The "eat local" movement encourages us to buy food grown near home, supporting farmers and farm-to-table cooking.
The movement sometimes forgets the "drink local" side of the equation. But for those of us who like a great glass of wine with a meal, drinking wine from local vineyards and wineries is a worthy cause too. Wine grapes are now grown in every US state, so there is probably a winery closer to you than you think.
By no means does this mean forgetting that Port or Champagne and drinking only local wine. But a subtle change in attitude, adding local wineries to our search for great wines, makes sense both economically and environmentally. Let's take a look at why choosing wine from a local winery is a good idea.
Terroir: celebrating uniqueness
Terroir, pronounced "tehr-WAHR," is a French term for the combination of soil, climate and place in which something is grown, in this case the grapes for the wine you are about to enjoy. Visiting local vineyards and wineries lets you see exactly where and how the grapes were grown, which gives you a much better idea of what to expect from the wine.
The climate and land where the grapes grow shape the flavor of the wine. Enjoying a local wine with local food gives you the full experience of the place where you live. Many small wineries work closely with local farmers to preserve their region's character, so when you buy local wine and locally grown food, you help sustain your region's way of life.
Travel-weary wine
A bottle of wine from across the country or the world may have traveled thousands of miles to reach your table, and heat and rough handling along the way can damage it. A bottle from a local winery has far fewer miles to travel, perhaps only across the vineyard, so there is less risk of it being spoiled on the way.
Your wallet, your community and your planet
Local wineries can also stretch your dollar. Many small producers are not widely known or reviewed, so they often offer good value to win new customers, and buying at the winery can save on shipping and middlemen. Many also offer tastings, so you can try before you buy.
Don't forget the jobs local vineyards and wineries create in your community, helping to keep the local economy healthy. Don't you feel better knowing you are supporting your neighbors while you enjoy your favorite local wine?
And think of the fuel used to ship bottles of wine around the world, when a perfectly lovely bottle may be waiting for you just around the corner. Saving resources is a big part of the reason to buy locally.
If nothing else, local wine is often the best match for local food.
Spending more of your wine budget at local vineyards and wineries just feels good. It keeps your money in the community, helps provide jobs, and can help you stay within your budget. Everybody wins. Why not give your local wineries a little support by enjoying the fruits of their labor? If you visit for a tasting, plan a designated driver.
