Category: Wine News

Gray Ghost Vineyards Celebrates 30 Years

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Gray Ghost Vineyards opened on July 9, 1994. The only wine they had to pour on that first day was Vidal Blanc. They have been producing award winning wines ever since.

Gray Ghost Vineyards celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday and Paul and I were 
privileged to be the honored guests of the day. I delivered a short speech during the opening reception of this memorable occasion. You can read the speech here. During the opening reception Al Kellert, Amy Payette and Donna Comer from the Rappahannock Board of Supervisors spoke.

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https://mandikaye.com/blog/qk0v4uq After the opening reception guests were treated to a taste of the 2023 Vidal Blanc. This wine was chosen because it was the first wine they poured when they opened 30 years ago. Its tropical notes hit all the right marks on a very warm afternoon. It was a delicious way to begin celebrating Gray Ghost.

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As part of the special day, guests could taste the current line up of wines including the new 2022 Ranger Reserve. Guests could also enjoy a library tasting of the 2005 Merlot, the 2013 Petit Verdot, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Paul really enjoyed the 2005 Merlot and the 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

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https://blog.extraface.com/2024/08/07/e9rggkhb031 Guests were also treated to a sneak peek tasting of the 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Al Kellert personally poured the wine and discussed it’s evolution. What a treat! There was live music and “Talk of the Mountain”, a favorite food truck noted for its fabulous crab cakes, was also at the event to offer its famous seafood menu. I enjoyed a crab cake with a glass of the 2021 Reserve Chardonnay. Paul had the Reserve Chardonnay with chicken nuggets. Yes, chicken nuggets.

We were truly honored to be part of this unforgettable celebration at Gray Ghost Vineyards. As we look forward to the winery’s continued success in producing its award-winning wines, we encourage you to plan a visit to Gray Ghost Vineyards to sample its current releases. When you do, don’t forget to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Virginia Wine Love Weekend

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https://solomedicalsupply.com/2024/08/07/arzr7ovfq0 Fifty Wineries to Host Virginia Wine Love Weekend May 13/14

https://www.completerehabsolutions.com/blog/oa7nzq7dj4 Two Days. Fifty Wineries. Virginia’s Biggest Wine Meet-Up Ever.

Virginia wine enthusiasts will gather at wineries across the state on May 13
and 14 for Virginia Wine Love Weekend, the state’s biggest wine meet-up
ever. Fifty wineries in seven wine regions from Northern Virginia to the
Shenandoah Valley to Hampton Roads are participating in the first-time
event, which kicks off the summer wine travel season and gives wine fans the
chance to get out from behind social media and meet other wine lovers in
person.

https://inteligencialimite.org/2024/08/07/visdfpef “Virginia wine fans are famous for the love they show our wine industry,”
says event organizer Nancy Bauer, who runs an 11,000-member Facebook Group
called Virginia Wine Love. “Other states envy our tight community, which
really showed up when wineries closed down at the beginning of Covid. It was
a challenging time, and many wineries will tell you they only stayed afloat
because their customers were willing to do whatever it took to keep them in
business.”

Wineries will return the favor on Virginia Wine Love Weekend. Participating
wineries plan to put their own spin on the statewide meet-up, setting aside
a “Reserved for VA Wine Lovers” table on Mother’s Day weekend and inviting
Virginia wine experts, writers, and social media influencers to guest host.
Hosts include “Beyond Jefferson’s Vines: The Evolution of Quality Wine in
Virginia” author Richard Leahy, Virginia wine’s founding bloggers from the
popular Virginia Wine Time, Paul Armstrong and Warren Richard, and Virginia
Wine Dogs blogger Terri Hauser, among others.

https://merangue.com/7klh0gw Weekend activities at participating wineries include specialty wine
tastings, complimentary snacks, private tours, trivia contests, book
signings, and wine discounts. Each time a guest checks in at a winery over
the weekend, they’ll be entered in a “Virginia Wine Gives Back” drawing,
which includes prizes like a tasting for four featuring Mountain & Vine
Vineyards’ (formerly Delfosse Vineyards) Screaming Hawk Meritage-the top
wine in this year’s Governor’s Cup Competition-and ballroom dance lessons at
Briede Vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley.

