Anyone else love wine?

[Bigkahuna]

New York has a ton of fine wineries from the Hudson River Valley all the way up to the Canadian side of Niagara. Great stuff up by Niagara on The Lake. They make an Ice Wine that is fantastic! North Carolina has some nice little vineyards by the Outter Banks that are worth a visit for some nice scuppernong wine. The oldest cultivated grapevine in America is in Manteo, North Carolina. It is supposed to have been cultivated for over 400 years and is known as The Mother Vine. The vine itself covers an area of about 1 acre.

[Raphael]

I am glad that I live in BC as we have many excellent wineries here. I did a wine tour on Vancouver Island a few years ago and I have tried many delicious wine. The more wine I tried, the more I appreciate the complexity.

I love red wine and a few selected white wine. I prefer Shariz, Merlot and Pinot Noir.

[duchessofnc]

I'm not much of a drinker but I do enjoy wine from time because it's a very interesting art that is involved in it. North Carolina has some really nice vineyards. One that is nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina is Biltmore Estates. They make several wines including a couple of sparkling wines (which are very good). Then over in Greensboro, North Carolina that there is an incredible vineyard that is more of a microbrew vineyard. I got to see more of the wine making process there than I did with Biltmore Estates tour and the tasting was absolutely awesome. I'd have to research the name of it to be sure or I would post it.

At some point when I move into Canada (which should be the first of March), I would love to tour a couple of the Vineyards. I kept seeing the signs for them on my way from Buffalo to Toronto.

[kiltimabar]

Wines--now there's a subject I could devote many words and much time to. It was no coincidence that I move up to Sonoma County wine country. Lots of good cabernets, zinfandels, pinot noirs, syrahs, and petite sirahs grown here. Also chardonnays, but for whites I personally prefer the rieslings and gewurztraminers from Washington and Oregon. I love the German whites but they have gotten really pricey.

I used to work for Paul Masson and a couple of wine stores years ago. My wife now works for Korbel Champagne Cellars.

Would there be any interest in a kilted wine tour up here one of these days?

[davedove]

As far as wineries in the States, I read somewhere that around 95% (I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but it's in the 90's) of the wines produced in the States comes from California. Around another 3-4% copmes from New York and Washington, and the remaining 1-2% is split among all the other states. That's why you see so many California wines in the stores. The other states just can't compete with the volume, even though they make some very good wines.

[macdoc451]

I'll add my voice to those who enjoy a nice wine, from time to time. Echos from other posts, I like it with my meals. I lean towards evenly balanced wines of both red and white. Va. wines are not my favorite, though I reside there. One of my faves for warm days is Phat Bastard Chardonay. VERY easy on the palate, with some fine citrus overtones!

[Pleater]

I used to try to like wines, but my senses of taste and smell are quite acute - I used to work for Allied Lyons doing storage testing. I detect things to which most people are oblivious.

There were some which were OK - but I was never a great drinker.

Then I found Moscato d'Asti on the shelves at Tesco.

Sigh.

It is just slightly fizzy, light on the alcohol, and a long series of flavours. Each year was different, all were good.

Then one year it was not there, and it has never reappeared.

After a while I looked it up on the internet.

Other people must have like it too - I can't afford it now.

I have tasted a few wines since - but not found anything like the Moscato d'Asti, so I have given up drinking wine.

Anne the Pleater

[Ancienne Alliance]

Then I found Moscato d'Asti on the shelves at Tesco.

Sigh.

It is just slightly fizzy, light on the alcohol, and a long series of flavours. Each year was different, all were good.

Then one year it was not there, and it has never reappeared.

Anne the Pleater

The Asti zone is 2 1/2 hour away from our house...

A bottle of Moscato costs around $10.

Youre welcome any time.


Best,

Robert

[Pleater]

You shouldn't tempt me.

I might never be able to leave a place that made such a wine.

There would always be the next year's wine to stay for, and last year's wine to drink.

Anne the Pleater