Epicurious came up with a good regional wine story idea: Pick the “best” wine from each state and write a short blurb about it. The concept for the article is a bit of a stretch and I would quibble with some of the results, but it’s fun/fast read. There are many cold hardy and hybrid wines on the Epicurious list which is refreshing.
Mark Ganchiff
Mark Ganchiff is the publisher of Midwest Wine Press, the leading source of news on the growing wine industry in the central United States. Mark has been a wine judge at the 2012 and 2014 INDY International Wine Competition, the 2014 Cold Climate Wine Competition, the 2013 Mid-American Wine Competition, the 2012 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition and the 2013 Michigan Wine Competition. He also enjoys speaking at wine events including the Cold Climate Wine Conference, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association Annual Meeting, the Midwest Grape and Wine Conference and the Wisconsin Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Mark's articles about regional wine have appeared in Vineyard & Winery Management, WineMaker and several regional magazines. Mark is a Level One Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers. He lives in Louisville, but also has a residence in Chicago.
Yes, Mark, it IS very refreshing to see a national publication spreading the word on wines made from hybrid grape varieties….that’s the kind of publicity that may eventually open people’s minds to “other”(non-vinifera) wines. Very exciting!