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Wine region | |
Official name | State of Utah |
---|---|
Type | U.S. state |
Year established | 1860s [1] |
Country | United States |
Soil conditions | sandy loam [2] |
Total area | 54,329,800 acres (84,890 sq mi) [3] |
Size of planted vineyards | 61 acres (25 ha) [4] |
Grapes produced | Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Grenache Blanc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Riesling, Sangiovese, Seyval blanc, Tempranillo, Zinfandel [1] [5] |
No. of wineries | 11 [4] |
Utah wine is made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Utah. Wine production in Utah from grapes grown there has increased steadily since 2018, despite stringent government restrictions and regulations regarding alcohol consumption and production in the state. There are no designated American Viticultural Areas in Utah. [1]
The first wine grapes were planted in Utah in 1857 when Walter Dodge and John Harris brought wagon loads of grape vines to Washington County from California. Shortly after the arrival of Mormon pioneers arrived and settled in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young, second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) decided that the church should get behind the development of wine production in Utah. Shortly thereafter, a group of Swiss settlers answered the call from church leadership to move to Santa Clara in the southern end of the state and establish a wine mission. Viticulture grew to about 1,200 acres (486 ha) under vine. The area began to gain some modest fame for its high quality wines especially among miners and settlers moving through the area on their way to California. By 1866 John Naegle, a German immigrant, was called by the church leadership to move south and take over the burgeoning wine business. Naegle eventually become known as Utah premier winemaker selling his wine under the moniker "Nails Best". Wine eventually became an important cash commodity for residents of Southern Utah and a key commodity used in trading with residents in Salt Lake City for flour and potatoes.
Around the turn of the century, the state saw an increase in lawlessness and alcoholism and so LDS leadership issued new directives removing wine from the sacrament and discouraging its use by the faithful. [6] This, along with the growing engagement of church members with the temperance movement, eventually lead to the slow abandonment of wine-making and consumption which in turn led to the abandonment of even its most outstanding vineyards. Wine production was not revived in Utah until the late 1970's when attempts were made to establish vineyards in north central Utah near the Colorado river basin. Today, viticulture is once again on the rise especially in southern Utah, thanks to the determined efforts of those known collectively as "The New Wine Pioneers". [1] [7]
Beginning in the 1970's some of the first efforts were made to establish vineyards in the Castle Valley, just northeast of Moab in the extreme east/central part of the state. Winemakers planted a few small vineyards near the area of Castle Creek and the Colorado River but never gained a strong foothold in the area mostly due to climate, pests and lack of professional labor to work the vineyards. Despite these struggles, there are still some plantings of pinot noir, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chenin blanc and chardonnay in the area. Today, most of the vineyards in Utah are located in the south western part of the state in Washington County with "the viticultural pioneers" planting at varying elevations in an effort to find the best microclimates in the region. The first modern commercial vineyards in the county were planted in 2006 at 5,000 feet above sea level on the southeastern edge of Dixie National Forest, with the second major commercial planting coming a decade later in Dammeron Valley. As of 2021, about 100 acres of vineyards are planted at various locations and elevations between 3,000 and 5,000 feet (1,524 m) above sea level. Most of these are planted in traditional French, Italian and Spanish grape varietals. The largest vineyards continue to be located in the western side of the county in Dammeron Valley, and to the immediate southeast in the Twin Peaks region of the Red Cliffs Reserve area of the Dixie National Forest. Some of the more recent vineyards have been planted farther east along the I-15 corridor in the town of Leeds. This entire region falls into the broader area on the south eastern slopes of Pine Valley Mountain, the tallest mountain peaks in Washington County.
The newest vineyard plantings are continuing the march eastward spreading into the towns of Hildale on the Utah/Arizona border and the small community of Rockville, on the Virgin River, just outside of Zion National Park. In Hildale and Rockville, growers are partnering with developers to use municipally required green belts or open space areas for the planting of vineyards. This collaboration is a win for both grower and developer as it increases the value of the lots offered by the developer while providing vineyards that can be planted without requiring the purchasing of land, which is very expensive in this rapidly growing state. Like their counterparts in the western portion of the county, growers in Hildale are taking advantage of its 4000+' elevation as a way to escape the summer heat. Because of its more open and spacious terrain, Hildale vineyards will experience cooler temperatures on average than vineyards of similar elevations located in the western side of the county. Hildale Weather. Growers in Rockville are taking a slightly different approach to managing southern Utah's hot dry climate by planting on the banks of the Virgin River right at the bottom of Zion Canyon. The regular air movement up and down the canyon, as well as the cooler air that settles down the canyon in the evenings coming down the canyon from higher elevations to the north, make this an interesting microclimate. In addition, planting on the banks of the Virgin River helps cool temperatures in the area through Evaporation. Like their counterparts in Dammeron Valley, growers in Hildale and Rockville are experimenting with ground cover options to find effective ways to control weed growth in their vineyards. Hildale and Rockville are also beginning to experiment with the use of small Baby Dall Sheep https://babydollsheep.net to control ground cover.
