Ok, so that sounds far too official for what it really is, but that's just how I like to roll. Everything is bigger in Texas (obligatory double entendre goes here), but are generally not as big as Texans would have you believe. Still, this is pretty much huge.
One of my new favorite people on Twitter is @wineaccguy, who is currently working on launching the Wine(Accessorized) website (check out his blog chronicling the process here), and tweeting up a storm in the wine community. He is based in North Carolina right now, but had mentioned that he was from Virginia and went to school there. We have discussed Virginia and Texas wine in the past, and I mentioned that I have really been wanting to try some VA wine. When he mentioned that he was going to be going to a tasting in VA, and that we should do a TX/VA wine exchange, I jumped on the opportunity.
Right now Texas and Virginia seem to be locked in a battle for the next spot on the list behind the big 4 wine regions (California, Washington, Oregon, and New York). I recently saw an article on the VintageTexas blog that said that VA had passed TX in the number of wineries in the state, with Virginia having 163 and Texas coming in at 157. I've been involved in some great discussions about what state will cause "The Other 46" to become "The Other 45". There's really no telling whether any state will accomplish this in the near future, but it seems that TX and VA are among the leading contenders.
We are still working out the details of the exchange, but I look forward to sharing some Texas wine with Joshua, and to trying some Virginia wines. Right now we are looking at exchanging a couple of bottles in the $20 range. One of the most fun things about being into wine, is discovering new things. It can be really difficult to track down wines from outside of the Big 4, so this is a really great opportunity to experience some wine that neither of us would normally get the chance to try. Looking forward to sharing the results of the exchange with everyone.
What states do you think have the best change to join the Big 4? What are some varieties that are doing well in your state?
The funny thing about “The Big Four” is it’s all perception, really. In my opinion, there’s California wine, and then there’s wine from other parts of the United States, but I view them with similar eyes that I view wine from South America or Africa. Not bad in any way, just very, very, “new.”
My mind is changing slowly in this regard to Washington. But Oregon? New York? I can’t put them in the same pool as even one of California’s major wine regions (say, Sonoma, Napa, or Central Coast), let alone the state as a whole.
Cali-centric? Yes. Prejudiced? Perhaps. But that’s the way I feel.
I’m getting stoked about this already. I hope this goes well for both our states as well as both our blogs!
Steve, even though I’m in Virginia’s corner for this experiment, I’d have to agree with you. I’m on the East Coast, still have a VA driver’s license, but at least 90% of the domestic wine I consume is produced in California. It seems like times are changing, however slowly, but you’re totally on point on this one right now.
Haha, completely forgot to actually sign in before I posted last time.
Steve, I can’t say anything about New York wine, as I’ve never had one. I have been having some really great wine from Washington lately though. I would stack some of the WA wines that I’ve had in the last year against California wines. Oregon seems to have it’s niche, but I would put them behind WA overall.
All of that being said, clearly California is alone at number one in American wines. There is a consistency in Cali wines that puts them above everyone else. I just think that there is more quality competition now than there used to be.
Joshua – Me too! This should be fun.
Well I don’t know about ya’ll but I’m from Virginia, so VA is my hands down winner for the 5th big wine region. With that said, Washington is #1 in quality wines. California just has more quantity. IMHO
You’ll find no better Merlot, Syrah Riesling, Cabernet, Bordeaux blends, and some up and coming Nebbiolo, Barbera, Petite Verdot than in the great Evergreen State….just sayin’
You’ll see when you’re here for the WBC2010
Josh
Josh, I thought you might have something to say in response to Steve’s comment.
I keep forgetting that you are from Virginia.
I do have to say that my favorite American wines that I have had this year have all been from Washington. I don’t really spend the kind of money required to get the top end California wines very often though, so I can’t really compare the best WA wines with the best from CA.
Can’t wait to be back up in Walla Walla for WBC10. Should be a great time, with some great wine (and winos).
Josh, while Washington is doing a really great job these days, especially with French varietals, claiming that California “just has more quantity” is, to put it mildly, sour grapes.
California is, and frankly will always be, the king region of American wine.
And yes, I’m from CA, just south of Napa. Biases be damned!
I posted a blog and poll about this very subject a while back on TheOther46.com. Virginia easily took first place.
http://theother46.com/2009/03/30/the-big-5/
Michigan is an under-appreciated wine region that is doing some fabulous things with Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Chardonnay. If the marketing and distribution was better, I am sure they could compete with Oregon, Washington, and New York.
I think that Virginia and Michigan are two of the states that I hear the most good feedback about from outside of the big 4. Michigan wine is definitely next on my list to try.
Brian, thanks for the comment BTW. Yeah, I had seen that before. I’m not going to lie, I question how many of those people (regardless of state) have actually tried the wines from the other areas. For example, I voted in that poll, and I’ve only had Texas and Arizona wines from that list. Not to be negative, but I would guess that a significant portion of the people who voted probably voted for the state that they live in (like I did.)
Maybe we should work on organizing an Other 46 tasting event. I think that would be a lot of fun.