| If you've ever felt that wine travel is best suited for | | | | to take home, our very first Alabama wine purchase! |
| summer time, perhaps by the end of this travelogue | | | | The winery itself is located in the midst of the Duck |
| you'll have a slightly different perspective. It's January | | | | Valley Wildlife Preserve, and the grounds are pleasant |
| as we write this, and winter has its usual vice grip on | | | | and peaceful. Stop for a few moments and breathe in |
| the Midwest. But all around the country, wineries are | | | | the fresh air ... it's almost as refreshing as the wine! |
| welcoming visitors and hosting wine trail events. | | | | Just a few miles south of Wills Creek is White Oak |
| Actually, the traditional off season is the perfect time | | | | Vineyards, in Anniston just north of Interstate 20. Open |
| to visit your favorite winery. Crowds are lighter and | | | | on Friday afternoons and Saturdays, White Oak |
| chances are you'll rub elbows with the owner or | | | | boasts a beautiful tranquil farm setting amidst the rolling |
| winemaker who can personally provide insight into their | | | | hills of central Alabama. Here you'll enjoy an eclectic |
| craft. It's an ideal way to learn more about wine in a | | | | variety of twelve wines, ranging from sweet to crisp, |
| relaxed, leisurely setting. | | | | all made with Alabama pride. Surprisingly, we found a |
| In spring 2008, we caught wind of a new wine trail | | | | Chambourcin and also a Burgundy, with the Burgundy |
| being developed and marketed in the Deep South. And | | | | made from Norton grapes. Reflecting on last year's trip |
| so, in an effort to escape the winter doldrums, we set | | | | to Missouri, we noted the terrain is quite similar in this |
| out for the milder climate of Alabama to discover the | | | | part of Alabama. The Burgundy in particular was |
| burgeoning Alabama Wine Trail. | | | | outstanding, with bold intense flavors that to us |
| The Alabama Wine Trail: Background and Challenges | | | | stacked up against any other Burgundy we've tasted. |
| Although Alabama isn't typically known as a wine | | | | You should also try White Oak's fruit wines, especially |
| producing state, there is a long history of grape | | | | the Peach. This is such a fun, easy sipper and it's a |
| production and wine making here. Like other southern | | | | real taste of Alabama, as the state is known for its |
| states, the muscadine grape reigns supreme, but | | | | peach crop almost as much as neighboring Georgia. |
| Alabama winemakers are developing a surprising | | | | On the drier side, there's Villard Blanc, an elegant white |
| array of excellent wines. Much of north central | | | | offering that also made its way home with us. |
| Alabama offers a mountainous terrain, with numerous | | | | Alabama Wineries - Day Two |
| opportunities for outdoor recreation. Of course, where | | | | About 35 minutes southeast of Birmingham in |
| there are mountains, there are sure to be valleys. This, | | | | Harpersville, AL is Morgan Creek Vineyards, a state of |
| combined with a long growing season, gives the | | | | the art winery producing a wide range of wines. |
| Alabama wine industry an excellent opportunity to | | | | Ranging from dry to very sweet, Morgan Creek's |
| thrive as time goes on. | | | | wines are made with fruit and various grape varieties, |
| Wine Trails USA was delighted to see Alabama | | | | including the muscadine grape. A stalwart of the south, |
| designate an official wine trail. If you're interested, be | | | | the muscadine grape is generally quite sweet but are |
| sure to request an Alabama Wine Trail brochure from | | | | also a perfect blend with fruit and other grapes. |
| the Alabama Travel Council. It's a beautiful brochure | | | | We sampled most of Morgan Creek's wines and |
| outlining Alabama's eight wineries, all within an easy | | | | came away most impressed with three in particular. |
| drive from the state's three main cities of Birmingham, | | | | First in our hearts was Noble, a dry red offering with a |
| Montgomery, and Mobile. | | | | unique finish of strawberry and dark cherry. We'd |
| There was, however, a large amount of publicity | | | | serve this one room temperature as a partner to a |
| devoted to the Alabama Wine Trail at its launch, | | | | mild cheese or a strip steak. Next, we liked Cahaba |
| unfortunately not all positive. Long standing anti alcohol | | | | White, just slightly sweet with a bit of a spicy palate |
| biases are quite prevalent in the state, and wineries | | | | mixing well with the fruit. Finally, Regal Red, in the |
| have overcome numerous hurdles to open for | | | | burgundy style and brimming with dark cherry flavors. |
| business, let alone market their products. Fortunately, | | | | In summer, Morgan Creek offers fireworks displays in |
| through a lot of hard work and persistence, the | | | | conjunction with live music nights. You can bring a |
| Alabama Wine Trail is open for business and | | | | picnic, enjoy wine tasting, and listen to music under the |
| capitalizing on the wine travel and agri tourism trend. | | | | stars, all capped off by a rousing fireworks show. |
| We're rooting hard for the success of Alabama | | | | Our final winery in this chapter of our Alabama Wine |
| wineries and their wine trail, and we hope our visit and | | | | Trail travelogue takes us to Bryant Vineyards in |
| this travelogue helps open a few eyes. | | | | Talladega. If that name sounds familiar, it's due to the |
| Alabama Wineries - East of Birmingham | | | | famous Talladega Speedway that draws thousands |
| We chose Birmingham as our base of operations for | | | | of visitors each year. Bryant Vineyards is just a few |
| two nights since four of Alabama's wineries are | | | | miles away from the track. |
| situated within a 45 minute drive east of the city. | | | | Bryant Vineyards has been producing wine since 1985, |
| Interstate 20 cuts east/west across Alabama and | | | | with grapes grown on land that has been in the Bryant |
| intersect with Interstate 59 just northwest of | | | | family since the late 1800's. You'll find a full range of |
| Birmingham. Either route will take you into a hilly, almost | | | | muscadine wines here, including our favorite, Country |
| mountainous, terrain that's home to Alabama wineries. | | | | White. This is a perfect wine for warm summer nights, |
| Our first winery to visit was Wills Creek Vineyards, | | | | or cold January nights for that matter! We also liked |
| just a short distance off Interstate 59 exit 188 in the | | | | Festive Red, a dark red table wine that we felt |
| small town of Attala. Arriving just after 10 a.m. on a | | | | benefitted from a slight chill. |
| crisp but sunny day, we had the winery tasting room | | | | Bryant is a small operation with no website at press |
| all to ourselves. Wills Creek specializes in muscadine | | | | time, so be sure to call ahead to make sure someone |
| wines with interesting twists, as some are dry and | | | | is available to greet you. |
| others the more traditional sweet. | | | | In closing, we encourage you to get your wine travel |
| We enjoyed just about everything we tried, especially | | | | "fix" in some of the southern states during the winter |
| the terrific Sirano Limited Release. This bold red wine, | | | | months. Travel is easy as temperatures stay above |
| similar to a Syrah, is moderately dry with flavors of | | | | freezing for the most part. And, you won't need to |
| dark fruit - we tasted plum and blackberry. Also, don't | | | | fight the crowds while you linger at unique small |
| miss Blazing Sun Pinot Grigio, a friendly white wine with | | | | wineries and discover interesting cities and sights along |
| pleasing citrus flavors. We bought a few bottles of this | | | | the way. |