Most people don't think of Vermont as a place where wine making would flourish. The long, harsh winters make it difficult for many varieties of grapes to grow, but many in the Northeast are finding that viticulture is possible and have created some delicious wines very recently.
The first vineyards grown in Vermont were in 1997, so wine making in the Green Mountain State is still a fairly recent endeavor. The grape varieties we have in Vermont are typically Minnesota hybrids and other Northern varieties that are hardy enough to make it through the tough winters. Although Vermont might not be the next Sonoma, (we hope the climate doesn't change that fast), it is making the most out of its place on the earth and creating delicious wines, including the northern specialty, ice wines. Ice wines are desert wines that are very strong, and also very expensive. They are particularly well suited for Vermont because the grapes are harvested while they are still frozen, hence the term "ice wine", and then made into wine.
A local winery we'd like to highlight here is the Shelburne Vineyard, located just south of Burlington. This winery has four vineyards located nearby where they grow all of their grapes. Many of the wines are organic and they all contain local ingredients from northwestern Vermont. We feel that if you're a wine drinker, choosing to drink locally crafted wines is very important because most wines are being shipped out from the West Coast or from Europe. Supporting our local wineries is good for Vermont's economy and will allow this industry to further blossom as the climate in Vermont becomes even more hospitable to new varieties of grapes.
A link to Shelburne Vineyard's website: http://shelburnevineyard.com/
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