Category: Wine News

Governor’s Cup Gold Medal Winners!

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How To Order Xanax Online Cod Virginia Wineries Association Announces 2021 Governor’s Cup® Gold Medalists
Nearly 100 Wines Awarded Gold Medal Distinction, New Cider Category Introduced in Acclaimed Wine Competition

https://mandikaye.com/blog/5fh23ulj Richmond, Va. (March 2, 2021) – The Virginia Wineries Association is honored to announce that 96 Virginia wines from 47 different wineries have been awarded gold medals in the 2021 Governor’s Cup® Wine Competition. Originating in 1982, the Virginia Governor’s Cup® is one of the most stringent wine competitions in the U.S.

https://homeupgradespecialist.com/q7n46xbvgwg Over the past four weeks, a panel of world-class judges have blind sampled and scored a record 544 wines that were submitted in this year’s competition. Wines awarded gold medals received a score of 90 or higher on a 100-point score range and are deemed “Outstanding” by the judges.

https://www.clawscustomboxes.com/0t69pmoa4n A testament to Virginia’s diverse terroirs and grape varieties grown in the Commonwealth, the gold medal winners include wines made from over 20 varietals produced across Virginia’s distinct winegrowing regions. With an increase in gold medal winners from last year’s competition, statistics from the 2021 Governor’s Cup® gold medal winners include:

Xanax Mexico Online 59 Golds – Central VA
2 Golds – Chesapeake Bay
9 Golds – Hampton Roads
17 Golds – Northern VA
9 Golds – Shenandoah Valley

https://www.psicologialaboral.net/2024/08/07/5luog2b In recent years, Virginia wineries have cultivated more unexpected varietals in the region, such as Tannat and Petit Verdot. These grapes are well-represented among gold medal winners, indicating that experimentation in Virginia’s vineyards has proven fruitful. Bordeaux-style blends and hearty reds are stalwarts in the Virginia wine landscape and received the most gold medals in this year’s competition. A number of white wine varieties such as Chardonnay, Petit Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc rounded out the gold medal winners, for a diverse list taking center stage in Virginia’s booming wine industry.

https://foster2forever.com/2024/08/j4layn0.html Of the gold medal winning wines, the 12 wines that receive the highest scores will comprise the Governor’s Cup Case®, showcasing the best wines in the Commonwealth. The wine scored highest will be awarded the grand prize of the Governor’s Cup, which will be announced in a virtual celebration on March 9, 2021.

Virginia cider, a fast-growing segment of the Virginia agricultural industry, now has its own category in the Governor’s Cup Competition. Judges for the new “Best in Show Cider” award were selected based on their passion, experience and understanding of the category, and will award their favorite of 27 ciders that were entered.

https://sugandhmalhotra.com/2024/08/07/addt1wprudt The esteemed panel of judges was directed by Jay Youmans – one of only 53 Masters of Wine (MW) in the U.S. – who has overseen the competition for ten years. “The decade I’ve spent working with the Governor’s Cup Competition is evidence of the great evolution we’ve seen in Virginia’s wine industry – this year’s gold medal winners are nothing short of impressive. Awarding such a diverse range of wines and introducing a cider category showcases the transformation of the industry, and I’m proud to see the hard work of these winemakers pay off,” said Youmans.

https://udaan.org/72buk23dd.php Virginia’s vibrant wine industry – a 400-year-old “experiment” – has made it a significant agricultural sector in the state. Today, over 300 wineries in Virginia cultivate over 4,200 acres of grapes, making it the sixth-largest wine region in the U.S. The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup® Competition is done in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association. Both the Governor’s Cup Competition and the resulting Governor’s Cup Case boost the visibility of the Virginia wine region through various marketing programs and exposure to top wine critics and tastemakers.

https://eloquentgushing.com/vnnw1z1e8xt About the Governor’s Cup Competition
The judging panel ranks each wine based on a unified scoring system. Any wine made from 100% Virginia fruit is eligible for the Governor’s Cup® Competition (ciders, fruit wines and meads have their own categories). Entries must include an affidavit with a certification of 100% Virginia fruit and vineyard particulars, including grower names and location, as well as information on alcohol, acidity or basicity (pH) and residual sugar. The Governor’s Cup competition is a partnership among the gubernatorial-appointed Virginia Wine Board (VWB), the Virginia Vineyards Association (VVA), and the Virginia Wineries Association (VWA), which owns and manages the competition.

