For those vested in growth of regional wine, DrinkLocalWine a site for sore eyes

It's already a few weeks ago since the second Regional Wine Week, where bloggers from places other than the West Coast chimed in on wines and wineries in their region. All the content was linked to this DrinkLocalWine site.

Co-founder Dave McIntyre, who writes on wines on a blog called wineline, responded to an e-mail Tuesday morning about how it went by saying that that had more people involved this year and from more states. "We are thrilled to have some coverage of Michigan, more coverage of North Carolina and Georgia," he wrote. "We also have tremendous interest from Texas bloggers, many of whom attended our first DrinkLocalWine.com conference in Dallas in August."

The founders noted on their site that they welcomed more contributors to Regional Wine Week despite the economy, which has taken out some members of the mainstream media as well as other independent bloggers.

"So this year's output was as welcome as it was unexpected," they wrote. "But it shouldn't have been. We, more than anyone, should know that regional wine is an accepted, full-fledged member of the wine community. That people -- a lot of people -- want to write about it should not be surprising."

And next year's, the third annual, already is tentatively planned for Oct. 9-16. Planning also is under way on a second DrinkLocalWine.com conference. The first one earlier this year was held in Texas, in believe. Next year's seems targeted for a location in northern Virginia during the weekend of April 24-25.

Regional Wine Week encore on Oct. 11-17

Already a year has passed since the inaugural Regional Wine Week, with writers and bloggers outside the West Coast writing about wines and wineries in their home areas. Created by freelance writer Dave McIntyre, who among his many ventures produces a blog called WineLine, and Wine Curmudgeon blogger Jeff Siegel, they developed a Web site called www.drinklocalwine.com that posted the links to all of these writers' blogs and stories.

Always like to hear the words bigger and better when it comes to promoting local wines, and that appears to be the case here, as McIntyre wrote on his blog that they are hopeful of luring 50 or more bloggers to participate. The week will run from Oct 11-17.

In a recent e-mail to those of us who participated last year, McIntyre wrote that "Jeff and I are ready to link all your posts about regional wine/local wine/wine from around here, wherever here happens to be, ... on DrinkLocalWIne.com, plus a Tweet and Facebook campaign to promote all your posts. I'm planning something on my recent visit to the southernmost winery in the USofA (hint - Hawaii, and talk about a volcanic terroir!), as well as a feature in The Washington Post on Loudoun County, "DC's Wine Country." Jeff is whipping up something on Texas, and we have folks planning updates from Quebec, Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and several other areas."

I figured a note to McIntyre asking what's different with this year's encore wouldn't hurt, and he sent me back this response: "We have more people involved this year and from more states. We are thrilled to have some coverage of Michigan, more coverage of North Carolina and Georgia. We also have tremendous interest from Texas bloggers, many of whom attended our first DrinkLocalWine.com conference in Dallas in August."

Those of you who drink wine with any regularity probably are familiar with American wines created in California, Oregon and Washington. But if you're looking to increase your education on the winemaking going on in a number of other states, then bookmark www.drinklocalwine.com and make frequent visits during the week. It's all knowedge that comes free of charge.