“We’re happy to be part of this event and give some love back to our
customers,” says Mountain & Vine Vineyards co-owner Adrienne Albers. “Their
support means everything.”

Wine enthusiasts who’d prefer to leave the driving to someone else can sign
up for a hosted tour with transportation from boutique winery tour
businesses, including Cork & Keg Wine Tours of Northern Virginia and Fruits
& Roots Wine Tours of the Hampton Roads area. Each has created custom tours
for the weekend.

Xanax Canada Buy The event web site also includes a Make It a Weekend section, with
winery-recommended lodgings and dining for out-of-towners. “The very best
way to experience Virginia Wine Country is to immerse yourself in it,” says
Nancy Bauer, who visited 150 Virginia wineries in 150 days when she and her
husband researched their first Virginia wine travel app. She’s now visited
more than 250 wineries. “Spend the weekend, or a week,” says Bauer.
“Virginia Wine Love Weekend is a great chance to visit some hidden gem
wineries and get to know the people behind the scenes. You may even meet up
with a new travel buddy. People who love wine tend to be pretty fun people.”

See the complete list of participating wineries and event details here:

https://www.virginiawinelove.com/va-wine-love-weekend

https://nedediciones.com/uncategorized/e0crbp0 How to participate in Virginia Wine Love Weekend

https://mandikaye.com/blog/qsjl5bk * Look over the map and list of fifty participating wineries

https://foster2forever.com/2024/08/2sgkjmggesc.html * Check details to see what activities each winery is offering

https://www.clawscustomboxes.com/eakxh2lk * Pick a few wineries you love and/or want to get to know, and invite
some friends

https://eloquentgushing.com/h0w99s6t0j6 * Make winery reservations if needed (most wineries don’t require
them) and book your hotel and dining if you’re staying overnight

https://solomedicalsupply.com/2024/08/07/b5ldyo7 * Join the VirginiaWine Love Group on Facebook for updates (optional)

https://oevenezolano.org/2024/08/504aoss * Check in at each winery on May 13/14, and check the Facebook Group
on May 22 for the list of “Virginia Wine Gives Back” drawing winners

https://polyploid.net/blog/?p=dwb4n1rojuk Virginia Wine Love Weekend is the first project of
Virginia Wine Women, a loose
affiliation of winery owners, winemakers, vineyard managers and other
industry stakeholders. The weekend event is organized by Virginia wine
writer Nancy Bauer and Northern Neck wine travel specialist Terri
Newman-Hyde.

Participating Wineries:

https://udaan.org/1h269xjyf.php NORTHERN VIRGINIA
8 Chains North Winery, Waterford
868 Estate Vineyards, Purcellville
Breaux Vineyards, Purcellville
Chateau O’Brien, Markham
Doukenie Winery, Purcellville
Endhardt Vineyard, Purcellville
Fox Meadow Winery, Linden
Good Spirit Farm Winery, Round Hill
Gray Ghost Vineyards, Amissville
Little Washington Winery, Washington
Magnolia Vineyards, Amissville
Morais Vineyards, Bealeton
Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, Purcellville
Old Farm Winery at Hartland, Aldie
Pearmund Cellars, Broad Run
The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm, Gainesville
Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, Delaplane
Two Twisted Posts Winery, Purcellville
Walsh Family Wine, Purcellville
Williams Gap Vineyard, Round Hill

CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Afton Mountain Vineyards, Afton
Blenheim Vineyards, Charlottesville
Chateau MerrillAnne, Orange
Chestnut Oak Vineyard, Barboursville
Chisholm Vineyard at Adventure Farm, Earlysville
DuCard Vineyards, Etlan
Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard, Louisa
Flying Fox Vineyard, Afton
Hardware Hills Vineyard, Scottsville
Hark Vineyards, Earlysville
Horton Vineyards, Gordonsville
King Family Vineyards, Crozet
Knight’s Gambit Vineyard, Charlottesville
Mountain & Vine Vineyards (formerly Delfosse Vineyards), Faber
Pollak Vineyards, Greenwood
Prince Michel Winery, Leon
Southern Revere Cellars, Louisa
Veritas Vineyards, Afton

