Recently, I was researching East Coast wines for an online wine class. While researching, it struck me how far we’ve come, even in the last year. So I made it a personal challenge to find twenty wines that prove that East Coast wineries are ready for primetime. These are the east coast wines that rival Napa Valley. So, my friends, the gauntlet has been thrown down.
- Top New York Wineries
- Top Pennsylvania Wineries
- Top Virginia Wineries
- Top New Jersey Wineries
- Top Vermont Wineries
Top New York Wineries
The wines are stunning, pure Rieslings that speak of Seneca Lake with more than a bit of reference to the Mosel.
Our top pick is Hermann J. Wiemer Reserve Dry Riesling
Channing Daughters
This South Fork, Long Island winery is run by winemaker Christopher Tracy, a natural winemaker and delightful lunatic. He makes some of the very best East Coast wines.
Our top pick is Channing Daughters “Mosaico” White.
The winery that changed the course of winemaking in the Finger Lakes. Located on Keuka Lake. Take the time to take a long around the lake: this is an East Coast wine country worthy of exploration.
Our top pick is Dr. Konstantin Frank Old Vines Pinot Noir
Damiani Wine Cellars
Located on the eastern shores of Seneca Lake, they excel at red wine production like no other Finger Lakes winery.
Our top pick is Damiani Cabernet Sauvignon
In 2003, Harbes Vineyard was planted on a boulder-strewn, south-facing slope near the coast of Long Island Sound (North Fork)
Our top pick is Harbes Family Vineyard Hallock Lane Merlot
Vineyard & farm located in the tiny hamlet of Cutchogue, on the North Fork of Long Island.
Our top pick is Bedell Cellars Cabernet Franc.
Top Pennsylvania Wineries
Galen Glen Winery
Based in the Lehigh Valley, they have the oldest Gruner vineyard in America, planted in 2003.
Our top pick is Galen Glen “Stone Cellar” Gruner Veltliner
Va La Vineyards
The original natural wine destination in PA. Their vineyards were planted in 1997 with an eccentric assortment of Italian varietals.
Our top pick is Va La “Prima Donna” Orange Wine.
Waltz Vineyards
Waltz Vineyards was established in 1997 by Jan and Kimberly Waltz. The vineyards are situated on a hill between Lancaster and Lebanon.
Our top pick is the Waltz “Crow Woods” Cabernet Sauvignon.
Fero Vineyards
Estate vineyard in the Susquehanna River Valley. They were planted in 2012 to Eastern European varietals.
Our top pick is the Fero Saperavi.
Since 1973, Mazza has been producing wine on Lake Erie. A pioneer in east coast wines, the recent move towards their Italian roots is welcome.
Our top pick is Mazza Vineyards Teroldego.
Penns Woods Winery
Vineyards are on gentle slopes at a low altitude about a half-hour from Philly. Slowly becoming PA’s cult winery.*
Our top pick is Penns Woods Ameritage Reserve.
Top Virginia Wineries
Located in the Monticello AVA, the winery is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Our top pick is King Family “Skin Contact” Viognier
Stinson Vineyards
Family-owned estate winery in the Monticello AVA. They specialize in small-lot wines. They are one of the few East Coast wineries with lodging.
Our top pick is Stinson Vineyards Rosé of Mourvèdre
Earning very high ratings in the Wine Advocate for red wines is a unique winery in the Middleburg AVA. This is closer to California than you could imagine for east coast wines: this is the Napa of the East Coast.
Our top pick is the RdV Vineyards “Rendezvous” Bordeaux Blend.
Established in 1976 by Gianni Zonin, whose family has been producing wines throughout Italy since 1821. Located in the Monticello AVA
Our top pick is Barboursville Vineyards Reserve Nebbiolo
Top New Jersey Wineries
Alba Vineyards
Alba in the Warren Hills AVA is producing some of the best Pinots and Chardonnays on the East Coast right now.
Our top pick is Alba Vineyards’ “Grand Reserve” Chardonnay
William Heritage Winery
It is located in the Outer Coastal Plain AVA. A family farm since 1853, the vineyard was first planted in 1998. Fmr. Winemaker Sean Comninos is a WSoP Grad.
Our top pick is William Heritage Vintage Brut.
Unionville Vineyards
Originally part of the largest peach orchard in the United States, the vineyard was first planted in 1988. Excellent Syrah & Pinot Noir.
Our top pick is Unionville “Hunterdon Mistral” Rose
Beneduce Vineyards
A family farm in North Jersey since 2000, the vineyard was first planted in 2009 and opened to the public in 2012.
