The snobs shudder….the rest of us enjoy

What? Wineries in West Virginia? 

There is a whole class of wine snob who pride themselves for having discerning palates and love to have witty repartee about the relative merits of French or California vintages. More power to them. 

For the rest of us, people who enjoy the fruits of the earth and vine where ever and however they bless us, we have amazing vineyards here that produce a vast array of wines for all tastes.

Now, it is true that the climate and soil here in West Virginia will typically not grow grapes that produce the kind of wine you will find in Napa. But I think Bryan George  of VuJaDe Vineyard in Roane County might argue that wines can be very competitive here and win that discussion.

Vintners in the state appreciate the work that the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell does. The world renowned viticulture and oenology program studies the development of grape varietals adapted to cool-climate growing regions.

Mountain State farmers must grow at least 25 percent of their fruit in state and may buy another 50 percent from other West Virginians. The remaining 25 percent may come from outside sources to allow vintners to create special blends.

Wine making remained generally a personal activity in West Virginia into the 1980s, when the passage of the West Virginia Farm Wineries Act allowed for the production and sale of farm-grown wines.  Wilson Ward at Fisher Ridge Winery was instrumental in getting the state legislature to pass a law permitting tastings at the wineries.

State wineries produce reds, whites, fruit wines and dessert and specialty wines.  From very dry to very sweet, there is something for any taste.

West Virginia Wineries                                                           

Daniel Vineyards   Beckley, WV  304-252-9750

Fisher Ridge Winery      Liberty, WV    304-342-8702

Forks of Cheat Winery

Morgantown, WV  304-598-2019 or 304-599-8660

 Heston Farm Winery   Fairmont, WV  304-534-2516

Jones Cabin Run Vineyards  Tanner, WV 304-462-4446

 Kenco Farms Sutton, WV  304-765-7980

Kirkwood Winery   
Summersville, WV  1-888-4WV-WINE

Lambert’s Vintage Wines    Weston, WV  304-269-4903

Little Hungary Farm Winery  Buckhannon, WV  304-472-6634

Martin’s Mist Winery Buckeye, WV  304-799-6455

Mountaineer Winery  Core, WV  304-879-5912

Potomac Highland Winery     Keyser, WV  304-788-3066

 

Roane Vineyards    Spencer, WV 25276   304-927-3200

 

Schneider’s Winery Romney, WV    304-822-7434

Toscano in Appalachia Wines LeRoy, WV  304-275-3936

Vu Ja De Winery  Spencer, WV 304-377-144

 

Watts Roost Vineyard    Lewisburg, WV   304-645-5308

West-Whitehill Winery     Moorefield, WV  304-538-2605

Wine Tree Winery   Vienna, WV 26105 304-865-0507

 

 Wolf Creek Winery   Wolfcreek, WV 24993  304-772-5040

A very fun way to get to sample many of the state’s wineries’ products is to attend Charleston’s Wine & All That Jazz with Christian MacBride and Inside Straight (Saturday, June 23, 2 PM – 10 PM) at the University of Charleston. General Admission  ($18 advance, $20 at gate).   Eight hours of jazz musicianship and wine….what a great day!