Press Releases

Virginia Wine Board Now Accepting Grant Pre-Proposals

Cornus Virginicus: Special Wine Release Celebrates Virginia Wine Industry

King Family Vineyards Wins 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup for the 2019 Meritage

Virginia Wineries Association Announces 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup® Gold Medalists

Six Virginia Wineries Exhibit at VinExpo Paris

Charlottesville, Virginia Wins Wine Region of the Year

Over $300,000 In Grant Funding Available to Advance Virginia Wine

Cornus Virginicus Edition II Wine Release: A Celebration of Virginia Agriculture

Delfosse Vineyards and Winery Wins 2023 Virginia Governor's Cup® for the 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage

Virginia Wineries Association Announces Virginia Governor's Cup® Gold Medalists

The 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition marks another record-breaking year for the Virginia Wine industry. With 614 entries from across the state, 66 wineries in the Commonwealth were awarded with 142 gold medals.

Virginia Wine Contributes $1.73 Billion to Virginia Economy

A new study finds the economic impact of Virginia wines to be an estimated $1.73 billion as of 2019. After evaluating all economic activity in Virginia related directly or indirectly to wine production, sales and wine grape farming, the study reports a 27% increase in overall economic impact from 2015 ($1.37 billion).

Cana Vineyards Wins 2022 Virginia Governor's Cup® with 2019 Unité Reserve

*Edited on June 8, 2022: Winemaker Melanie Natoli Becomes the First Woman to Receive Coveted Cup in Over 20 Years

Virginia Wineries Association Announces Virginia Governor's Cup® Gold Medalists

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

Virginia Wine Industry Honors Two Individuals for Virginia Wine Person of the Year and for the Gordon Murchie Lifetime Achievement Award

Last week, the Virginia Wineries Association announced two achievement awards for leaders that have been instrumental in propelling the Virginia wine industry forward.

Virginia’s Horton Vineyards Wins the 2019 Governor’s Cup® with 2016 Petit Manseng Wine

Virginia Wineries Association Announces 2019 Governor's Cup® Gold Medalists

The Virginia Wineries Association Governor’s Cup® Wine Competition judging is complete, with 68 Virginia wines awarded gold medals in the 2019 Virginia wine competition. Held over a four-week period during late January and early February, the competition, now in its 37th year, was revamped in 2012 to become one of the most stringent and thorough wine competitions in the country.

2018 Monticello Cup Gold Medals Announced

Twenty-two wineries from the Monticello Wine Trail (MWT) competed in the 2018 Monticello Wine Competition, a friendly competition among wineries in the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA). This year's competition was coordinated by the Virginia Wine & Spirits Academy, and all entered wines contained a minimum of 85% fruit from the Monticello AVA and were produced by a member of the MWT.

Virginia Wine Four Centuries of Change Now Out

Attorney Andrew Painter today presented autographed copies of his recently-published book, Virginia Wine: Four Centuries of Change to Virginia’s outgoing Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Todd A. Haymore and Virginia Wine Marketing Office Director Annette R. Boyd. Painter also provided autographed copies for former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe an appreciation for the administration’s support of the Virginia wine industry.

Virginia Wineries Association Announces 2017 Governor's Cup® Gold Medalists

The Virginia Wineries Association Governor’s Cup® Virginia Wine Competition judging is final and the list of golds are announced. Twenty-three Virginia wines have been awarded gold medals in the 2017 Virginia wine competition, which was held over a four week period during January/early February. Now in its 35th year, the competition was revamped in 2012 to become one of the most stringent and thorough wine competitions in the country. 

Governor McAuliffe Announces Virginia Wine Sales Reach Record High in FY 2016

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that sales of Virginia wine reached another record high during fiscal year 2016, with more than 556,500 cases, or over 6.6 million bottles, sold. These sales represent a 6 percent increase from fiscal year 2015, when Virginia wineries sold more than 524,800 cases. Sales of Virginia wine have increased by 34 percent since fiscal year 2010.

Governor McAuliffe Announces Keswick Vineyards’ 2014 Cabernet Franc Estate Reserve Awarded 2016 Governor’s Cup

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe tonight awarded the 2016 Virginia Wineries Association’s (VWA) Governor's Cup to Keswick Vineyards for its 2014 Cabernet Franc Estate Reserve, a pure Cabernet Franc varietal. This award marks the second Virginia Governor’s Cup for Keswick Vineyards, who received its first in 2009 for its 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Governor’s Cup was awarded Monday evening, February 22 at the Hotel John Marshall.

Toll Gate Farm’s Bill Freitag Named VVA Grower of the Year

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Vineyards Association announced today that Bill Freitag, owner of Toll Gate Farm vineyard, Flint Hill, VA, is the 2016 Grower of the Year

North Mountain Vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia was awarded a Silver Medal for its 2013 Zweigelt

North Mountain Vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia was awarded a Silver Medal for its 2013 Zweigelt by the International Wine Challenge in Vienna, Austria.AWC Vienna is the largest officially recognized wine competition in the world

Wine writer Richard Leahy presents newly released second, revised edition of Beyond Jefferson’s Vines

Wine writer Richard Leahy today presented and autographed copies of his newly released second, revised edition of Beyond Jefferson’s Vines to Secretary of Agriculture Todd Haymore at the Patrick Henry Building today along with copies for Governor and Mrs. McAuliffe.