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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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The State of US Wine, in 50 Bottles

Can good wine be made anywhere?

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(Newser) – Wine snobs contend that "terroir"—soil, climate, and topography—restrict great wines to certain regions. But are they right? All 50 US states make wine, so Joel Stein sampled a bottle from each to test the claim in Time. He discovered "quite good" varietals from surprising states like Delaware and Kentucky, but also "truly disgusting" wines from the Deep South.

Stein also sampled several grapes he hadn't encountered before, including East Coast Chambourcins used in "weird, interesting reds" and pleasing Midwest Nortons. "After all this, though, I still don't know if terroir matters," Stein writes. "It could be that the South's muscadine grape is inherently horrifying or just that people who drink sweet tea should not make wine."

Stein found some wines, especially those made with the South's muscadine grape,
Stein found some wines, especially those made with the South's muscadine grape, "undrinkable."   (©Southern Foodways Alliance)
A worker stacks cases of Charles Shaw wine in Napa, Calif., in this file photo. Owner Fred Franzia says,
A worker stacks cases of Charles Shaw wine in Napa, Calif., in this file photo. Owner Fred Franzia says, "Terroir don't mean s***."   (AP Photo)
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Overall, there were some stinkers. That being said, the wines showed the potential of better things to come over the next five to 10 years. - Gary Vaynerchuk, author of 101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight and Bring Thunder to Your World, on the tasting

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