The Virginia Governor’s Cup® award winners will be announced during a live premiere on Virginia Wine’s Facebook on March 9 at 7 p.m.

https://mandikaye.com/blog/56t9c1u0t7 For interviews and photo requests, please contact Annette Boyd at 804.402.1896 or Annette.Boyd@Virginiawine.org.

Buy Xanax Spain For more information about the Governor’s Cup or events, tours and tastings, please visit the Virginia Wine Marketing Office’s website at http://www.virginiawine.org/ or email information@virginiawine.org.

https://aiohealthpro.com/xw8mtblkjy4 2021 Governor’s Cup® Gold Medalists
Winery Wine Vintage
Afton Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2017
Albemarle CiderWorks Harrison 2018
Albemarle CiderWorks Pomme Mary 2019
Barboursville Vineyards Octagon 2017
Barboursville Vineyards Octagon 2016
Barboursville Vineyards Paxxito 2017
Barboursville Vineyards Paxxito 2015
Barboursville Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2019
Barboursville Vineyards Vermentino Reserve 2019
Barren Ridge Vineyards Meritage 2015
Blue Bee Cider Firecracker 2019
Bluestone Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
Bluestone Vineyard Merlot 2014
Bluestone Vineyard Petit Manseng 2019
Breaux Vineyards Meritage 2016
Breaux Vineyards Nebbiolo 2016
Breaux Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Carriage House Wineworks Petit Verdot 2019
Cave Ridge Vineyard Red Silk Barrel Select Cabernet Franc 2017
Chestnut Oak Vineyard Petit Manseng 2017
Chisholm Vineyards Chambourcin 2019
CrossKeys Vineyards Petit Verdot 2017
Cunningham Creek Winery Estate Petit Verdot 2017
Cunningham Creek Winery Meritage 2017
Delaplane Cellars Tannat 2017
Delfosse Vineyards and Winery Petit Verdot Reserve 2017
Delfosse Vineyards and Winery Screaming Hawk Meritage 2017
DuCard Vineyards Triskele 2017
Early Mountain Cabernet Franc 2019
Early Mountain Capstone Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019
Early Mountain Eluvium 2017
Early Mountain Five Forks 2019
Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard Vidal Blanc 2019
Gadino Cellars Petit Verdot 2017
Greenhill Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve 2019
Honah Lee Vineyard Petit Verdot 2017
Horton Vineyards Petit Verdot Private Reserve 2016
Horton Vineyards Tannat 2015
Ingleside Vineyards Albariño 2019
Ingleside Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve 2018
Jefferson Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2019
Jefferson Vineyards Jefferson’s Own Estate Reserve 2016
Jefferson Vineyards Viognier 2019
Keswick Vineyards Estate Reserve Cabernet Franc 2019
Keswick Vineyards Heritage Estate Reserve 2017
King Family Vineyards Loreley 2017
King Family Vineyards Mountain Plains 2017
Lake Anna Winery Petit Verdot 2017
Lost Boy Cider Comeback Kid 2020
Michael Shaps Cabernet Franc 2017
Michael Shaps Chardonnay 2018
Michael Shaps Chardonnay 2017
Michael Shaps Chardonnay 2016
Michael Shaps Meritage 2017
Michael Shaps Meritage 2015
Michael Shaps Petit Manseng 2019
Michael Shaps Raisin d’Etre White 2015
Michael Shaps Roussanne 2019
Michael Shaps Tannat 2016
Muse Vineyards Clio 2017
Narmada Winery Melange 2017
Narmada Winery Yash-Vir 2016
October One Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019
Paradise Springs Winery Apres Rosé 2018
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Easton Blue 2017
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Easton Blue 2015
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Zero White 2019
Pollak Vineyards Meritage 2015
Pollak Vineyards Meritage 2017
Pollak Vineyards Mille Fleurs 2017
R.A.H Wine Co. Series 1 2017
Rockbridge Vineyard DeChiel Chardonnay 2018
Shenandoah Vineyards Reserve Red 2017
Silver Hand Meadery All Blues 2020
Silver Hand Meadery Black Velvet 2020
Silver Hand Meadery Dream By The Fire 2020
Silver Hand Meadery Raspberry Passion 2020
Silver Hand Meadery Soak up the Sun 2020
Silver Hand Meadery Strawberry Swing 2020
Stinson Vineyards Tannat 2017
Thatch Winery Block 8 Tannat 2017
Thatch Winery Merlot – Mount Juliet Farm Vineyard 2019
The Williamsburg Winery Petit Verdot Reserve 2017
The Winery at Bull Run Barrel Select Viognier 2019
The Winery at Bull Run Cabernet Franc Reserve 2019
The Winery at Bull Run Petit Manseng 2019
The Winery at Bull Run Reconciliation 2019
Trump Winery Brut Reserve 2014
Upper Shirley Vineyards Tannat 2016
Upper Shirley Vineyards Zachariah 2016
Veritas Winery Cabernet Franc Reserve 2017
Veritas Winery Petit Verdot 2017
Veritas Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Veritas Winery Scintilla 2015
Veritas Winery The Momentarius Collection Monticello White Blend 2019
Walsh Family Wine Dutchman’s Creek Cabernet Franc 2019

