the Commonwealth are also experimenting with grapes that grow well in hot and humid climates in other parts of the world, such as Albari帽o, a white grape from Spain.
In Texas鈥� high-plain region, winemakers are working with Tempranillo, a Spanish grape used to make full-bodied red wines, as well as Sangiovese, Syrah and Grenache.
鈥淭hese red grapes that we see in things like C么tes du Rh么ne, they鈥檙e really doing well in these high, arid plains of Texas,鈥� Stover says. 鈥淭he higher elevation and cooler nights adds to freshness.鈥�
Cooler-climate grapes, such as riesling, Gew眉rztraminer and Gamay thrive in Michigan, as do Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc 鈥� especially closer to the Indiana border.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really been a testament to what works best for that climate and that soil and that region. It鈥檚 not, 鈥楬ey, let鈥檚 just grow chardonnay because everyone grows chardonnay,鈥欌�� Stover says.
As these lesser known wine-producing states grow their production, wine stores are growing their selections. No longer is the American aisle limited to California, Oregon and Washington wines. These days, it鈥檚 becoming easier to find bottles from Virginia, New York and Michigan.
Stover says November is just as good of a time as any to test out some new American wines 鈥� especially with Thanksgiving on the horizon.
鈥淣othing is more American than an American wine for an American holiday,鈥� he says.
Interested in pouring some U.S. pride at your holiday meal? Stover has one piece of advice: Avoid the big, bold wines.
鈥淭hanksgiving is a smorgasbord of flavors depending on what your sides are, because it鈥檚 all about the sides,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more about finding the best overall wine that鈥檚 not going to interfere with some of those delicate flavors.鈥�
His top pick is a .
鈥淭hibaut Janisson is fantastic,鈥� he says, adding that Trump Winery also has several great options from which to choose. 鈥淭hey carried on the sparkling wine program at Trump that Patricia Kluge started, and always amazing stuff 鈥� especially the sparkling ros茅.鈥�
If you prefer to go with a red, Stover recommends a pinot noir. There are plenty of options from California, Washington and Oregon, but he suggests trying a bottle from Michigan or New York if you spot one in your local wine store.
When it comes to white, Viognier and riesling are two great options. Many stores that carry Virginia wines will be able to match you with a local wine, based on your taste preferences and price point.
Want to pick up a bottle of American wine for your holiday gatherings?聽The map below marks your best bets for finding a bottle in the D.C. area.