https://aiohealthpro.com/opdtj6h3ps6 SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Briede Family Vineyard, Winchester
Brix & Columns Vineyards, McGaheysville
Cave Ridge Vineyard, Mt. Jackson
North Mountain Vineyard, Maurertown
Wolf Gap Vineyard & Winery, Edinburg

https://www.psicologialaboral.net/2024/08/07/udi9fbw9n CHESAPEAKE BAY / NORTHERN NECK
Dog & Oyster Winery, Irvington
Ingleside Vineyards, Oak Grove
The Estate at White Hall Vineyard, King George
The Hague Winery, Hague

SOUTHERN REGION
Hunting Creek Vineyards, Clover
Rosemont of Virginia Vineyards, LaCrosse

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Fables & Feathers Winery, Goodview
Villa Appalaccia Winery, Floyd

HAMPTON ROADS
New Kent Winery, New Kent

Contact Nancy Bauer (nancy@nancybauer.com )
for images or additional information.

Celebrating the Shenandoah Valley AVA

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Online Alprazolam This post will summarize our second and final day of the media event to celebrate the Shenandoah Valley AVA.

Where To Order Xanax Online Day Two of the event began with a breakfast in the Bluestone Vineyard, and it was here that participants could experience the uniqueness of the Shenandoah Valley AVA. At a 1400-foot elevation and nestled between the Allegheny and Shenandoah Mountains, a gentle and constant breeze tempered the heat and humidity that was witheringly palpable at ground level. Excellent aeration and drier air deter pests and mildew that can threaten vineyards during the growing season. Lee Hartman treated us to samples of Bluestone’s 2021 Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc, both lighter-bodied and easy to drink. Breakfast eventually transitioned to lunch at Bluestone’s Meeting House, and a tasting of dessert wines followed by lunch.

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Dessert wines were poured by Barren Ridge Vineyards, Bluestone Vineyard, and Rockbridge Vineyards. All of the selections included Traminette, a hybrid grape that mimics the characteristics of Gewurztraminer and grows quite well in Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley AVA in particular. The 2017 Blue Ice from Bluestone Vineyard used only the Traminette grape; however, the 2019 Christof from Barren Ridge Vineyards included Vidal Blanc, while the 2017 V d’Or from Rockbridge Vineyards included not only Vidal Blanc but also Vignoles. All shared a tropical/citrus element, but the younger 2019 Christof from Barren Ridge was fresher and lighter on the palate. The tasting included a panel discussion by the respective winemakers on dessert wines hosted by Tassie Pippert.

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https://nedediciones.com/uncategorized/n8eu478f After lunch a tasting of red wines and a panel discussion were hosted by Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like. The 2019 Picasso was a red blend sampled by The Winery at Kindred Pointe, and Shenandoah Vineyards poured the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. Muse Vineyards offered its Governor’s Cup winning 2010 Clio. This tasting allowed participants to experience vintages in the Shenandoah Valley AVA as the 2010 Clio proved that the region could produce wines worth cellaring. The 2010 Clio presented tobacco notes with concentrated fruit components to suggest that this Bordeaux-style blend was ready to drink now. The youthful 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Shenandoah Vineyards can be described as very cherry with tobacco accents and could be enjoyed with a favorite beef dish, a cheese plate, or on its own. When moderator Frank Morgan asked winemakers/owners Michael Heny, Robert Muse and Bruce Helsley which grape best expressed the Shenandoah Valley AVA, all responded with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This would explain the Winery at Kindred Pointe’s 2019 Picasso, which leans heavily on Petit Verdot, followed by Chambourcin (another commonly grown hybrid grape in the AVA) and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Alas, all good things must end, and our celebration of the Shenandoah Valley AVA concluded with a speed tasting of wine sampled by wineries that participated in the media event. I cannot recall all of the wines being poured since the tasting seemed to fly by very quickly, but I can recommend the rosé currently poured at Barren Ridge Vineyards. It was dry yet fruity and refreshing—-perfect for summer! Below are a few of the wines we tasted during the speed tasting.

