Alaska's uncertain economy makes it to the New York Times (Anchorage: 2013, houses)

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

A lot of people have no idea why the Federal Government spends so much money on police, highway funds, and the rest. They don't realize that the military are driving on those roads daily, flying all over Alaska, and having military training (including multinational training) on numerous and huge chunks of land).

Yes. We probably have just about any mineral we can think of. But Alaska just can't get to them just because it wants to. The Federal Government won't allow it.

I was just reading a Department of Natural Resources circular on "Rare-Earth Elements: A brief overview including uses, worldwide resources, and known occurrences in Alaska" this morning, and you are right. There is a lot of potential for Alaska's mining industry - assuming we can keep the Democrats from preventing resource development like they typically do.

[Metlakatla]

I think if I were wanting to have a little business in the Mat Su, I'd start a little vineyard. Viticulture is just beginning in Alaska, and it could be a thing in a couple of decades. It hasn't traditionally been considered to be wine country, and the Earth will have to heat up considerably before certain grape varieties could be grown, but it's my understanding that people are having success growing some types of cool season grapes.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Glitch

I was just reading a Department of Natural Resources circular on "Rare-Earth Elements: A brief overview including uses, worldwide resources, and known occurrences in Alaska" this morning, and you are right. There is a lot of potential for Alaska's mining industry - assuming we can keep the Democrats from preventing resource development like they typically do.

Good points, and I agree with you other than some of the Republicans aren't any better.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I think if I were wanting to have a little business in the Mat Su, I'd start a little vineyard. Viticulture is just beginning in Alaska, and it could be a thing in a couple of decades. It hasn't traditionally been considered to be wine country, and the Earth will have to heat up considerably before certain grape varieties could be grown, but it's my understanding that people are having success growing some types of cool season grapes.

Would it surprise you to know that there are already five wineries in Alaska?

• Alaskan Wilderness Wines
  "We produce Blueberry, Salmonberry, Raspberry, Black Currant, Strawberry-Rhubarb and Sparkling Rhubarb wines, as well as Wild Rose and Wild Fireweed Meads. All are made with the finest Alaskan ingredients."
• Kodiak Island Winery
  "The Kodiak Island Winery offers a selection of fine Alaskan organic fruit and berry wines."
• Bear Creek Winery
  "We also blend our country wines with the grape wines we produce. Our Blu Zin (Blueberry/White Zinfandel) is so smooth we have trouble making it fast enough for everyone."
• Denali Winery
  "A producer of unique Alaska wines and Ice Wine available in Alaska and Online. Every bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and IceWine has been handcrafted with a hint of Alaska in every bottle."
• Great Land Wines
  "We warmly invite you to visit us in Southeast Alaska where you can purchase our wines in local beverage stores or at the winery in Haines."

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I think if I were wanting to have a little business in the Mat Su, I'd start a little vineyard. Viticulture is just beginning in Alaska, and it could be a thing in a couple of decades. It hasn't traditionally been considered to be wine country, and the Earth will have to heat up considerably before certain grape varieties could be grown, but it's my understanding that people are having success growing some types of cool season grapes.

That's an excellent idea. Also, over in Fairbanks we have a couple of small companies that are brewing quite a nice beer. I only know of the Silver Gulch since I have gone there for dinner with my wife and had a taste of their beer. While I am not into beer, I did find their ale to be quite good, specially one that incorporates a hint of Alaska blueberry flavor. For some reason some entrepreneurs in Alaska are quite successful. For example, I was reading about this lady in Anchorage who created a "wild-berry jam" business, and these jams are quite popular in Japan. Then we have "Hot Licks" ice cream in Fairbanks. Now some farmers are growing natural and free-range cattle in Fairbanks and delta Junction, and so on. There is a huge market for organic stuff in Fairbanks, and both Fred Meyer and Safeway are now selling organic products (and meats) at their stores.

All good ideas.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Would it surprise you to know that there are already five wineries in Alaska?

• Alaskan Wilderness Wines
  "We produce Blueberry, Salmonberry, Raspberry, Black Currant, Strawberry-Rhubarb and Sparkling Rhubarb wines, as well as Wild Rose and Wild Fireweed Meads. All are made with the finest Alaskan ingredients."
• Kodiak Island Winery
  "The Kodiak Island Winery offers a selection of fine Alaskan organic fruit and berry wines."
• Bear Creek Winery
  "We also blend our country wines with the grape wines we produce. Our Blu Zin (Blueberry/White Zinfandel) is so smooth we have trouble making it fast enough for everyone."
• Denali Winery
  "A producer of unique Alaska wines and Ice Wine available in Alaska and Online. Every bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and IceWine has been handcrafted with a hint of Alaska in every bottle."
• Great Land Wines
  "We warmly invite you to visit us in Southeast Alaska where you can purchase our wines in local beverage stores or at the winery in Haines."

