January 9, 2025 – Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association is pleased to honor Linda Jones McKee with its 2024 Birchenall Award for excellence in journalism. McKee has documented the eastern wine scene since founding Wine East magazine in 1981 when there were only 125 wineries east of the Rockies. Her enthusiasm for the burgeoning industry only increased over the years.
ASWA President Grant Crandall states, “Linda Jones McKee is a superb journalist chronicling the big developments in the wine industry throughout the nation.” He continues, “She has been a widely respected source of information and analysis on the East Coast wine industry for decades.”
For 27 years, Wine East, founded by McKee and Hudson Cattell, focused on winemaking, viticulture and research as well as profiling wineries. This dynamic team of two wrote and edited each issue as well as handling production, advertising and circulation.
In addition to putting out Wine East, Linda Jones McKee and partner Richard Carey authored Pennsylvania Wineries in 2000. They formed Tamanend Wine Consulting in Lancaster, PA and briefly opened their own winery. In 2012, McKee reconnected with Cattell and co-authored Pennsylvania Wine, A History.
In 2008 Wine East caught the attention of Wines & Vines and was incorporated as an insert in each issue where McKee continued to write an engaging and informative column. Wines & Vines, a long-standing and well-respected magazine, covered the American wine industry for 100 years, from 1919 to 2019.
As in many branches of journalism, another consolidation occurred five years ago: Wines & Vines became part of WineBusiness, today the leading producer of information and events for the wine industry. McKee continues to cover eastern wine news for them today.
The Birchenall Award, initiated in 2017, is the newest ASWA recognition, given to members of the wine media for promoting awareness of eastern US wine. It is named for the late Michael Birchenall for his many contributions to coverage of the East Coast wine and food industries. ASWA has honored Carlo DeVito, Nancy Bauer, and Paul Vigna among others. More information can be found at https://aswawines.org/aswa-awards/
About The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association
The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association promotes American wine produced in the seventeen eastern states: all those that touch the Atlantic Ocean plus West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Vermont. This trade organization was founded in 1973 as the Vinifera Wine Growers Association, and renamed in 2008 to reflect an expanded regional focus. ASWA’s mission is to increase awareness of the fine wines of the Atlantic seaboard through trade and consumer education. Members liaise with national, state, and regional wine organizations to identify opportunities to highlight the wines and winemakers working here.