We plan to visit the Shenandoah Valley AVA sooner rather than later; however, we know that readers will want to plan a trip out there even before we do. Please stop by any of the wineries mentioned in this post and let us know which wines were your favorites. Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

We would like to Thank all the partners who made this media tour possible:

Shenandoah County Tourism
Rockingham County Tourism
Virginia Wine Marketing Office
Seven Bends Spirits Tours
Muse Vineyards
Brix & Columns Vineyards
Bluestone Vineyard
Rockbridge Vineyards
The Winery at Kindred Pointe
Shenandoah Vineyards
Vicki Ruckman, Owner, The Virginia Farmhouse
Stephanie Pence, Co-owner, Brix & Columns Vineyards
Lee Hartman, Winemaker, Bluestone Vineyard

Celebrating the Shenandoah Valley AVA

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On July 24 and 25, Paul and I participated in an industry event showcasing the Shenandoah Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). The two-day event began with a luncheon at Muse Vineyards and ended with a tasting of select wineries from the Shenandoah Valley AVA. Participants enjoyed well-crafted wines, dined on culinary delights prepared by chef Tassie Pippert, and engaged with winemakers to learn what makes this particular AVA unique.

Sally Cowal, co-owner of Muse Vineyards, welcomed participants to the winery as we arrived for the luncheon. Stephanie Pence, co-owner of Brix and Columns Vineyards, and Lee Hartman, winemaker at Bluestone Vineyards, gave the event’s opening remarks to inform us that the Shenandoah Valley AVA was the oldest one in the state of Virginia, and Shenandoah Winery was the AVA’s first winery. Jim and Emma Randel founded it in 1976. The AVA also benefits from conditions that are ideal for growing grapes. Cooler nights and limestone soils produce wines with lower alcohol levels and brighter acidity. In addition, the Shenandoah Valley AVA receives less rainfall than other AVAs in the state; due to the superior quality of the grapes grown in the AVA, many of the state’s wineries source grapes from the Shenandoah Valley AVA.

The afternoon then transitioned to lunch paired with wines from Muse Vineyards. Owners Sally Cowal and Robert Muse introduced the wines as they were paired with each course. It should be noted that all foods presented during the event were prepared with locally-sourced products. The luncheon’s first course began with a lovely pate served atop a bed of lettuce dotted with radish slices and slivers of red onions. Muse’s 2021 Rose Nebbiolo was partnered with this dish, and its notes of rose petals and grapefruit proved to be the perfect pairing. Quiche Lorraine followed, and this was served beside the fuller-bodied 2020 Rousanne. Dessert included a rich chocolate brownie with chocolate or vanilla ice cream from South Mountain Creamery. This decadent dessert was paired with Muse’s Cabernet Franc from the 2016 vintage. Raspberry notes from the wine provided a perfect duet with the chocolate delight.

A tasting of sparkling wines followed lunch, and Joy Ting, Research Enologist and Exchange Coordinator at Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange led a panel discussion with winemakers or owners who presented their sparkling wines to the group. These included Lee Hartman from Bluestone Vineyard, Loretta Briedé of Briedé Family Vineyards and Robert Muse of Muse Vineyards. Lee Hartman observed that crafting sparkling wines was the “nerdiest level of winemaking,” and anyone familiar with the méthode champenoise would probably agree with this assessment. Hartman further offered that the Shenandoah Valley AVA was conducive for quality sparkling wines due to the AVA’s climate, which resulted in fresh and refreshing bubbly. The most interesting sparkling wine was the 2017 Sparkling from Briedé Family Vineyards. It was crafted from the Cayuga grape, a hybrid variety that seemed more prevalent at wine festivals many years ago. However, Briedé Family Vineyards has brought the Cayuga grape to a much higher quality. Their sparkling wine featured whiffs of fresh pair and citrus followed by a bright palate and refreshing acidity. Loretta Briedé explained that she and her husband Paul were committed to organic methods to showcase the untapped potential of hybrid grapes, including Cayuga and red varieties such as Marquette and Arandell.