https://foster2forever.com/2024/08/fb6mcfe1.html https://transculturalexchange.org/hjiy1z4q About Virginia Wine
You can learn a lot about our wine just by looking at a map: Virginia sits halfway between Europe and California and our wines embody this unique position in the world. They are lush but structured; aromatic, expressive and beautifully balanced – blending the subtlety of the Old World with the boldness of the new. Like perfect French spoken with a slight southern drawl. Home to 312 wineries across ten wine regions and seven American Viticultural areas (AVAs), most Virginia wineries are family owned; the average size of a winery is 12.8 acres. This means Virginia wines aren’t massproduced – they are local, artisanal and tell a story shaped by Virginia’s diverse landscape and unpredictable conditions.

Safe To Order Xanax Online All the information in this post was provided by the Virginia Wine Board.

Virginia Wine Time Begins Its Phase 2

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We continue to be a couple of weeks behind the rest of the local area in regard to venturing out; however, we are indeed getting back however slowly on the wine trails. Paul and I took a short vacation to the Charlottesville area recently, and we made full use of our time to visit several of the wineries there. We will capture our experiences in the next couple of posts.

*Disclaimer: This trip was taken almost three weeks ago; needless to say, we are behind in posting. Therefore, we avoided associated specific wineries with the practices described below since these protocols may have changed since then. The key words will always be “plan ahead.”

https://merangue.com/rdm2c4rxym2 Our wine ventures to the Monticello AVA were scheduled for weekday visits to the wineries, and we do this to avoid crowds—-we like to maximize the distancing potential! The focus of this post will be a summary of how wineries in the area honored Phase 2 guidelines while offering optimal service to customers. Future posts will be more specific about wineries, wines, and our favorite pours.

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Alprazolam Australia Online We can report that wineries are indeed complying with state guidelines in regard to Phase 2 of reopening, and we know that these are relieved to be able to open the doors (and pours) once again. However, keeping winery staff and customers safe has added new layers to business practices; in particular, the tasting experience has had to be amended so that customers can taste wines before purchase and/or remain for an extended period of time beyond a tasting. Here is what we encountered:

Reservations: Some wineries required reservations but others did not. Plan ahead to avoid disappointment. Know which wineries you would like to visit and then either visit the websites or call to be certain in order to avoid disappointment. Also be aware that some wineries may be setting time limits on customers in order to accommodate a thorough cleaning of tables and other contact points prior to the arrival of the next guests. Time limits also allows the winery to accommodate a maximum number to guests; remember, wineries do need to distance consumers thus minimizing potential business if the winery is crunched for space. Do know that tastings will likely occur outdoors; however, most wineries offered seating arrangements beneath tents, umbrellas, or a canopy of trees. This offers a perfect opportunity to enjoy the lovely Shenandoah landscape!

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Flights and Self Guided Tastings: Be prepared for alternatives to traditional tasting experiences at the wineries. Most wineries that we visited offered a flight of self-guided tastings. Some wineries offered a set flight of wines to taste while others presented a number of flights from which to choose. In the latter circumstance, Paul and I each selected a different flight which then offered an opportunity to sample a maximum number of wines. Flights were usually served in plastic cups on a tray which was labeled with the wines offered in the flight. However, some of the wineries did serve flights in glasses that were arranged either on a paddle or came to the table via a specialized hook to accommodate wine glasses. The library tasting at Barboursville, for example, offered this sort of service. At least two of the wineries served flights by presenting them in small bottles that the consumer could then pour into a cup or glass. Some tasters may balk at plastic cups; however, keep in mind that this minimizes contact between staff and potentially contaminated surfaces—-cups can be tossed into the trash by the customer after use. So if sipping wine out of a plastic cup is a bridge too far then either bring your own wine glass from home or request/purchase a logo glass from the winery. Pour from the plastic into the glass, and you’re ready to enjoy!

