March Madness, but It's Vineyards

(And it's also not really March Madness.)

- KRISTY ALPERT

What do basketball brackets and wine have in common? Absolutely nothing. Unless you consider pitting America's top vineyards against each other to find out who's the best...which we did. We sipped, swirled, and even spit (hi, we're not amateurs) the country's top wines in the most beauteous of places, and although we'll be tipsy for the next few months, we found the winners. Behold this delicious dream team.

# 10 EARLY MOUNTAIN

Madison County, Virginia

Virginia may be the birthplace of American wine, but Early Mountain is the state's future, growing ridiculously good petit manseng (white) and a petit verdot-merlot blend that's perfect for sipping on the stone tasting patio overlooking rolling hills and rows of grapevines.

#9 OLD WESTMINSTER WINERY

Piedmont Plateau, Maryland

Pop a Farm Fizz while touring this juniper farm turned winery, then crack open a can of Carbonic Cabernet Franc back in the lofted tasting room the second your wood-fired pizza arrives. While you're at it, order extra cans and a charcuterie board too.

#8 LOOP DE LOOP VINTNER

Columbia Gorge, Washington

Winemaker Julia Bailey Gulstine lives next to her grapes in a vintage trailer so she can watch over her vineyard like a doting mom. Her Wallflower Project label basically says "screw you, 2020," proving her wines are bolder than the wildfires and pandemic that tried to ruin them.

#7 WILLIAM CHRIS VINEYARDS

Hill Country, Texas