Wineries Unlimited

Early last December I went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to judge wines at a trade show called Wineries Unlimited 1977, put on by a magazine called Eastern Grape Grower. The event featured more than two hundred wines produced east of California, and included technical seminars for people in the trade. It was held in one of those astonishing so-called “resorts” that cater to conventions, complete with indoor skating rink, health clubs, sports, and rather dreadful food.

However, this was of no great importance. What was important was the overall view one got of the grape-growing and wine business in places like Arkansas, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, which one doesn’t usually associate with wine, plus of course New York State. Some thirty new wineries have begun production in the Midwest and East in the last several years; wine has certainly become a national interest. The resurgence has also been helped by relaxed state laws about wineries, wine selling, and taxes. (Not that California need worry; I imagine that it will always be the leader, by a very wide margin, in American wine.)

NH

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Nika Hazelton

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Early last December I went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to judge wines at a trade show called Wineries Unlimited 1977, put on by a magazine called Eastern Grape Grower. The event featured more than two hundred wines produced east of California, and included technical seminars for people in the trade. It was held in one of those astonishing so-called “resorts” that cater to conventions, complete with indoor skating rink, health clubs, sports, and rather dreadful food.

However, this was of no great importance. What was important was the overall view one got of the grape-growing and wine business in places like Arkansas, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, which one doesn’t usually associate with wine, plus of course New York State. Some thirty new wineries have begun production in the Midwest and East in the last several years; wine has certainly become a national interest. The resurgence has also been helped by relaxed state laws about wineries, wine selling, and taxes. (Not that California need worry; I imagine that it will always be the leader, by a very wide margin, in American wine.)