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Order Alprazolam Cheap Glass/Bottle Purchases Only: A few wineries on our trip did not offer flights but did offer purchases that could be enjoyed on the property. Again, plan ahead to avoid disappointment if you were expecting something else. Tasting associates can direct you to a particular wine that may suit your palate. Sip on a glass of your favorite wine while appreciating spectacular mountain views, fluttering butterflies, or summer blooms. Bought a bottle? Remember that a bottle purchase can always be re-corked and brought home. And yes, you may be offered a plastic cup. See above—-bring a glass from home or purchase a logo glass from the winery and bring home a souvenir of your visit.

https://homeupgradespecialist.com/juivj9atst2 Masks: Yes—-wear them. Wear a face covering to converse with a tasting associate, to enter the building to use the restroom, or when you are not otherwise sipping wine. Masks may be removed when drinking or eating. Also, respect distanced seating arrangements and avoid moving furniture.

Cheap Alprazolam From India Future posts will provide a general review of wineries that we visited along with the wines that we enjoyed. I will admit to not keeping detailed tasting notes—-our aim was to enjoy our time away from seclusion of home. However, I will close with a teaser of one wine that we enjoyed with dinner recently, and that was the Michael Shaps Petit Manseng blended with a bit of Rousanne. Dinner included a plate of seared scallops topped with white wine sauce and capers then served beside mango relish and jasmine rice sprinkled with cilantro parsley.

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https://oevenezolano.org/2024/08/qqc9g8h3v1q Make plans to visit your favorite Virginia wineries and be sure to include one that you have not tried before. I emphasize the word plan—-planning avoids disappointments. Of course, be respectful of tasting associates and other wine tasters and follow safety protocols. Wherever you decide to go, please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Romantic Rosé

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On a recent Saturday we met some friends at Gray Ghost Vineyards to catch up, do a tasting and enjoy some lunch.

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https://www.completerehabsolutions.com/blog/1x5h2082a6b Marketing director Amy Payette conducted our tasting. We worked through all the whites and reds but were most interested in tasting the new Romantic Rosé. This is the first time winemaker Al Kellert has produced a rosé for Gray Ghost. We learned the rosé is made from three different red grapes. It’s a secret which red grapes make up the blend though. We tasted the rosé and were instantly excited to see it is a dry rosé. We love dry rosés. We noted strawberry and raspberry notes with an overall fruity palate. We know this will pair nicely with cheeses, light fair or sandwiches for lunch.

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After our tasting we decided to enjoy some rosé with our lunch items. We were socially distancing from other guests at Gray Ghost while we enjoyed our lunch. It was a warm afternoon but the rosé made it cooler. Before leaving we secured a few bottles of the rosé plus some other favorites. Plan a trip to Gray Ghost Vineyards soon to get your own bottle of the new Romantic Rosé. You’ll be glad you did. When you do visit, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

https://sugandhmalhotra.com/2024/08/07/mpifz83 Oh, check out the video that Gray Ghost posted about the new Romantic Rosé and an update on the vineyards.

Re-Opening Virginia – Our Plans During Phase 1

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Paul and I began this blog 15 years ago due to our desire to promote excellent wine being produced by Virginia winemakers. This has become both a hobby and a passion for both us, and we sorely miss being on the wine trails due to COVID-19 restrictions. The phase 1 of re-opening begins this weekend, and we are sure that winery owners and winemakers are relieved to see some light at the end of a bleak tunnel. Trust me, we are eager for a return to normal that includes a resumption of our local wine travels. However, we are taking a cautious stance on this matter and will be waiting a bit longer before hitting the wine trails. Here is why:

1. Health—-Paul suffered a heart attack in December and therefore belongs to a demographic that would struggle to recover from this vicious virus. He (and I, his spouse) would prefer to wait a while longer to be certain that it is indeed safe to venture out to the wineries. This leads me to reason #2:

https://inteligencialimite.org/2024/08/07/52k8fdj39 2. Behavior of others during phase 1—-I predict that wineries will be descended upon by hoards of stir-crazy customers including “re-openers” who have been agitating for this to happen. We have seen similar scenes of crowds at beaches, restaurants, etc. in other states that have re-opened, and it was frightening to see the lack of regard for safety protocols put into place for re-opening. No face coverings + lack of social distancing=disregard for the health of others. Will a similar scenario play itself out at Virginia wineries? This leads me to reason #3:

