The locavore in winter: local wines

As I mentioned yesterday, starting this blog may have been easier if I had waited until the spring, but I didn't want to wait. For the next few days, I'll be talking about what we can get local, even in the middle of January.

First up - wine. No one should be surprised I'm starting with wine. I'll be heading to the Boston Wine Expo in a couple of weeks with my friend Susan. There probably won't be too many wineries local to my region there, but if there are, I will definitely spend some time at those booths.

There are many wineries withing a hundred mile radius of my home. There is a good list of New Jersey wineries at NJDiningGuide. Since I live so close to the Pennsylvania border, I am also in close proximity to the wineries in Chester County, PA. In fact, a couple of years ago, Susan and I spent a weekend traveling the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail. Even the wineries of beautiful Bucks County, PA would fall within an acceptable locavore distance.

If you enjoy wine, but you've never taken the time to visit a local winery and have a tasting in their tasting room, you really should do it. You'll get to sample several of their wines before you buy them. You'll also probably get a few lessons in grape growing and wine making, along with a history lesson about the vineyard.

There may not be any Jersey tomatoes or corn available right now, but that's okay. We can still support local wineries throughout the entire year. If you can't take a trip to a local winery, ask at your liquor or wine store what they have in stock that comes from local producers. Pick one bottle that strikes your fancy and take it home.