News

Horton Vineyard’s Petit Manseng Is Officially the Best Wine in Virginia

Trust me, Virginia wine is coming. Not in droves, mind you, but here and there, on the shelves of your local bottle shop or on the list of your neighborhood’s most adventurous restaurant.

Where to Go and What to Drink in an Emerging Virginia Wine Region

For far too long, Virginia wine has been synonymous only with central Virginia. (Thanks, Thomas Jefferson.) Due east, however, lies the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, a worthy destination comprised of the seven core cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton and Suffolk. This area has been quietly building a notable wine region to call its own.

New American Wine Regions

One of the great stories in American wine right now is the rise of non-West Coast wine regions.

The State Of The State Of Virginia's Wines

On a recent three-day trip to Virginia, I found creditable reason to believe Virginia will rank with California, Oregon and New York as a high-quality wine region.

4 Regions to Visit for Early Spring Wine Tasting

Early spring is one of the most peaceful times of year to visit a vineyard. Crowds are low, winery morale is high and we're all anxious for a bit of sunshine in our lives (coupled with copious amounts of wine, of course.) Here are four of our top regional picks for early springtime wine-fueled travel.

Virginia Wines: American History in a Glass

The Commonwealth of Virginia is considered the birthplace of America. It’s where English colonists first settled in Jamestown in 1607, and it served as the home for both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, our first and third presidents and signers of the Declaration of Independence. But what many may not know is its historical significance in America’s wine heritage.

The Best Wine Vacations for Every Type of Traveler

Whether you’re a casual drinker considering your first-ever wine vacation, or a seasoned oenophile seeking the next big thrill, there is a wine-soaked destination perfect for you. With nearly 100 wine-producing nations worldwide, however, deciding where to go can be tricky. VinePair polled industry experts and had many spirited discussions to devise a list of wine trips for all sorts of travelers. Here are the eight best wine vacation destinations worldwide, as determined by budget, experience, and style.

Governor's Cup Showcases How Far And Fast Virginia's Wineries Have Come

Last week in the magnificently restored train shed in Richmond, Virginia, Governor Ralph Northam awarded the 2019 Virginia Wineries Association (VWA) Governor’s Cup to Horton Vineyards for their 2016 Petit Manseng.

Governor's Cup is tribute to Virginia champion of a little-loved grape

Petit manseng has been an up-and-coming grape in Virginia for a couple of decades, and now the state’s 2019 Governor’s Cup competition has raised the variety into the limelight.

A white wine beats the reds in a competition to name Virginia’s best

Virginia’s wine community gathered Tuesday in Richmond for an annual celebration that turned emotional when Gov. Ralph Northam awarded the Governor’s Cup, the industry’s highest accolade, to Horton Vineyards for its 2016 petit manseng.

Horton Vineyards 2016 Petit Manseng wins the 2019 Virginia Governor’s Cup competition

A Taste of Virginia Wine Country

In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fitting to pay tribute to one of the nation’s most historic wine regions. Virginia Wine Country is rich with American history and filled with unique wines that stand the test of time. You could easily make the argument that Virginia Wine is the most American wine in the world. Don’t believe me? Read on!

Virginia is for Wine Lovers: A Mix of History, Diversity and Great Wine

This October, I had the opportunity to attend the Virginia Wine Harvest Party, which was a two-day whirlwind media tour that was held in conjunction with Virginia Wine Month, the longest running state wine month. As I mentioned before, it had been 7 years since I visited the region. I had heard some great buzz lately about the Commonwealth and was excited to get back and see for myself what was happening.

Stock Your Cellar—Sommeliers Recommend the Best Wines to Drink at Thanksgiving

Around the holidays, your weekly shopping list can take a life of its own. Between gifts for family and friends, decorations, and lengthy ingredients lists to tackle your latest Thanksgiving recipe, it's easy to let things fall to the wayside. But here's one way to cross one thing off your list before the holiday rush: ordering holiday wine online ahead of time. The question remains: what kind of wine? This can be a tricky question, especially if you haven't already figured out your Thanksgiving menu yet.

Beyond Napa: 7 Emerging American Wine Regions to Visit Now

History buffs and oenophiles alike can do double duty at this southern AVA where colonial, Revolutionary, and Civil War-era histories intersect with unique viticulture.

Defining Virginia’s Signature Wine Style

Local winemakers and somms discuss the grapes and styles that could come to exemplify the state’s wines

The Two Unsung Grapes Putting Virginia Wine on the Map

Petit Manseng and Petit Verdot may not be household names yet, but a group of Virginia winemakers are looking to change that.

Travel Off the Beaten Path in Virginia Wine Country

There's more to Virginia wine country than just the vineyards. We'll guide you through the best offbeat adventures, like the oldest edible ham, "skywalking" pygmy goats and more.

One of the best rosés in Virginia can be found at this Loudoun County winery

Pink wine continues to crush it at wineries, restaurants and retail shops across the country, and one of Virginia's best rosés can be found at Maggie Malick's Wine Caves in northwestern Loudoun, according to judges for the Virginia State Fair Wine Competition.

The man who turned underdog grapes into Virginia’s star wines

Virginia’s wine community is celebrating the life and achievements of one of its giants, Dennis Horton, the maverick vintner who defied conventional wisdom by planting grapes few people had heard of, and in so doing convinced many skeptical oenophiles that Virginia could make great wine.

In Memoriam: Dennis Horton, East Coast Wine Pioneer

Dennis Horton, who founded Horton Vineyards in the 1980s, died earlier this week. Dennis and his wife, Sharon, were pioneers and entrepreneurs in the Virginia wine industry and Dennis’s contributions to our industry are many, though he’s perhaps best known as the first to plant viognier in Virginia.

Virginia Winemakers Group Expands Focus

In the four years since three winemakers launched the Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange (VWRE) as a cooperative research program for wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail, the VWRE has grown in both size and scope. On June 1, the VWRE announced it had hired Joy Ting to be its new research enologist and exchange coordinator as the next step forward in its growth.

The long climb for Virginia's vineyards

Virginia provides a microcosm of the American experience in winemaking.

Smell the Rosés

This spring, try some bottles with distinctly Southern terroir.

Virginia's Award-Winning Monticello Region Is Your 2018 Summer Wine Trip

It's been called the birthplace of American wine, thanks to Thomas Jefferson. Like so many distinctions in American heritage, the Monticello AVA wine region in Virginia has Jefferson's fingerprints all over it and it's one of this summer's most exciting wine-tasting destinations.