The day’s final event was also its highlight—-a four-course dinner prepared by Emmy-winning chef Tassie Pippert, the producer and host of Un-wine’d on PBS. The dinner was hosted by Brix and Columns Vineyards owners Stephanie and Steve Pence at their lovely home. Appetizers included deviled eggs topped with pickled mustard seeds and a slice of smoky bacon, and pastry shells stuffed with grilled chicken, avocado, and salsa. The 2017 Blanc de Blancs from Bluestone Vineyards provided a refreshing accompaniment to these tasty starters.

The first course featured scallops with asparagus, grits, and a prosciutto chip served beside Burgundian-styled 2019 Chardonnay from Brix and Columns Vineyards. The rich textures of this course matched perfectly with the fuller-bodied Chardonnay.

The next course was a salad of mixed greens, nuts, berries, and local cheese partnered with the 2017 Viognier with Barren Ridge Vineyards. The Viognier’s tropical fruit flavors played well with the berries which accented the salad, and its honeyed texture provided a rounder yet fruity palate.

The main course, though, was the stunner. Tenderloin of beef was topped with a local cherry sauce and served beside roasted potatoes and green beans. This course was paired with the 2017 Houndstooth from Bluestone Vineyard. The cherry sauce allowed the Bordeaux-style blend to shine with its blackberry, raspberry, and dried herb components.

The dessert course included a dark chocolate bourbon cheesecake. Tassie Pippert provided an answer for wine lovers wondering how to branch out beyond dessert or port-style wines with decadent sweets. Pippert selected the 2017 Petit Verdot from the Winery at Kindred Pointe to pair with this decadent cheesecake.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and that included our first day of celebrating the Shenandoah Valley AVA. However, there will be a second part to this post so stay tuned for a summary of Day 2. In the meantime, plan your celebration of the Shenandoah Valley AVA to visit these and other regional wineries. Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

We would like to Thank all the partners who made this media tour possible:

Shenandoah County Tourism
Rockingham County Tourism
Virginia Wine Marketing Office
Seven Bends Spirits Tours
Muse Vineyards
Brix & Columns Vineyards
Bluestone Vineyard
Vicki Ruckman, Owner, The Virginia Farmhouse
Stephanie Pence, Co-owner, Brix & Columns Vineyards
Lee Hartman, Winemaker, Bluestone Vineyard

Monticello Cup Winners

/ Paul / 1 Comment

This evening I attended the Monticello Cup Wine Competition Awards ceremony in Charlottesville. It was held at the Common House. Laura and Jason Lavallee of Wisdom Oak Winery won the 2022 Monticello Cup for their NINETEEN, a Bordeaux-style red blend. I was able to taste the winning wine. It’s a nice red blend but will benefit from some time in the bottle.

Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like, organized the event and was on hand to announce the winners. He announced the top 3 red and white wines of the Monticello Wine Cup Competition as well as the cup winner.

The top 3 reds were the Wisdom Oak 2019 NINETEEN, the Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery 2019 Clay Hill Cabernet Franc and the Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Merlot Reserve. The top 3 whites were the Michael Shaps Wineworks 2019 Petit Manseng, the Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Chardonnay Reserve and the Trump Winery 2017 Blanc de Blanc.

During the evening I was able to say hello and catch up with many of the wine makers from the Monticello Wine Trail. I was also able to enjoy tastes of many of the wines submitted to the competition. The Common House provided some wonderful appetizers to enjoy with the wines.

It was a great evening to enjoy some wine and celebrate the winners of the competition. If you haven’t been on the Monticello Wine Trail lately, plan a trip soon! And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Congratulations to Melanie Natoli!

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The winner of the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup is the 2019 Unité Reserve from Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg. Melanie Natoli is the talented winemaker who crafted this excellent red blend. Readers may know that we have been following Melanie’s progress as a winemaker in Loudoun County, and you can read our interview with Melanie here (at the bottom) to learn more about her.

