Our Newsletter
Misconceptions Dismissed - VT Launches New Wine Council
09/10/2008
Let’s address the elephant in the room… cabernet grapes don’t grow that well in Vermont.
And while we’re on the topic, merlot doesn’t do that well here either! And if you’ve been to Vermont, you’ve probably noticed that it’s frequently cool and overcast, and it snows like crazy. So what business does Vermont have growing grapes and making wine?
The answer to that question, we are finding out, is lots of business. At the inception of the Council there were 14 registered wineries in the state, seven grape growers, and since then we have grown and continue to have more wineries and vineyards joining us across the state. We may not be making Cabernet (although Honora winery makes a great Cab from California juice) but we are making world-class wines from cold hardy grapes like Frontenac, Reisling, Cayuga and Lacrescent. Our unique climate is also excellent for bee-keeping and apple growing, and our meads and ciders reflect that. And don’t forget our ice wines, which are made from super-sweet grapes left on the vine until the winter solstice, because ours are some of the best in the country.
So, why try some new varietal or wine style from a place not known for its wine? Because in Vermont there is a revolution happening, it’s been going on for a while, and its waves can be felt in restaurants and informed kitchens around the country. The best food and wine is local, hand-crafted by real people you can talk to, and reflects the terroir of the place it is from.
Last fall Vermont’s intrepid wine makers and grape growers got together and started the Vermont Grape and Wine Council. The purpose of our council is to enhance Vermont’s wine industry, educate new and existing growers and winemakers, and promote progressive legislation. The Council is a non-profit corporation registered with the state of Vermont and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and we are modeled after similar wine councils in New York and beyond.
In March of this year we had our first ever tasting as a council and it happened in the Vermont State House! Ten wineries attended and hundreds of legislators, media, and wine lovers came to lend their support and see what we had to offer. The event was a raging success and we plan to have an even better time at the Vermont Life Wine and Harvest festival in late September.
Vermont Wine is a rapidly growing, locally oriented, family-farm friendly industry that captures this state’s stunning terroir and unique climate. The future looks bright! Pour Vermont Wine!