3. Winery practices during phase 1—-We will pay attention to plans put forth by wineries to keep customers safe. Will there be enforcement of safety protocols? If so, how? Will there be a limit on crowds? Larger crowds=more touch points to maintain. Is it realistic to expect that bathrooms, for example, will be sanitized on a constant basis if unlimited numbers of customers are allowed to frequent the winery? If we decide to hit the wine trail later in phase 1, we intend to favor wineries that implement a reservations only/limited numbers approach, because that seems to be most realistic way of maintaining control over all factors mentioned here.

https://solomedicalsupply.com/2024/08/07/dbsvxpw5 In the meantime, we will continue to order wine from Virginia wineries, participate in virtual wine tastings (we have learned so much from these), and pour Virginia wine at our virtual happy hours. To those who intend to venture out this weekend, please abide by safety practices put into place by the wineries so that they can indeed continue to carefully re-open. Of course, do enjoy yourselves, and let us know of a new release that you savored. Did you visit a winery that you read about on this blog? If so, please mention to your server that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

COVID and Impacts on Local Wineries

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The current COVID pandemic has impacted all of us in so many ways. One impact is the ability to visit and enjoy local wineries. Stay at home orders must be taken seriously, and local wineries have adjusted accordingly. Needless to say, this will have significant consequences for local wineries—-much of their products are sold directly from the winery. Of course, most wineries offer wine-related events such as vertical tastings, wine dinners, etc., and these have all been postponed or cancelled due to COVID. However, there are certain steps that readers can undertake to be certain that the wine keeps flowing from local wineries. Here are a few suggestions:

https://nedediciones.com/uncategorized/9lc6iq1xct 1. Visit winery websites or call wineries to order your favorite Virginia wines. Some may be waiving shipping fees during the current health crisis. Others may be offering specials on packs of certain wines. Keswick Vineyards, for example, offers three-packs of selected white wines, red wines, etc.

Buy Alprazolam Online Canada 2. Find out when your favorite wineries are hosting virtual tastings and participate in them. Tailor these to coincide with wines that you have purchased online.

https://foster2forever.com/2024/08/4pebjo55w.html 3. Host or attend a virtual happy hour and pour Virginia wine.

4. Find out if your favorite wineries are offering gift cards during the current crisis.

5. Purchase local wines from your neighborhood wine shop. If it does not offer local wines as a selection, now might be a good time to suggest to the proprietor that he/she does so.

6. Give shout outs to local wineries on social media when you are enjoying their wines.

Please feel free to add to the list! We are all anxious for the COVID crisis to be over; in the meantime, let’s all do what we must to stay healthy. Until we can all meet again at a favorite winery, consider the options listed above to support the local wine industry. Cheers from Virginia Wine Time!

2020 Governor’s Cup

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Virginia’s 868 Estate Vineyards Earns 2020 Governor’s Cup® with 2017 Vidal Blanc Passito

Top-ranked dessert wine joins 11 other gold medal-winning wines in the 2020 Governor’s Cup Case®

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam tonight awarded the Virginia Wineries Association’s 2020 Governor’s Cup® to 868 Estate Vineyards for their 2017 Vidal Blanc Passito. The winning wine was unveiled at the annual Governor’s Cup Celebration, which took place Tuesday evening at the Main Street Station in Richmond.

All wines in the Governor’s Cup competition must be made from 100 percent Virginia fruit, but the 868 Vidal ‘Passito’ represents the first winner made entirely from Loudoun County fruit. Produced by the Italian ‘appassimento’ technique of partially drying grapes to concentrate flavor, the winemaker halts the fermentation early to retain the natural grape sugar in the final product.

“I am thrilled to award the Governor’s Cup to Carl DiManno and congratulate the whole team at 868 Estate Vineyards on their sweet finish,” said Governor Northam. “The Vidal Blanc Passito embodies both the experimentation and artistry that has made Virginia the leading East Coast destination for wine. This year’s Governor’s Cup case is a strong reflection of our world-class wine industry and the distinctive wines being produced in our Commonwealth.”

