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Kentucky

The state in the south-east of the USA with the capital Frankfort Kentucky was initially part of Virginia and became the 15th state to join the United States in 1792. In 1799, the immigrant Swiss viticulture pioneer Jean Jacques Dufour (1763-1827) planted a vineyard with 35 different varieties on a bend of the Kentucky River in Jessamine County near Lexington. Among others, he used the historically important hybrid Alexander. This vineyard is considered to be the first commercially managed vineyard in the USA. Dufour also founded the "Kentucky Wineries Association" with some citizens of the city of Lexington in Jessamine County, which was reorganised in 1981 and still exists today. Until American Prohibition (1920-1933), Kentucky was still the third largest wine producer in the USA.

Today, Kentucky has only historical significance in viticulture. The Ohio River Valley is the only classified AVA, which Kentucky shares with the states of Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. There are around ten production companies, the wine-growing centre is around Louisville. Well-known wineries include Broad Run Vineyards, Chrisman Mill Vineyards and Winery (in Lexington; considered the successor to the historic Dufour Vineyard), Highland Winery, Lovers Leap Vineyard & Winery, Stovers Family Vineyard, Springhill Vineyards and Winery and Rolling Hills Winery. There is also a Kentucky grape variety named after the state.

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