South Carolina is a state in the southeastern United States, bordered by North Carolina and Georgia to the north and south respectively. The state's humid, subtropical Climate makes viticulture extremely difficult, but despite this, a handful of intrepid winemakers are experimenting with wines made from vinifera and HybridGrapes, as well as muscadine grapes, a native American variety.
The state covers about 82,900 square miles of relatively flat coastal plains, from the Atlantic Ocean to the "Fall Line", a geological fault that runs parallel to the Atlantic coast from the Carolinas to New Jersey. South Carolina's few Vineyards are scattered throughout the state, from the seaward-influenced Low Country to the slightly higher western foothills of the Appalachian Mountains near the town of Greenville.
Given South Carolina's Long colonial history, it is perhaps not surprising that settlers began experimenting with grape growing here as early as the 18th century, in an attempt to recreate the fine wines of Europe with the native grapes of the American Southeast. However, grape growing never took off in South Carolina, and vineyard coverage is minimal in the state.
The heat and humidity of South Carolina's climate are the most significant obstacles to effective viticulture. Fungal diseases of downy mildew and potential grape dehydration caused by the scorching summer temperatures are challenges for winemakers.
There has been buyer and trade enthusiasm for California’s 2018-vintage releases, yet there is still a sense of the region finding its way on the international fine wine market. Releases of top Cabernet Sauvignon and ‘Bordeaux blend’ wines from the 2018 vintage have added some spark to the California sector of the market this year. ‘We’re seeing much stronger demand for blue-chip 2018s than we did for the 2017s,’ said Ryan Woodhouse, domestic wine buyer for K&L Wine Merchants in the US. Scar ...
When I started my nomadic winemaking project, in 2018 at Niepoort Vinhos in Portugal’s Douro region, I had no idea how large a part Spain would go on to play – I certainly never intended to make it the locus of my project. So how did it happen? Yes, there was an element of chance and taking opportunities where they arose. But also, among the talented winemakers to whom I pitched collaborations, I sensed an openness and a readiness to collaborate which seemed particular to Spain. Held in June las ...
If you’re still on the hunt for presents, see these great wine gifts selected by the Decanter team for Christmas 2021, covering a wide range of budgets and options. Best wine gifts for Christmas 2021 Waste Cork Wine Cooler Price: £75 Available at: Very Good & Proper During the production of wine corks, some 25% of the raw material is wasted. This innovative wine cooler, designed in collaboration with London-based architecture practice Mowat & Company, repurposes the cork waste by ...