Alongside 868 Estate Vineyards 2017 Vidal Blanc Passito, the 11 wines included in the 2020 Governor’s Cup Case are:

Afton Mountain Vineyards Tradition (2017)
Barboursville Vineyards Octagon (2014)
Barboursville Vineyards Vermentino Reserve (2018)
Delaplane Cellars Williams Gap (2017)
Lake Anna Winery Tannat (2017)
Michael Shaps Wineworks Meritage (2016)
Pippin Hill Vineyards Petit Verdot (2017)
Pollak Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve (2017)
Pollak Vineyards Smuggler (2017)
Rockbridge Vineyard Vd’Or (2017)
Shenandoah Vineyards Shenandoah Reserve Red (2017)

“I am pleased to see a team like that of 868 Estate Vineyards win with a hybrid grape—a rarity for the competition,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “With two dessert wines in the Governor’s Cup case alongside creative blends with grapes such as Tannat, it is clear that 2020 is another unique year for Virginia wine.”

More than 530 Virginia wines were submitted into this year’s Governor’s Cup competition. A panel of 19 judges, directed by Jay Youmans one of only 51 Masters of Wine (MW) in the United States, sampled the wines over a four-week period and awarded gold medals to those scoring 90 points or higher.

Within the case, there is wide representation from most regions of Virginia, most notably Central Virginia, with eight wines included. Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley are also represented with two wines each. The broad geographical diversity highlights Virginia winemakers’ ability to listen to their land and navigate the Commonwealth’s varied landscape and conditions.

At Tuesday’s celebration, the Virginia Wineries Association also announced its Industry Awards, which are presented to industry members who show excellence in their craft and act as advocates for Virginia Wine. This year’s winners are:

https://blog.extraface.com/2024/08/07/t5vvnu6 Virginia Wine Person of the Year: Justin Rose of Rosemont Winery, who helped establish and currently runs the 27-acre vineyard and its 6,000 annual case production

David King Advocate of the Year: George Hodson, CEO of Veritas Vineyards and Winery, president and principal of Flying Fox Vineyards, and president of the Monticello Wine Trail

https://inteligencialimite.org/2024/08/07/hvbecwo3z Gordon Murchie Lifetime Achievement Award: Randy Phillips, general manager of Cave Ridge Vineyard and Winery in the Shenandoah Valley

Now in its 38th year, the Governor’s Cup competition is a result of a partnership among the Virginia Wine Board, the Virginia Vineyards Association, and the Virginia Wineries Association, which owns and manages the competition. Ciders and fruit wines have their own category and medalists.

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.

A complete list of previous Governor’s Cup winners and information about the Virginia wine industry is available here.

All the information in this post is provided by a press release from the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office.

Gold Medal Winners

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The Gold Medal winners in the Virginia Wineries Association Governor’s Cup Wine Competition have been announced. 64 different wines from 40 different wineries were awarded gold medals. 19 world-class judges tasted over 530 wines to select the best. Next week the Governor’s Cup winner will be announced at a special event held in Richmond. Congratulations to all the gold medal winners!

 

 