Viticulturists are planting some large vineyards in Northern Utah, but due to the colder winters, they are experimenting with hybrid grape varietals and finding some success with these grapes. As of 2023, these remained non-commercial as the owners work to determine which hybrid's will excel in the area. There are some older small commercial vineyards planted at the bottom of Cottonwood Canyon, east of Salt Lake City, on the western slope of the Wasatch Mountains. These growers are having excellent success with seyval blanc.
Utah is an arid and mountainous state with a relatively dry climate making irrigation a requirement for Utah vineyards. Almost all the vineyards in the state are planted in bilateral cordons on traditional single wire or double cross-arm trellises with some vineyards beginning to experiment with cane pruning and with modified high lateral cross-arm trellises to provide greater shade for the fruit. VSP styles are more popular in the north where sunburn is not as much a factor; the higher elevations of the southern vineyards make UV intensity a concern, thus making it less popular in the south. The considerable amount of sunshine makes broader canopies popular with little to no leaf pulling in order to provide more consistent shading for a greater portion of the day.
Most of the vineyards throughout the state are planted in different types of alluvium soils that are made up of sandy loam, decomposed Igneous rock, Navajo sandstone and granite. Because of Southern Utah's volcanic and sandstone geology combined with its arid climate the soils are usually low in natural organic compounds making fertilization a regular practice for vineyards in Utah. Presently there is ongoing experimentation with the impact of adding nitrogen to the soils. Some research indicates that low nitrogen and low water additions (though not too severe) improve the grape quality and the expression of terroir in red grapes while the opposite may be true with white grapes. Likewise, vineyard owners are beginning to experiment with appropriate ground cover to fight weeds common to the region.
Diurnal temperature variations are of particular importance in Utah viticulture and plays a key role in its success. Due to the elevations of the vineyards and their frequent locations adjacent to mountain slopes in canyons or beside rivers, the daily average diurnal is as high as 16.5 °C (30 °F) in a day. In grapes, this variation has the effect of producing high acid 'and high sugar content. This is because a grapes' exposure to sunlight increases the ripening qualities allowing for more sugar production, while the drop in temperature at night preserves the balance of natural acids in the grape. The elevations and the associated UV exposure also cause the grapes to grow thick skins to protect the fruit which in turn creates wines of intense color and robust tannins.
Despite its youthfulness, winemakers in Utah have quickly figured out how to produce fine wines from 100% Utah grapes. They are utilizing many of the most popular winemaking techniques including native and non-native yeast fermentation, carbonic maceration, oak barrel aging and many others. The red wines are robust, colorful and aromatic but differ from other southwestern wines in that they do not present the gypsum flavors frequently found in wine regions such as Arizona and Temecula California. Winemakers are discovering that varietals such as Merlot, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec and Carignan are well suited to this area. Merlot grown in the Washington County seems to hold significant potential as it has recently been rated higher than some prestigious Napa California producers in American wine competitions. In 2021, Utah's most experienced winemaker was selling Utah Cabernet Sauvignon, at $100 per bottle, representing the first time in the states history that 100% Utah wine entered that extremely prestigious class of ultra-premium wines. Other varietals that are advancing quickly are Tempranillo which is being produced by almost all the wineries in the area and Pinot Noir which may well become the darling of the Dammeron Valley. Due to the elevation of its vineyards, Utah red wines are intense and dark and winemakers must work to soften the natural tannins produced here. One approach to this challenge is to separate free-run and press run wines and blend back as appropriate. Growers in the western side of Washington County, especially in Dammeron Valley, are experimenting with Pinot Noir and are beginning to have excellent results with this finicky grape varietal. Producers are finding that it grows quite vigorously, and so they are experimenting with different styles of wine produced from this grape to see what seems to suit the region best.
In the area of white wine production, winemakers are finding success with Chardonnay, Malvasia, Verdejo, Semillion and Muscat. The significant diurnal of the vineyards makes it possible to produce high alcohol/high acid white wines giving these varietals excellent mouthfeel and fruit components while allowing a crispness often preferred by white wine drinkers. Tests on barrel aged chardonnay are underway and several producers are making rosé and Ramato style wines from their vineyards.
Utah wineries have joined together to promote wine tourism by creating a wine trail known simply as the Utah Wine Trail. The creation of a wine trail, common in many wine producing states, tends to lend credence to Utah's wineries and grape growers claims that it should be considered an industry that is helping to drive tourism in Utah.