Our top pick is Beneduce Vineyards “Blue 2” Blaufrankisch
Amalthea Cellars
It is run by the iconoclastic owner and winemaker Louis Caracciolo. He’s been making Bordeaux blends in Jersey longer than anyone.
Our top pick is Amalthea Cellars’ “Europa 1” Bordeaux blend.
Working Dog Winery
Hands-down one of the outstanding wineries on the East Coast. They are legit rock stars in the Jersey wine scene now.
Our top pick is the Working Dog Syrah.
Top Vermont Wineries
Fable Farm Fermentory
Farm-based winery producing aged wines, ciders, and vinegar, and runs a CSA.
Our top pick is Fable Farm Fermentory “Pan” Red.
Shelburne Vineyard
Founder Kenneth Albert planted some of Vermont’s first wine grapes in 1998, with its tasting room opening in 2008.
Our top pick is Shelburne “Iapetus Figure 1” Pet Nat
Have a Favorite East Coast Winery?
Gift us your insights in the comments below! We’ll be adding a map of East Coast wineries soon!
You left out a Maryland winery that can rival anything from the best of the west coast.
Black Ankle vineyards in Mt. Airy Maryland produce some of if not the best wines found on the east coast.
Crumbling Rock, Black Ankle estate, Slate and there Chardonnays are fantastic. Did I mention they are 100% estate.
I know it’s impossible to visit every vinyard but Blue Ridge vinyard and winery in Pennsylvania is by far the absolute best local vinyard I have ever been to, thus vinyard can easily rival Napa Valley, I would strongly suggest the Godfather which is a beautiful petit syrah
Flag Hill Winery and Distillery in Lee, NH!
You missed several more than worthy of being on this list: NY Finger Lakes: Ravines, Ryan William. PA: 1723, Manatawny Creek, Setter Ridge, Stony Run and Vox Vineti.
Good afternoon. I own a import Company in Panama. Need an exporter/wholesaler offering an array of East Coast wines for exports via Miami Florida where we will take possession. Looking for decent price-oriented drinkable wines, up to top quality wines under $50/$60 / bottle. If anyone can help, appreciate it
Jonathan Edwards Winery in Eastern Ct is fantastic. They combine locally grown grapes for some vintages and also source grapes (crush in Napa and ship juice in refrigerated trucks east for cellaring in Ct). They should be on your list!
Walsh Family and Lost Creek in VA, Forge and Red Newt in NY
I would certainly add Michael Shaps near Charlottesville – trained in Beaune, fabulous Chardonnay and Meritage – lovely Petit Manseng
He’s been popping up on our radar recently. Thanks for the recommendation!
Would be nice if you added weblinks to each of the wineries cited, and added the town location in the description
Great idea! Go for it!
Though many others come to mine I couldn’t leave out Turdo Vineyards & Winery from any list of great NJ wines. Their Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera are amazing (as are many other reds there).
Thanks for including Turdo Vineyards in the conversation!
Turdo is indeed my FAVORITE winery in Jersey! They are a low key, family run establishment, with no annoying venue distractions. It’s definitely all about the wine. They grow all their own grapes, and I agree that the reds are fantastic–particularly the Nebbiolo and Barbera!
I would highly recommend Boundary Breaks Winery on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes for a variety of Riesling styles.
They are awesome. Someone also mentioned Forge, too. There are so many great Riesling producers on Lakes Seneca and Keuka.
Ravines and Red Tail Ridge in FLX are some of the best I’ve found on the east coast.
Blue Mountain Vineyards missed this list! I personally love them! Great choices on the Jersey wines on William Heritage (have to try out the spinach dip! Best in the world! To die for!) And Almathea Cellars…Emilio’s red is AMAZING!
There is a lot of great new talent in the region!
Going to college in the finger lakes I have tried many of the wineries. My personal favorite is Atwater. We came home with wines from 7 vineyards and we kept going back to their bottles. I like their crisp Riesling with flavors of green fruit and mineralogy, but I’m an even bigger fan of their Vignoles! Love the little bit of sweetness mixed with the green fruit, citrus and occasionally a mix of stone fruit.
Not familiar with them. Thank you for adding this winery to the conversation!
Forge Cellars in the Finger Lakes, makes outstanding Rieslings, probably the best on the East coast.
Forge is great. We use them in our wine classes, especially in Wine 101 when we want to show what a real Riesling tastes like.