Maine is a state in the far north-eastern corner of the United States, its limits formed by the Atlantic Ocean, the international border with Canada, and the state border with neighboring New Hampshire. The state covers just over 35,300 square miles (90,500 sq km) of craggy coastline, low, undulating coastal ranges and the dense forests that take up a sizeable area at its centre. Despite the cold climate and challenging terroir here, a small but ever-growing wine industry is building up.
©Cellardoor Winery
The wine industry in Maine is very young and is focused on making wines from fruit other than grapes. The climate here – and the natural leaning towards fruit-based agriculture – has led local winemakers to capitalize on cranberries, raspberries and particularly blueberries rather than grapes. Despite this, growers are experimenting with the hybrid varieties that are specifically bred for their ability to withstand cold. Plantings of Frontenac, Marechal Foch, Saint-Croix and Edelweiss are beginning to grace the vineyards of Maine.
Maine's wine industry is concentrated along the coastline, where the Atlantic Ocean offers opportunities for temperature moderation. The Atlantic Gulf Stream, an oceanic current that brings warm equatorial waters up the eastern coast, has a small effect on the maritime climate of Maine. Here, the winters are slightly warmer and the summers slightly cooler than more-inland parts of the state, making it suitable (if not perfect) for viticulture.
A handful of vineyards are located on the low rolling hills in these coastal areas where cold air cannot pool, protecting the vines from spring frosts. However, the short growing season and cooler temperatures make ripening a challenge in some years, and wines made in Maine often undergo chaptalization to increase their potential alcohol levels.
At present, Maine has no American Viticultural Areas save for the generic state appellation. The state's wine industry is supplemented by wines made from grapes brought in from New York, California and even Canada.
