East Coast more European, Wst Coast more California?

Hi,

When I was growing up on the East Coast, a fine wine meant a European (especially French) wine, and I left just as California wines started to make serious inroads.

I believe that three quarters of US wine consumption is now of California wines, and that more Australian wine is currently imported into the US than French wine...

Still, when I look at the wine boards, it seems to me that something of the old "prejudice" remains, and that East Coast drinkers are much more European-oriented.

Of course, it would be hard to pin anything down statistically, but do you think that this impression is correct?

Best regards,
Alex R.

[Jenise]

I do!

At least, I've thought so when I've shopped for wine in New York--the selection of European wines is so much broader. And come to think of it, when shopping via the internet there have been many times that a European wine I wanted was available at multiple retailers on the east coast but none out this way.

[James Roscoe]

I would agree with you. I think it's a complicate situation. Part of the problem is that the east coast snags all the good European imports of small quantities just as the small wineries on the west coast (is Linda reading this?) don't make it out to the east coast. When you throw in transportation costs, and population factors it becomes an economic model. There are other factors involved too, but those are the ones that come to mind immediately.

I'm sure it's true that there's a bit more European wine on East Coast (at least if your definition of EC is "DC-Boston corridor"). But I'd guess the overall difference is fairly subtle. Sure, as Jenise points out some European wines are only on East Coast- but some are only on West Coast too (great wines imported by Oliver McCrum, Kermit, the Burg outfit in Oregon whose name escapes me, etc.)

But if you go into stores on the East Coast south of DC, I see a heavy majority of California. I also wonder how much of this is actually more localized. Despite it's proximity to Napanoma, San Francisco seems to have a thriving European wine scene -as do NYC, DC, etc. My impression (and it might be wrong) is that San Diego, Sacramento, Atlanta, and Charlotte are maybe more US-centric. Others who actually live in those cities can correct me.

I'm sure that there are a variety of factors at play- ease/cost of transportation, interest in local wines (try to find an East Coast wine in CA!), how much people travel internationally or how many Europeans live in area (my little local group consists of 3 US born, 2 French, 1 Belgian, 1 German - pretty unlikely in Salt Lake City), types of restaurants that predominate, etc etc etc

As an East Coaster I have to admit that we drink more East Coast wines than anything else at this time!

It seems that the majority of my wine friends, here on the East Coast, drink European wines. There is one person who is just about exlusively a California wine lover, and I've noticed that he does not participate in most of our get togethers.

For the longest time, I stayed away from California wines but that has been changing lately. We spend more time visiting our granddaughter in San Francisco, and we make yearly trips to Napa/Sonoma, and have met and become friendly with some vineyard owners and wine makers. The same goes for Long Island. There are some well crafted, low alcohol wines being made, and those with whom I'm friendly, have steered me to other wines that are in the style that I like.

The other visit I make while in the San Francisco Bay area is to Kermit Lynch - talk about European wines being quite alive on the West Coast. He doesn't ship, so all of his customers are local.

Hi Alex,

I don't read a ton of wine articles, but almost anytime I read anything by a wine expert or noted connoisseur he or she invariably states that he or she thinks the best red wines come from France. So it doesn't surprise me that for the most part everyday connoisseurs also prefer French (red) wines. I don't know much about other European reds. But if you were talking about whites, German and Alsace wines would probably be mentioned more often than New World whites. It's just how it is.

Covert

I'm sure it's true that there's a bit more European wine on East Coast (at least if your definition of EC is "DC-Boston corridor"). But I'd guess the overall difference is fairly subtle.... is that San Diego, Sacramento, Atlanta, and Charlotte are maybe more US-centric....

Sacramento actually has blossomed over the past decade vis a vis European wines. I'll put in a word for 58 Degrees, a small wine shop/wine bar in Midtown Sacramento that carries quite a bit of Dressner, Kermit Lynch, Rosenthal, etc. And...we cannot forget Corti Brothers!

(try to find an East Coast wine in CA!)

I would love to try more New York Riselings...or even some Long Island Merlots or Virginia Cab Francs. Not yet.

Sacramento actually has blossomed over the past decade vis a vis European wines. I'll put in a word for 58 Degrees, a small wine shop/wine bar in Midtown Sacramento that carries quite a bit of Dressner, Kermit Lynch, Rosenthal, etc. And...we cannot forget Corti Brothers! .

58 Degrees in place on ground floor of a big office tower? I've been there (though I thought it was 55 Degrees), though I thought it was mostly CA at time (4 years ago). And certainly Corti Bros has a good selection of European. But I'd still say Sacramento (my in laws live there) is a tough place to shop for European wines.

Sacramento actually has blossomed over the past decade vis a vis European wines. I'll put in a word for 58 Degrees, a small wine shop/wine bar in Midtown Sacramento that carries quite a bit of Dressner, Kermit Lynch, Rosenthal, etc. And...we cannot forget Corti Brothers! .

58 Degrees in place on ground floor of a big office tower? I've been there (though I thought it was 55 Degrees), though I thought it was mostly CA at time (4 years ago). And certainly Corti Bros has a good selection of European. But I'd still say Sacramento (my in laws live there) is a tough place to shop for European wines.

Actually, 55 Degrees was a now defunct high concept (really cold chilly modern architecture, high concept menu) restaurant.

58 Degrees is a smallish wine shop and wine bar on 18th Street in Midtown, east of downtown proper. While small, I'd guess half their stock is European.

Not disagreeing with your basic premise, but I would also note L Street Wine Bar (around the corner from 58 degrees) has some Euro wines (although more Cali-centric than 58 Degrees) Taylor's Market carries European wines (they held a Riesling tasting last year in which the actual producers' reps presented the wines!). So...not hopeless by any means. Corti Brothers always amazes me at the obscure stuff they carry!