West Virginia is a state in the eastern United States, located entirely within the Appalachian mountain range. The region's rugged and varied topography offers a wide range of terroirs within the state, and a range of vinifera, native and HybridGrapes can be found in the small number of vineyards. The best wines are produced from the Riesling grape, but Seyval Blanc, Marechal Foch and various fruit wines are also produced in the state.
West Virginia covers a modest 24,250 square miles (62,750 km²), bordered by Pennsylvania and Ohio to the North and Virginia and Maryland to the east.
This relatively small Size is due to the fact that the state was carved out of Virginia during the Civil War (1861-65), when 48 counties with few or no slave owners broke away and formed their own independent state.
Montani semper liberi (mountain men are always free) is the state motto, and West Virginia is one of many states that have adopted the nickname "the Mountain State. " The importance of the Appalachian Mountains cannot be overstated. The state's many rivers are also an essential Part of West Virginia's geography, as they combine with the hills to create varied mesoclimates where vineyards can thrive.