Kudos to the Virginia wineries that made it into the Governor’s case. The 12 bottles that made up the case are:

50 West Vineyards 2019 Ashby Gap
Barboursville Vineyards 2020 Vermentino Reserve
Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg 2019 LeMariage
Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg 2019 Unité Reserve
Maggie Malick Wine Caves 2020 Albariño
Michael Shaps Wineworks 2019 Chardonnay
Pollak Vineyards 2017 Meritage
Rockbridge Vineyard 2018 V d’Or
Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Reserve Red
Stinson Vineyards 2017 Meritage
Trump Winery 2015 Brut Reserve
Wisdom Oak Winery 2019 NINETEEN

We will make it a goal to taste as many of the excellent wines that medalled in this year’s competition, especially as we continue to open up after a two year uncertainty due to the covid epidemic. Let’s all compare tasting notes! Join us as we embark on a task to sample these wonderful wines, and please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

October Is Virginia Wine Month

/ Paul / 1 Comment

Happy Virginia Wine Month!

We started Virginia wine month with a harvesting experience at Gray Ghost Vineyards. Besides COVID 2020, we have harvested grapes at Gray Ghost for 15 (Paul) and 20 (Warren) years. It’s always great fun! We usually harvest the chardonnay grapes but this year we decided to harvest the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Here are some pictures from the day.

Al Kellert, the winemaker and owner, starts off the day with a lesson on how to harvest grapes.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were gorgeous this year!
Here Warren is showing us how to snip the vine and capture those beautiful grapes.

We had a great time filling up the yellow bins with grapes.

What a great way to start off Virginia Wine Month. Please catch up with our social media to see what we are pouring and enjoying throughout the month. Are you planning on visiting any Virginia wineries this month? If so, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Firefly to Light Up the Loudoun Wine Scene

/ Warren / Leave a comment

Paul and I attended the soft opening of Firefly Cellars this past weekend. Readers may know that Firefly Cellars was once Hunter’s Run Winery. However, ownership of the property now belongs to Pete and Patty Pierleonardi and their children, Zach and Andrea Zaidi. The family has considerable business experience as owners of Pest Management Service, Inc., and now bring their expertise to Firefly Cellars.

Guests of the event were greeted warmly by the Pierleonardi family in the tasting room, and glasses of the Blanc de Blanc made from white chambourcin grapes were on hand to toast the occasion. The tasting room itself has been completely renovated and captures a rural chic theme.

Live entertainment provided relief from the haunting shrieks from Brood X cicadas, and an impressive menu of food expertly paired with each of the Firefly Cellars’ eleven wines. My favorites included the white blend Illumination paired with spinach and fontina stuffed cremini mushrooms, the fruity 2020 Chardonnay paired with the Virginia scallops and pork belly, and the Petit Verdot paired with the prime beef skewers dipped in blue cheese fondue.

Firefly Cellars also offers airbnb accommodations; in fact, newly weds were the first guests of the airbnb and present at the pre opening event. A swimming pool sweetens the pot for those who are looking for a getaway complete with refreshing swim to finish the day. For those who either opt to stay at the airbnb or wish to stop by Firefly Cellars for a tasting, a private tasting experience can be enjoyed in The Cellar, a European-style wine cellar that is kept at 55 degrees.

I admit to getting excited when I see fireflies light up the summer sky, and I could not help myself from posing in front of the Firefly Cellars’ sign.

We will be certain to return to Firefly Cellars to stay updated on new releases. However, readers may want to enjoy the current lineup of wines sooner rather than later so plan to visit once the winery opens this weekend. Remember to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

2021 Governor’s Cup Winner

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https://eloquentgushing.com/djkrnqjaylp Get Online Xanax Prescription Commonwealth of Virginia
https://merangue.com/hflfww3r Office of Governor Ralph S. Northam

Virginia’s Barboursville Vineyards Takes Home 2021 Governor’s Cup® with 2015 Paxxito

~ Dessert wine from storied Virginia winery joins 11 other gold medal-winning wines in 2021 Governor’s Cup Case® ~

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam awarded the Virginia Wineries Association’s 2021 Governor’s Cup® to Barboursville Vineyards for their 2015 Paxxito. The winning wine was revealed tonight during the annual Governor’s Cup Celebration, which was held virtually this year. Eleven other wines received top honors, comprising the Governor’s Cup Case®.