Likewise the wineries have joined together to petition the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for the first AVA or American Viticultural Area called Greater Zion AVA, which if approved, would encompass most of the growing regions in Washington County.
In recent years Utah State University (USU) has begun to take an interest in grape growing in the state and has begun dedicating resources to learn some of the basic information needed to understand best practices in vineyard management that are unique to Utah. Very little research has been done to date on the circumstances faced by Utah viticulture, but growers have begun to apply pressure to the Agriculture departments and extension offices of local universities for help in this area. USU has been the first academic institution in the state to begin to do some basic research into viticulture. The University has received grant funding to study effective irrigation practices. The university is working to establish baselines of water use and its effects on the vines and the fruit. It is generally hoped that grapes can replace some of the alfalfa plantings common throughout the state in order to diversify agriculture and reduce water use, while producing a higher value crop.
Chile has a long history in the production of wine, with roots dating back to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors introduced Vitis vinifera vines to the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, and Cabernet Franc were introduced. During the early 1980s, the Chilean wine industry underwent a renaissance with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. This led to a rapid growth in exports as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries in Chile rose from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005.
Washington wine is a wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington. Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine. By 2017, the state had over 55,000 acres (220 km2) of vineyards, a harvest of 229,000 short tons (208,000 t) of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 940+ wineries located in the state. While there are some viticultural activities in the cooler, wetter western half of the state, the majority (99.9%) of wine grape production takes place in the shrub-steppe eastern half. The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches (200 mm) of annual rain fall, making irrigation and water rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry. Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours and consistent temperatures.
The state of Oregon in the United States has established an international reputation for its production of wine, ranking fourth in the country behind California, Washington, and New York. Oregon has several different growing regions within the state's borders that are well-suited to the cultivation of grapes; additional regions straddle the border between Oregon and the states of Washington and Idaho. Wine making dates back to pioneer times in the 1840s, with commercial production beginning in the 1960s.
The Southern Oregon AVA is an American Viticultural Area which lies in Southern Oregon, United States. The Southern Oregon AVA was established in 2005 and was created to include the land of two smaller AVAs: the Rogue Valley AVA and the Umpqua Valley AVA. Southern Oregon AVA was established to allow the two principal winegrowing regions in the southern part of the state to market themselves jointly. This creation of a "super-AVA" is a departure from the trend in the Willamette Valley AVA or northern Oregon of establishing smaller AVAs specific to a particular locale's climate or soil conditions.
The Rogue Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southern Oregon. The federal government approved this appellation in 1991. It is entirely contained within the larger Southern Oregon AVA and includes the drainage basin of the Rogue River and several tributaries, including the Illinois River, the Applegate River, and Bear Creek. Most wineries in the region are found in the valleys formed by one of these three tributaries, rather than along the Rogue River itself. The region is 70 miles (113 km) wide by 60 miles (97 km) long ; there are fewer than 20 wineries with only 1,100 acres (450 ha) planted. Each river valley has a unique terroir, and grows different varieties of grapes. Overall, however, this region is the warmest and driest of Oregon's wine-growing regions.
Yakima Valley is the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) established within Washington state, gaining the recognition on May 4, 1983. Within the vast Columbia Valley AVA, Yakima Valley appellation cultivates more than 53,000 acres (21,448 ha) giving the region the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in the state. The most widely planted varietals in the area are Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot gris, and Syrah. Nearly 40% of Washington's annual wine production is made from Yakima Valley grapes. In addition to grapes, the Yakima Valley is also home to several fruit orchards growing apples, cherries, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums. Around the town of Zillah, there is the Zillah Fruit Loop driving tour through the area's orchards and vineyards. The area is also home to nearly 80% of the US hop production. In July 2024, the Yakima Valley was named best wine region in the U.S. by readers of USA Today.
Walla Walla Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located within Washington state and extending partly into the northeastern corner of Oregon. The wine region is entirely included within the larger Columbia Valley AVA. In addition to grapes, the area produces sweet onions, wheat and strawberries After the Yakima Valley AVA, the Walla Walla AVA has the second highest concentration of vineyards and wineries in Washington State. Walla Walla hosts about 140 wineries. The area was recognized on March 7, 1984 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. Richard L Small, President of the Walla Walla Valley Winegrowers Association, for the establishment of a viticultural area in southeast Washington and northeast Oregon, east of Lake Wallula, to be known as "Walls Walls Valley." At the time, Walla Walla Valley viticultural area was approximately 178,560 acres (279 sq mi) with two bonded wineries and about 60 acres (24 ha) from several vineyards.
