It was the push alert that launched the shockwave through my group chat: President Trump threatened 200% tariffs on European wine and spirits last Thursday, the latest retaliatory measure in his administration’s rising trade war.
If taxes are in place (which may happen this spring), the cost of an afternoon with a bottle of Provence roses could turn into a more expensive proposition rather than destruction of an already struggling industry. (Between the rise of non-alcoholic beverages and pre-mixed cocktails, the overall downturn in more traditional wine and spirit sales last year.)
However, the news has attracted attention from American wines, a category that Funk-Forwhand Natural wine drinkers like me misunderstood.
“The quality of American wine, especially if you know where to look, is certainly no different from Europe,” said Jeff Dilorenzo. “Most people have preconceived ideas about their preferences, but in the United States, people do increasingly produce and people aren’t really giving people a chance.”
But, as he told me, it helps to be a direct inference with American wine as a famous European variety, but rather as a direct inference of its own things. “It’s like two different cheeses from two different regions,” Dilorenzo said. “Some nuances will make it unique, but I think the quality is standard, so you can find something equally interesting.”
In this spirit, Dilorenzo breaks down American wines worth knowing – politics and tariffs.
If you are looking for white wine…
“If you usually go to Sancerre, there are some great Sauvignon Blancs in California and I really like bedrock Sauvignon Blancs from Sonoma County, which often finds fragile, smooth minerals with Sancerre.
Another store favorite is the Elizabeth Spencer North Coast Sauvignon Blanc from Mendocino, which is worth about $20 and has a lot of citrus fruit, but is still crisp, dry and refreshing.
Chenin Blanc is one of my favorite grapes, especially from the Loire Valley, especially from Anjou. I’m picky about Chenin, but I found Haarmeyer St. Rey En Foudre Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg, California to be one of my favorite wines anywhere. It is chiseled and structured, with the waxy texture I like in Chaining, the aroma of honey and the laser beam acidity. Plus, Sandlands Chenin is worth a look when you find it. ”
If you are looking for rosé wine…
“There are many options for light, pale and dry Provence roses, but I especially like Napa’s Matthiasson rose hips, hitting all the right notes year after year: good balanced fruit, good acidity, sourness, freshness, and sourness again. I actually prefer most Provence roses.”
If you are looking for red wine…
“Many people compare between Burgundy in France and the Willamette Valley in Oregon because they follow the same latitude and have similarities in the climate. Burgundy is famous for Pinot Noir and Chardonnays, and there is no shortage of noirs and Chardonnays of i is i is pinot in the Great Willamette Valley. The medium lamp in the body, the soil with forest floors, you can get it from other people in Oregon.
