Jancis Robinson Toasts American Wines / Evening Interview and Wine Tasting

There are more than 7,000 American wineries operating today, producing notable vintages in locations both expected (California, New York, Washington) and surprising (a sip of Minnesota rosé or New Mexico bubbly, anyone?). Jancis Robinson, the celebrated international wine guru, raises a glass to the quality and variety of this country’s wine makers in her new book, American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to the Wines and Wineries of the United States (University of California Press), which she co-authored with Linda Murphy.

The volume is a lavish region-by-region examination of producers and their products, and Robinson tells the story of “how many Americans have conquered an area of expertise once regarded as quintessentially European.” For the record, even Hawaii and Alaska can boast wineries, and closer to home Maryland offers wines from 52 producers and Virginia 200.