Childress Vineyards is a winery in Lexington, North Carolina owned by NASCAR Cup Series championship team owner Richard Childress. The connection between NASCAR and fine wine is reflected in the labeling of some of the wines produced by Childress, featuring a checkered flag motif.
Sonoma County wine is wine made in Sonoma County, California, in the United States.
Colorado wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Colorado. Most of Colorado's vineyards are located on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, though an increasing number of wineries are located along the Front Range.
California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted Vitis vinifera vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. In the 1770s, Spanish missionaries continued the practice under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra who planted California's first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.
New South Wales wine is Australian wine produced in New South Wales, Australia. New South Wales is Australia's most populous state and its wine consumption far outpaces the region's wine production. The Hunter Valley, located 130 km (81 mi) north of Sydney, is the most well-known wine region but the majority of the state's production takes place in the Big Rivers zone-Perricoota, Riverina and along the Darling and Murray Rivers. The wines produced from the Big Rivers zone are largely used in box wine and mass-produced wine brands such as Yellow Tail. A large variety of grapes are grown in New South Wales, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Sémillon.
Smith-Madrone Vineyards and Winery is a winery in Napa Valley in the Spring Mountain District AVA. It was founded in 1971 by Stuart Smith. The name Smith-Madrone comes from combining the founders' name with the madrone trees among the estate. The winery is a long-time pioneer of dry farming.
Foris Vineyards Winery is an American winery located near Cave Junction, Oregon in the Illinois Valley region of the Rogue Valley AVA of Southern Oregon. As one of Oregon's pioneering grape growers, Ted Gerber planted his first vineyard in 1974. For 15 years, Gerber provided fruit to other winemakers, until 1986 when the winery was founded by Ted and Meri Gerber and the Foris label was launched.
Champoux Vineyard is a grape growing estate located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington state. Grapes grown in the vineyard have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wines with the name Champoux regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt, wine writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Champoux as one of the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Champoux vineyards were featured in the consecutive 100 point Robert Parker rated wines from Quilceda Creek Vintners for the 2002 and 2003 vintages.
Boushey Vineyard is a grape-growing estate located in the Yakima Valley AVA, north of Grandview, Washington. Grapes grown in the vineyard have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wines with the name Boushey regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt, wine writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Boushey as one of the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state. The vineyard is owned and managed by viticulturist Dick Boushey who was honored in 2002 by the Washington State Wine Commission as Washington's "Grower of the Year" and in 2007 by Wine & Spirits as their "Grower of the Year". After Red Willow Vineyard, which was planted with David Lake and Mike Sauer, Boushey was one of the first Washington wine growers to plant Syrah. Today, Boushey Vineyard is considered by wine experts such as Jon Bonné to be "One of the state's top Syrah spots" with many Washington Syrahs made from Boushey's grape receiving critical acclaim.
Cecil O. De Loach Jr. is a California grape-grower and winemaker in the Russian River Valley AVA who has contributed to the reputation and notoriety of Sonoma County viticulture.
Red Willow Vineyard is a grape-growing estate located in the far western end of Yakima Valley AVA, within the Yakama Indian Reservation. Beginning with their relationship with Columbia Winery and Master of Wine David Lake, grapes from Red Willow have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wines with the vineyard's name regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt, wine writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Red Willow as one of the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state.
Daniel Baron is an American winemaker. He is best known for his work with the Duncan family-owned Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey Cellars, and was Director of Winemaking for both. After his retirement in 2017, he launched Complant Wine with his son, Sam Baron, to produce small production, artisanal, single vineyard wines. Originally a field worker for John Rolleri at Chateau Montelena, he gained experience in the Bordeaux region of France and was mentored by the likes of grape geneticist Professor Harold Olmo, and winemakers Jean-Claude Berrouet and Justin Meyer. He became general manager of Christian Moueix's Dominus Estate in the 1980s. He became winemaker for Silver Oak, an exclusive Cabernet Sauvignon producer, in 1994, and was trained by Justin Meyer to follow in his footsteps as Silver Oak's winemaker before Meyer’s retirement in 2001. In 1999, Baron was instrumental in persuading the Duncans to establish Twomey to pursue Merlot, Pinot noir, and Sauvignon blanc after discovering high quality Merlot grapes on Silver Oak’s Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard. He has served on boards such as the American Society of Enology and Viticulture and the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group.
Kenwood Vineyards is a winery in Kenwood, California, located on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley wine country. It is currently owned by Pernod Ricard Winemakers.
Today, Colorado has 1,000 acres of thriving grapes under cultivation (compared with Utah's 61 acres) and 100 wineries (Utah has 11).