America's New Explorers

It is an undisputable fact that wine has proliferated in American culture and has become an ever-increasing presence in our everyday lives. Wine consumption in the United States topped 300 million cases in 2007, putting the U.S. neck-in-neck with traditionally entrenched countries like Italy. Ironically, this trend is in contrast with traditional wine-producing countries such as Italy and France, where wine consumption is experiencing an overall decline. Wine drinkers now outnumber non-wine drinkers in this country, which is quite a feat considering America's long-term love affair with beer. Our relationship with wine is an unusual one still, as many identify wine with conspicuous consumption, elitism and something embodying notions of both mystery and romanticism. The pedestal upon which we have placed wine is coming down, however. People are experiencing wine as part of their travels and are seeking those wines upon their return. Wine also cultivates a sense of exploration in its devotees, with people more willing to try wines from such exotic locales as South Africa, Uruguay and Greece. 

Interestingly, America's wine culture is also a story of its youth. The young adults of what the demographers refer to as the Millennial Generation are credited with a portion of the wine industry's resurgence and continued growth. Like the baby boomers before them who first “discovered” wine in the 1970s, the Millennials are in their early 20s and are incorporating wine into their repertoire at an early age. This 21- to 30-year-old age group will continue to drive trends for years to come. This group is highly experimental, with consumption leaning more toward today's Barolo and Mourvedre than the Boone's Farm and Mateus of  generations past. The accessibility of wine education is not to be overlooked either, with video blogs, websites, and numerous books and publications making wine knowledge attainable to just about anyone. After all, America has always prided itself on its egalitarian and individualistic nature, and wine is coming to embody this...isn't everyone able to taste and find pleasure in it?

Visit Local Wineries

Fence Stile Vineyards, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
www.fencestile.com

Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery, Basehor, Kan.
www.holyfieldwinery.com

Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery, Platte City, Mo.
www.jowlercreek.com

Pirtle's Winery, Weston, Mo.
www.pirtlewinery.com

Riverwood Winery, Rushville, Mo.
www.riverwoodwinery.com

Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery, Somerset, Kan.
www.somersetridge.com

Stonehaus Farms Winery, Lee's Summit, Mo.
www.stonehausfarms.com

Local Wine Events

Wine Tasting — Parkville, Mo. 816.505.WINE or www.winesbyjennifer.com
Wine Classes — Cellar Rat Wine Merchants. Kansas City, Mo. 816.221.9463 or www.cellarratwine.com
Wine-Making Class — Wyldewood Cellars. Mulvane, Kan. 316.554.9463 or www.wyldewoodcellars.com
Wednesday Wine Fest — Boozefish Wine Bar. Kansas City, Mo. 816.561.5995 or www.boozefish.com