Arkansas wine

Arkansas wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Many of these wines are grown from traditional European wine grapes of the Vitis vinifera group such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot noir,and Riesling but Arkansas also makes wine from its native grapes, the Cynthiana and Muscadine. Winemaking in Arkansas began in the 1870s with German and Swiss settlers who found the climate of northwest Arkansas favorable to growing grapes. Although there are only six commercial wineries in Arkansas, the state has three designated American Viticultural Areas. Half of Arkansas's counties remain dry.