United States of Wine

Earlier this week vineyards from New York state to North Carolina were affected by a freezing cold night after buds had already started blooming on their vines. Despite wine employees’ best efforts to save the buds—including a chemical spray to raise the freezing point and fires near the vines—many vineyards lost a significant amount of their crop.

Vineyard after vineyard have shared photos of brown, dried vines, what remains of their previously-green and vibrant buds. Reports indicate that many vineyards have lost nearly 90% of their 2026 growth.

The Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states most affected by the April 20-21, 2026, frost made up 14.5% of the production of wine in the United States in 2024, with Pennsylvania (6.8%) and New York (4.4%) topping the list.

These are areas that in the last year have been noted as “exciting” and “must visit.” Wine Enthusiast said, “The East Coast, from Virginia to New York, is now arguably the most exciting place to be for wine investors, winegrowers and wine lovers searching for great wines in their own backyards.”

And just last month, Tasting Table said of the East Coast vineyards, “What was once a patchwork of regional curiosity and uneven quality has matured into a credible fine wine culture, where producers craft site-specific wines with precision, restraint, and confidence.”

But the damage from this week’s frost tells a different story, and these amazing wineries face a difficult year when harvest comes. “I would say it’s probably the hardest freeze of the 25 years of grape growing that I’ve experienced,” Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, grape grower Jennie Schmidt told WBOC.

It’s important to note that the freeze damage will not affect wine availability this year, as that wine has already been produced. Consumers won’t start to see effects until next year, when many white wine vintages are released. But in the future, 2026 vintage wines will be far fewer than in previous years.

So what can we do to help these vineyards and wineries right now? Visit wineries on the East Coast and give them your support. The Maryland Department of Agriculture said in a statement: “We also encourage all Marylanders to support our local wineries in the weeks and months ahead. Your support can make a meaningful difference for the families and small businesses behind every bottle produced in our great state.”

From the Finger Lakes of New York to the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina, visit your local wineries and buy the wine. Enjoy a tasting and hear about how wine is made on the eastern side of the country. These are your neighbors who are facing a devastating crop at a time when everything is already more expensive.

And to any winemakers who may read this post, you’ve been in my thoughts all week. I am, sincerely, very sorry you’re facing this and hope for a recovery in your production.