Wine Clubs That Ship To Utah
Unfortunately, shipping wine to Utah is not possible at this time. Even though Utah maintains state laws that prohibit communities from enacting dry alcohol policies, shipping wine into Utah is actually a felony. Residents are permitted to bring up to two bottles of wine into the state from interstate travel, but if that quantity is exceeded, an individual risks criminal charges. Utah is actually the reason many California wineries forgo shipping altogether, as they must use expensive secure bonded shipments to legally carry wine through the state of Utah on I-80.
Even though Mormon settlers began growing wine grapes in Utah during the 1860s, the undertaking was quickly abandoned when grape quality proved to be lacking. It was not until the 1980s that the state revived viticulture, discovering that it was in fact possible to produce quality wine in Utah. Several courageous agriculturalists planted grapes early in the decade and sold the produce to wineries across the state line in Colorado, as it was actually illegal to produce and sell wine in Utah at that time. After lobbying the Utah Legislature, wineries were legalized in 1988. The following year, the Arches Winery opened and produced 1,500 gallons of wine in its first bottling, a significant landmark in Utah viticulture history. While the wine industry in Utah is still quite small, winemakers have a better idea of what it takes to make quality wine in this state. Most of the state’s vineyards are currently found in areas of high elevation, thriving in mountain valleys that are up to 6,000 feet above sea level. The climate is relatively dry and grapes often require additional irrigation. Also, vines must endure cold winters that put them at risk for winter kill and frost damage. In spite of these climate challenges, the state’s wine producers successfully grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Riesling, Seyval blanc, and Syrah varieties.
Even though the Utah wine industry is relatively small, there are six wineries that operate in the state. Be sure to check them out!
- Arches Vineyards
- Castle Creek Winery
- Iron Gate Winery
- La Caille Vineyard and Winery
- Round Mountain Vineyards and Winery
- Spanish Valley Vineyards & Winery
- William Cooper Winery
Jim Santangelo, founder of The Wine Academy of Utah, is committed to increasing his state’s knowledge of wine one sip at a time. Through various classes and tasting experiences, the Academy offers educational opportunities for wine enthusiasts and professionals. From a Wine and Spirits Certification course to seminars created to help business professionals navigate restaurant wine menus, The Wine Academy of Utah offers internationally recognized programs. As Santangelo would ask, “How about little ‘splishy splash’ to get you started tonight?”
For a unique wine, The Hive Winery has combined Utah’s thriving honey industry with wine production to create a high-quality honey wine. All of their wines are crafted from local produce and honey, and they typically produce in micro-batches, allowing for a wider variety of wines to be made each year. This is just one example of creative wine making efforts that overcome the challenging climate in Utah.