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California has the biggest and best variety--you can find almost everything grown in one place or another. Washington produces a good mix east of the Cascades in terms of more hot weather grapes like Cabs and Syrahs, and has some great wines around Walla Walla. Washington has a ton of good wines, but doesn't seem to get as much recognition for any one varietal in particular. There's some amazing wines coming out of Washington, but some of it is hit or miss for the most exceptional wines. Oregon specializes pretty much in higher end pinots, but they've done to such a degree to be recognized as one of the best places in the world for pinot noirs. It'll be interesting to see how the hotter wine regions in Southern Oregon like the Applegate Valley and Roseburg will do as more wineries open and expand in that area. Oregon doesn't have the large-scale high-volume commercial places like Chateau St. Michelle or Columbia Crest in Washington or Kendall Jackson or Gallo in California, it's most smaller volume high quality places.
Personally, I mostly drink a lot of Oregon wines, because I get good deals and I love pinot. Other than that it's usually a lot of Washington wines or California--and I'll usually drink Italian or Spanish wine or sometimes French after that.
The rest of the US, I can't really speak for, I don't know if I could even locate a New York wine in most of my wine shops or restaurants. There's wine all over the US in small amounts, I've even had some good wines from Idaho recently.
Idaho wines are gaining attention and winning awards all over the world. Both reds and whites are excellent.
An interesting historical fact is that Idaho had the first vineyards in the Northwest until prohibition wiped them out. Fast foward to today and there is the Snake River Viticultural Area in the Boise Metro south of Caldwell and there are over 20 wineries and 50 vineyards. There is even a winery/vineyard in the Foothills above downtown Boise. Studies are on going to hopefully create a second AVA in the state up north near Lewiston where the first vineyards in the NW were planted.
I'm interested in what non West Coast wines in the US are like. I've had ice wines from upstate New York, but I think that's about all I've had.
Certain grapes have produced some excellent varietals in Texas; I think most acreage is Cabernet Sauvignon, but lately Tempranillo (high plains) and Viognier (hill country) have been garnering international recognition. It's a pretty fledgling industry so vineyards are learning what works and what doesn't.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Originally Posted by Zara Ray
I'm going to be biased and pick Washington for best state wine. It's not overrated like the ones in California (Sonoma Valley, Napa) and they have a great selection and wineries. which is your favorite region and state for wine?
Washington State was the first place that came to mind when I saw this thread title. I really like Chateau Ste. Michelle a lot.
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