Irish American Vineyards/Wine Producers/Distillers
Celtic feasts at which wine was drunk were central to life going back thousands of years in Ireland. In the 11th century the Norsemen of Limerick had to pay an annual tribute to High King Brian Boru of ‘a casket of red wine for every day of the year’. In 1740, 4,000 caskets of wine were supplied from Bordeaux to Ireland, four times as much as went to England. As the Irish emigrated over the centuries, they brought with them their love of wine and they helped develop some of the finest vineyards in the world, including in America. Here are some of the Irish American Wineries in the Western US.
* Identifies Vineyards that appear to highlight their Irish connection
THE WINE GEESE SOCIETY: www.winegeese.org
Wine Geese is the name given to the emigrant Irish families and their descendants who from the 18th century onwards engaged in the wine trade in the countries of their adoption.
Clear Creek Distillery, www.clearcreekdistillery.com Stephen McCarthy at Clear Creek makes Brandies, Liqueurs and Whiskeys. The word whiskey/whisky is an Anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic term "uisce beatha" which translates as "water of life". At one time, all whiskeys were spelled "whisky" (no "e"). Around 1870, the reputation of Scottish whisky was so poor that Irish and American distilleries adopted the spelling "whiskey" to distinguish their higher quality product.