The Virginia Governor’s Cup, hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association, is one of the most stringent wine competitions in the United States. A panel of 22 judges, directed by Jay Youmans, one of only 53 Masters of Wine (MW) in the United States, reviewed the record-setting 544 wines entered into the competition this year, conducting a blind sampling and scoring the wines in multiple rounds over a four-week period to confirm the winner. Last week, gold medals were awarded to the 96 wines that scored 90 points or higher. All wines in the Governor’s Cup competition must be made from 100 percent Virginia fruit.

“Virginia’s history as a wine region has close ties with Barboursville Vineyards, and I am pleased to recognize Luca Paschina and his team with the Governor’s Cup for their continued innovation in winemaking,” said Governor Northam. “The wines in this year’s Governor’s Cup Case are a testament to the passion and pioneering spirit from which Virginia’s wine industry thrives. As we celebrate these high-quality and distinctive Virginia wines, we also honor the resilience of the farmers and winemakers who grow and craft them across our Commonwealth.”

Underscoring its Governor’s Cup win, two additional Barboursville wines received honors in the competition, giving the vineyard a total of three wines in the Governor’s Cup Case® this year. Under the leadership of winemaker and general manager Luca Paschina, Barboursville wines have now earned five Governor’s Cup awards including their 1988 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 1997 Cabernet Franc, 1998 Cabernet Franc Reserve and 2009 Octagon. Located in Virginia’s Piedmont region, industry leader Gianni Zonin founded Barboursville Vineyards in 1976 as a wine estate and was an early pioneer of the Virginia wine industry, eventually helping to set the standard for a region that is now home to more than 300 wineries.

Virginia ciders also are eligible to enter the Governor’s Cup competition, and this year a new “Best in Show Cider” award was introduced to recognize achievements in the category. Lost Boy Cider’s “Comeback Kid” was recognized with the 2021 award with three other ciders receiving gold medals in the competition.

“Wine and cider are an important agricultural product and economic driver in our Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “In light of all the challenges the industry faced this year, the Governor’s Cup is a welcomed opportunity to celebrate the fantastic wines produced in our region.”

Alongside the Barboursville Paxxito, the 11 wines included in the 2021 Governor’s Cup Case are:

Barboursville Vineyards Octagon (2016)
Barboursville Vineyards Vermentino Reserve (2019)
Bluestone Vineyard Petit Manseng (2019)
Breaux Vineyards Meritage (2016)
Breaux Vineyards Nebbiolo (2016)
Carriage House Wineworks Petit Verdot (2019)
R.A.H. Wine Company Series 1 (2017)
King Family Vineyards Mountain Plains (2017)
Michael Shaps Wineworks Meritage (2015)
Trump Winery Brut Reserve (2014)
Veritas Winery Petit Verdot (2017)

Within the Governor’s Cup Case, there is wide representation from Central Virginia as well as the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia—areas that are putting Virginia on the map as a globally recognized wine region. The broad geographical diversity of wineries and wines in the 2021 competition highlights Virginia winemakers’ ability to listen to their land and navigate the Commonwealth’s varied landscape and conditions.

According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, more than 2.2 million tourists visited Virginia wineries in 2015. Today, the Virginia wine industry generates $1.37 billion in economic impact and 8,218 jobs for the Commonwealth. Nationwide, Virginia is in the top six states in number of wineries and wine grape production.
Additional details about the Governor’s Cup competition, a complete list of previous winners, and information about the Virginia wine industry can be found at virginiawine.org/governors-cup.

This information was provided by the Virginia Wine Board.

Wine News

/ Paul / Leave a comment

The big announcement comes today! This evening at 7:00 PM Eastern time on the Virginia Wine Facebook page the winner of the 2021 Virginia Governor’s Cup will be announced!

Because of COVID this will not be a live in person event. It will be announced on video. Be sure to log on to the Virginia Wine Facebook page at 7:00 PM Eastern to hear the announcement!

In a bit of sad news, it was announced this morning that Steven Spurrier passed away. A giant in the wine industry will be missed. You can read about it here.