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Virginia consistently ranks as a “must visit” wine state in the national media, and it’s no surprise why. Virginia wines have been awarded regionally and nationally and are heralded in the national wine media, standing alongside perennial favorites California and other wine-growing regions, like New York and Washington state.
Explore Virginia wines at stores near you!
Nestled in the rolling hills of Virginia’s Piedmont region, Barboursville Vineyards has been recognized among the top 101 wineries in the United States. Wine Advocate magazine has hailed their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve as one of its “amazing wines” and their Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier both won medals in the 2017 Virginia Governor’s Cup (a Silver for the Cabernet Sauvignon and a Bronze for the Viognier). Barboursville’s winemaker, Luca Paschina, has also been recognized for his wine-making skill in Vineyard & Winery Management magazine and as a James Beard Foundation semifinalist in the “Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional” category. He was even awarded an “Order of Merit” from his home country of Italy for his work in the world of wine.
The distinctive building with the look of a medieval castle that can be seen from the country road just outside Gordonsville is home to Horton Vineyards, one of Virginia’s oldest and most acclaimed wineries. Only four years after opening, a Horton wine won first place at a California tasting competition, inspiring other Virginia vineyards to cultivate grape varieties from the warm regions of France, perfect for Virginia's climate. In the quest for the right grapes for Virginia, Horton Vineyards also explored native varieties. Horton’s Norton, a bold red wine, is made from the Norton grape, an American black grape created around 1820 by Dr. Daniel Norton right here in Virginia. The late Dennis Horton, the winery founder, was awarded the Gordon W. Murchie Lifetime Achievement Award at 2011’s Virginia Governor’s Cup Gala, and the
Just outside of Charlottesville, Trump Winery produces award-winning sparkling, red and fortified wines. Trump Blanc de Blanc, a white sparkling wine, won gold in the 2019 Virginia Governor’s Cup, as well as picking up a Sparkling Sweepstake win at this year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Likewise, the Trump Sparkling Rose won a gold at this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup and double gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. Not to be outdone, Trump’s red wines also fared well, nabbing gold at this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup for the New World Reserve and a gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for the Cabernet Sauvignon. Trump Cru, a fortified wine, received a Platinum award in the Virginia Wine Lover Magazine Wine Classic.
Virginia’s largest winery, Williamsburg Winery produces nearly 60,000 cases of wine each year from their beautiful winery a quick fifteen-minute drive from the Colonial Williamsburg historic area. Their Steel-Fermented Chardonnay brought home a Virginia Governor’s Cup Silver this year, while their Viognier was awarded a Bronze at this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup. According to London’s Decanter magazine, the winery produces some of the “best wines in the world,” having received numerous awards from Decanter over the years. Williamsburg Winery’s most popular wine, the Governor’s White, even won a gold medal within two weeks of its initial release in 1988. Many of their wines feature historical names and information on the labels, like the John Adlum Chardonnay and the Two Shilling Red.
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