The Very Best
Domestic Wiinesnes
Raise a holiday toast to the best
vintages. And remember, it’s not
all about California anymore.
By Mark Spivak
ENTION WINE TO MOST AMERICAN CONSUMERS, AND
M
they automatically think of California. Small won-
der: The Golden State pioneered the industry in
this country and put American wine production
on the world’s radar screen.
Even so, wine is now made in all 50 states.
There are 300 wineries in Oregon alone, and near-
ly 500 in the state of Washington. Tourists mean-
der down wine trails in Virginia, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Texas, and Ohio, and a 20,000 square-
foot New York Wine and Culinary Center opened
in Canandaigua, N.Y., in 2006.
As in California, fi nding the best wines requires
some effort. The top producers may not be in gen-
eral distribution, and frequently sell most of their
bottles through mailing lists. Here’s a guide to
some regional treasures worth seeking out.
2006 Bunch Select 2006 Arcturos 2005 Champoux Vineyard Proprietary Red
Late Harvest Riesling Cabernet Franc
Andrew Will Winery, Vashon Island, Wash. ($55)
Wiemer, Dundee Black Star Farms,
Founded in 1989, Chris
(Finger Lakes Region) N.Y. Suttons Bay, Mich. ($20)
Camarda’s winery was named A
VID OLDHAM
($50)
Black Star Farms is on the
for his nephew, Andrew, and
When Hermann J.W Leelanau Peninsula,
his son, Will. He makes full-
WiWiemer immigrated to New Michigan’s most
bodied reds from eight different
Yoork, he found soil andr famous vineyard area,
vineyard sites, specializing in
clclimate similar to his nativei although their cabernet
blends that express the essence
ARD / CHAMPOUX/D
GGermany. This nectar is franc is a blend of fruit
of a particular plot of land. The
ssimilar to a German TBA from Leelanau and
2005 Champoux (45 percent
(t(trockenbeerenauslese), Old Mission. “It has
cabernet sauvignon, 20 percent
.
WIEMER VINEY
aand the nose has the same huge, chewy fruit,”
cabernet franc, 30 percent merlot
pperfume of super-ripe says Sandra Silfven
and 5 percent petit verdot) is
aapricots, peaches, and of The Detroit News,
made from grapes grown in the
trtropical fruits. Perfect as a “propped up by soft,
Columbia Valley, near Paterson. Y OF HERMANN J
ddessert on its own. chocolate tannins.”
Total cases made: 1,225.
TES
wwww.wiemer.com.
www.blackstarfarms.com.
www.andrewwill.com. C
OUR
2006 Leonetti Cellars Merlot Leonetti Cellars, Walla Walla, Wash. ($90)
Gary Figgins grew up drinking his grandparents’ homemade wine. This self-taught winemaker founded the fi rst estate
in the Walla Walla Valley in 1977. Today, there are more than 90. Located at the foot of the Blue Mountains in southeastern
Washington, the region’s cool and arid climate produces grapes with high acidity and intense fl avors. Consumers have to
/ISTOCKPHOTO / BUNCH/
/ISTOCKPHOTO
wait to get on the mailing list, but the wines are available at retail stores in 17 states.
www.leonetticellar.com.
GLASSES S
T
AINS
66 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE / DECEMBER 2008
0066_Very_Best_wines2.indd 6666_Very_Best_wines2.indd 66 111/7/08 11:34:05 AM1/7/08 11:34:05 AM
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