No, it wouldn't. They've been there awhile, some of them, but I was talking about vineyards and not about wineries. Also, as pleasant -- or not, it's a matter of taste -- as some of these beverages made with fruit such as blueberries are, they aren't really wine. Fireweed mead sounds worth checking out, so thanks for that.

These places that make wine in AK buy their grapes from production vineyards in the -48. There's very little -- if any, yet -- commercial grape production in AK.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Would it surprise you to know that there are already five wineries in Alaska?

• Alaskan Wilderness Wines
  "We produce Blueberry, Salmonberry, Raspberry, Black Currant, Strawberry-Rhubarb and Sparkling Rhubarb wines, as well as Wild Rose and Wild Fireweed Meads. All are made with the finest Alaskan ingredients."
• Kodiak Island Winery
  "The Kodiak Island Winery offers a selection of fine Alaskan organic fruit and berry wines."
• Bear Creek Winery
  "We also blend our country wines with the grape wines we produce. Our Blu Zin (Blueberry/White Zinfandel) is so smooth we have trouble making it fast enough for everyone."
• Denali Winery
  "A producer of unique Alaska wines and Ice Wine available in Alaska and Online. Every bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and IceWine has been handcrafted with a hint of Alaska in every bottle."
• Great Land Wines
  "We warmly invite you to visit us in Southeast Alaska where you can purchase our wines in local beverage stores or at the winery in Haines."

Dang! I forgot that my wife bought a bottle of wine for me from a winery in Juneau. The wine was delicious, had over 13% alcohol, and was quite expensive considering the size (somewhere around $18.00 a bottle). Safeway and Fred Meyer have the wines, and was also being sold at Sam's Club. It's becoming a big seller around Fairbanks.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

That's an excellent idea. Also, over in Fairbanks we have a couple of small companies that are brewing quite a nice beer. I only know of the Silver Gulch since I have gone there for dinner with my wife and had a taste of their beer. While I am not into beer, I did find their ale to be quite good, specially one that incorporates a hint of Alaska blueberry flavor. For some reason some entrepreneurs in Alaska are quite successful. For example, I was reading about this lady in Anchorage who created a "wild-berry jam" business, and these jams are quite popular in Japan. Then we have "Hot Licks" ice cream in Fairbanks. Now some farmers are growing natural and free-range cattle in Fairbanks and delta Junction, and so on. There is a huge market for organic stuff in Fairbanks, and both Fred Meyer and Safeway are now selling organic products (and meats) at their stores.

All good ideas.

Alaska Summer Ale is my favorite beer. I'm not a huge beer drinker, but I thought for years that I hated the taste of it until I had some Belgian lambic. Craft beer is a whole different thing than swill such as Budweiser.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

No, it wouldn't. They've been there awhile, some of them, but I was talking about vineyards and not about wineries. Also, as pleasant -- or not, it's a matter of taste -- as some of these beverages made with fruit such as blueberries are, they aren't really wine. Fireweed mead sounds worth checking out, so thanks for that.

These places that make wine in AK buy their grapes from production vineyards in the -48. There's very little -- if any, yet -- commercial grape production in AK.

I agree with you, it is not really wine unless it is made from grapes. I drink around 10 to 12 bottles of wine per year, and I have never purchased an Alaskan wine. Or one from Washington State either. The best wines come from much further south.

It would have to get considerably warmer than it is today for there to be viable commercial vineyards in Alaska. Somewhere in the neighborhood of a 5°C to 10°C increase in the mean surface temperature of the planet should do the trick.

Of course that will pretty much end the Iditarod.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Dang! I forgot that my wife bought a bottle of wine for me from a winery in Juneau. The wine was delicious, had over 13% alcohol, and was quite expensive considering the size (somewhere around $18.00 a bottle). Safeway and Fred Meyer have the wines, and was also being sold at Sam's Club. It's becoming a big seller around Fairbanks.

Ray, read my previous post. While Glitch is quite right about there being a few wineries in Alaska (and a few that call themselves that but really only produce fruit beverages), Alaska doesn't yet have a commercial vineyard industry. That's what I was typing about.