Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 6.10 Social Sciences
Presentation #1 Title
Appellation Appalachia: A Geography of Appalachian Wine
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The Geography of Wine is a growing and exciting subfield within the discipline of Geography, however much of the focus is on the traditional wine producing regions of Europe and California, and the emerging popularity of Southern Hemisphere wines. Like most aspects of Geography, Appalachia is overlooked as a site of inquiry within this subfield. While Appalachia is usually not a region that comes to mind when we think about great American wines, viticulture has a rich and complex history through these hills and winemaking in the region has increased in both quantity and quality in recent years. American grapes, hybrids and vinifera varieties are found throughout the region and the wines range from sweet muscadines and labruscas to full bodied and oaky dry wines. This paper explains the complex history of Appalachian wine production, discusses the main grape varieties used throughout the region and examines the potential growth in the use of new cultivars and techniques in this mountainous viticultural region. Winemakers and grape growers from West Virginia, Virginia and Appalachian Ohio provide insight into some of the unique challenges and benefits found when producing wine in Appalachia.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Aron Massey is a faculty member in Geography at West Liberty University, near Wheeling, West Virginia. His research interest include political ecology, mountaintop removal mining, economic and cultural geography of Appalachia.
Appellation Appalachia: A Geography of Appalachian Wine
Harris Hall 446
The Geography of Wine is a growing and exciting subfield within the discipline of Geography, however much of the focus is on the traditional wine producing regions of Europe and California, and the emerging popularity of Southern Hemisphere wines. Like most aspects of Geography, Appalachia is overlooked as a site of inquiry within this subfield. While Appalachia is usually not a region that comes to mind when we think about great American wines, viticulture has a rich and complex history through these hills and winemaking in the region has increased in both quantity and quality in recent years. American grapes, hybrids and vinifera varieties are found throughout the region and the wines range from sweet muscadines and labruscas to full bodied and oaky dry wines. This paper explains the complex history of Appalachian wine production, discusses the main grape varieties used throughout the region and examines the potential growth in the use of new cultivars and techniques in this mountainous viticultural region. Winemakers and grape growers from West Virginia, Virginia and Appalachian Ohio provide insight into some of the unique challenges and benefits found when producing wine in Appalachia.
