This article by Washington Post wine writer Dave McIntyre is really a wonderful reflection on terroir, and the joy of developing a literal taste for a regional wine. And lest that word - terroir - scare you off, it's just this: the New World of winemakers getting better at figuring out what their land does best.
Virginia, Maryland and other regions up and down the East Coast have come a long way in making quaffable wine. But now some winemakers - the more serious, or talented, or lucky - have managed to bring their bottles to a new level. They are making wine that tastes of the land. Their land. Regularly, not one-off. And that's exciting.
Dave says, "Terroir depends on us as consumers, because we have to recognize it. And that means we have to taste enough wines to get to know the expression of place."
Now there's a fun assignment.
He mentions three wineries that are already doing terroir well - Linden Vineyards and RdV Vineyards in Northern Virginia, and Ox-Eye Vineyards near Staunton. Those are great places to start a tasting education. (And by the way, kudos to Dave for throwing a little recognition to Ox-Eye, a wonderful but little-known winery in the Shenandoah Valley.)
Here's another chance to learn: Put April 22 on your calendar. That's the date for the Capital Wine School's annual "Top 12 Virginia Wines" tasting event. School owner Jay Youmans is the director of the Virginia Governor's Cup competition, and during this fun evening you'll get a chance to taste the top twelve wines chosen for 2017. These wines make up the Governor's Case, and are distributed to wine writers around the world.
Real the complete article by Dave McIntyre here.
Virginia, Maryland and other regions up and down the East Coast have come a long way in making quaffable wine. But now some winemakers - the more serious, or talented, or lucky - have managed to bring their bottles to a new level. They are making wine that tastes of the land. Their land. Regularly, not one-off. And that's exciting.
Dave says, "Terroir depends on us as consumers, because we have to recognize it. And that means we have to taste enough wines to get to know the expression of place."
Now there's a fun assignment.
He mentions three wineries that are already doing terroir well - Linden Vineyards and RdV Vineyards in Northern Virginia, and Ox-Eye Vineyards near Staunton. Those are great places to start a tasting education. (And by the way, kudos to Dave for throwing a little recognition to Ox-Eye, a wonderful but little-known winery in the Shenandoah Valley.)
Here's another chance to learn: Put April 22 on your calendar. That's the date for the Capital Wine School's annual "Top 12 Virginia Wines" tasting event. School owner Jay Youmans is the director of the Virginia Governor's Cup competition, and during this fun evening you'll get a chance to taste the top twelve wines chosen for 2017. These wines make up the Governor's Case, and are distributed to wine writers around the world.
Real the complete article by Dave McIntyre here.
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