868 Estate Vineyards – Vidal Blanc 2017
Afton Mountain Vineyards – Tradition 2017
Barboursville Vineyards – Octagon 2014
Barboursville Vineyards – Vermentino Reserve 2018
Barboursville Vineyards – Octagon 2017
Bluestone Vineyard – Blue Ice 2015
Breaux Vineyards – Nebbiolo 2015
Breaux Vineyards – Merlot 2016
Cardinal Point Winery – Clay Hill Cabernet Franc 2017
Chester Gap Cellars – Cabernet Franc 2017
Chisholm Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Chestnut Oak Vineyard – Chestnut One 2017
CrossKeys Vineyards – Ali d’Oro 2016
Cunningham Creek Winery – Herd Dog Red 2017
Delaplane Cellars – Williams Gap 2017
Delaplane Cellars – Rusticity 2017
DuCard Vineyards – Petit Verdot 2017
DuCard Vineyards – C’est Trop 2017
Early Mountain – Petit Manseng 2018
Early Mountain – Shenandoah Springs Cabernet Franc 2017
Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard – Viognier, Monticello AVA 2018
Glen Manor Vineyards – Hodder Hill 2015
Greenhill Vineyards – Mythology 2016
Hamlet Vineyards – Eltham 2017
Hark Vineyards – Merlot 2017
Honah Lee Vineyard – Petit Manseng 2017
Jefferson Vineyards – Meritage 2017
Jefferson Vineyards – Jefferson’s Own Estate Reserve Red Wine 2017
Keswick Vineyards – Les Vents d’Anges 2018
Keswick Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve 2016
King Family Vineyards – Loreley 2017
King Family Vineyards – Mountain Plains Red 2017
Lake Anna Winery – Tannat 2017
Lake Anna Winery – Chardonnay 2018
Lake Anna Winery – Petit Verdot 2017
Lost Creek Winery – Cabernet Franc 2017
Michael Shaps – Meritage 2016
Michael Shaps – L. Scott 2017
Michael Shaps – Petit Verdot 2017
Michael Shaps – Cabernet Franc 2017
Michael Shaps – Raisin d’Etre Blanc 2016
Michael Shaps – Meritage 2017
Michael Shaps – Petit Manseng 2018
Muse Vineyards – Cabernet Franc 2015
Narmada Winery – Chardonel Reserve 2017
Paradise Springs Winery – The Moment 2016
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards – Petit Verdot 2017
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards – Wild Common Reserve 2017
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards – Easton Blue 2016
Pollak Vineyards – Cabernet Franc Reserve 2017
Pollak Vineyards – Smuggler 2017
Pollak Vineyards – Cabernet Franc 2017
Pollak Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Pollak Vineyards – Meritage 2017
Potomac Point winery – Petit Verdot 2017
Rockbridge Vineyard – V d’Or 2017
Rosemont Vineyards – Cabernet Franc 2017
Shenandoah Vineyards – Shenandoah Reserve Red 2017
Sunset Hills Vineyard – Mosaic 2017
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards – Meritage 2017
Trump Winery – Blanc de Blanc 2014
Trump Winery – Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Winery 32 – Thoroughbred Blend 2016
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard – Friendship 2017

This information was provided to us by the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office.

25th Anniversary

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On Saturday I attended the 25th Anniversary celebration at Gray Ghost Vineyards. Twenty five years ago on July 9th Al and Cheryl Kellert opened the doors to Gray Ghost Vineyards. They were only tasting one wine on that day, a Vidal.

The day began with an opening reception. Amy Payette, Virginia House of Delegates from the 18th district Michael Webert, Richard Leahy and Al Kellert all spoke during the reception.

Following the reception there were events that took place all day. You could enjoy a tasting of their current release of wines (even the limited release 2017 Merlot). The wine library was open tasting four vintages of library wines. The barrel room was also open for tasting of the 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (first time a reserve barrel as been opened!). There was also beautiful music in the barrel room from harpist Tess Miller. If that wasn’t enough, you could also take a vineyard tour, winery tour and enjoy live music around the grounds at Gray Ghost. And if you got hungry Talk of the Mountain Seafood was on hand to fill that hunger.

It was an amazing day. The events continued again on Sunday. We have been part of the Gray Ghost family for many years. We want to congratulate them on reaching their 25th year. We know they will continue on into the future with great success. And we of course will continue to visit Gray Ghost, help in harvesting and enjoying their wines for years to come. Congratulations Gray Ghost!

Before I left, I bought a case of the limited release 2017 Merlot. If you haven’t been to Gray Ghost Vineyards, it’s one winery in Virginia that you must visit. And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

We Remember Carol Mercer Jensen

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The Virginia wine blogging community lost a cherished member on Wednesday when Carol Mercer Jensen passed away due to cancer. Readers may know that Carol and her husband, Kurt, chronicled their passion for Virginia wine on their blog, Wine About Virginia. It was Virginia wine that introduced us to Carol and Kurt over 13 years ago after we had also started our own blog, Virginia Wine Time. in fact, the four of us and other Virginia wine blogging pioneers eventually earned the nickname, the Virginia Wine Mafia. I am not sure that we were really a mafia, but we all enjoyed getting together to share our experiences with Virginia wine.

Over the years, Paul and I developed a friendship with Carol and Kurt. Carol was thoughtful and generous with an easy sense of humor. She was an adored wife and a beloved mother of two daughters, Laura and Diana. To us, Carol was a warm-hearted friend, and we will miss her terribly.

Paul and I extend our deepest sympathies to Kurt Jensen and his daughters Laura Brown and Diana Robbins.