The Commonwealth of Virginia is full of history—American and wine—where in 1619 the House of Burgesses created “Acte 12” requiring colonists to plant vineyards. What a civilized law! Virginia is also home to our nation’s oldest grape, Norton, which is still grown and transformed into big blockbuster reds. Then there was Thomas Jefferson, whose love of vines and wines took many forms, including the creation of the Monticello Wine Company, a host of viticultural experiments, and encyclopedic writing about a subject he loved. The recent history began in 1976 when the Zonin family created Barboursville Vineyards, starting a trend of wineries that have blossomed into today’s robust industry.
The vast majority of wineries are in northern and central Virginia east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with vinifera plantings accounting for 75% of acreage, hybrids 20%, and 5% Native American varieties. AVAs include Middleburg, Monticello, North Fork of Roanoke, Northern Neck, George Washington Birthplace, Rocky Knob, Shenandoah, and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Active associations include the Atlantic Seaboard Winery Association, and the Virginia Wineries Association.
Early Mountain Vineyards, about 30 miles north of Charlottesville, includes 55 acres of vineyard split between the winery property (35 acres) and Quaker Run (20), with different “terroir” suited for different grape varieties. The wines consistently get ratings in the 90’s, with a special wine, RISE, created from each vintage and popular as a collector’s item. The winery also features fresh, local food prepared by a chef who trained at the legendary The Inn at Little Washington, as well as a small cottage for visitors wanting to savor the beautiful countryside. General Manager Dave Kostelnik recently joined WineAmerica’s Board of Directors.
Ingleside Vineyards, established in 1980 by Doug Flemer, is near the birthplaces of George Washington, James Monroe, and the Lees in the Northern Neck region, and exhibits the casual attitude and lifestyle of Chesapeake Bay. Its location in Oak Grove is about midway between Washington, DC, and Richmond, whose consumers can find award-winning wines from 18 different grape varieties, with a special emphasis on Italian and Spanish offerings.
Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, created by Owner and Winemaker Lew Parker who served for many years as WineAmerica’s Treasurer, is housed in a historic 1875 red barn atop Mt. Gilead, offering breathtaking views of the Loudoun Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains. On their twelve acres of vineyards, they focus on Bordeaux varieties for their reds, complemented by an eclectic mix of white wine grapes. Since Willowcroft’s beginning more than 40 years ago, they have been frequent winners in various wine competitions.
Great Grapes: Viognier
Like France’s northern Rhone region, Virginia is a very hospitable environment for the Viognier grape, which can yield a wide variety of aromas and flavors reminiscent of Muscat, Riesling and Chardonnay, depending on the production method, and is generally best when young.
