Press Releases | Virginia Wine

Virginia Wineworks announces the release of the state’s first Bag in the Box wine

Claire Wilson - Virginia Wineworks Dec 22, 2010

Virginia Wineworks, located in Charlottesville, Virginia, is now packaging its Wineworks brand in easy to use, recyclable three-liter boxes. This new and efficient method of packaging is environmentally friendly, eliminating the large and frequent truckloads needed to transport bottles.

Sunset Hills Vineyard: Turning Sunshine into Wine with the Largest Solar Energy System in Loudoun County, VA

Mike Canney - Sunset Hills Vineyard Nov 03, 2010

Just an hour outside Washington, DC, noise and congestion give way to rolling hills, horse farms and grape vines. It is here in Virginia, and at Sunset Hills Vineyard in particular, that green scenery and green technology make the perfect pair. Sunset Hills Vineyard is in the process of installing 154 solar panels on the south-facing roofs of their case storage and tasting room barns that will supply all of the winery’s electrical needs. With a 35 kilowatt rating, this solar installation is the largest on record for Loudoun County.

USDA awards Virginia Tech $3.8 million to stimulate eastern U.S. wine industry

Tony Wolf - Oct 26, 2010

The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded $3.8 million to researchers in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech to lead a multistate effort to further improve grape and wine quality in the eastern United States.

Loudoun to Host Inaugural Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon

Jeremy Harvey - Visit Loudoun Oct 05, 2010

Visit Loudoun announced today that Loudoun County has been chosen as the host site for the new Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon to be held on June 4, 2011. The Wine Country Half Marathon series consists of “boutique” destination running races held in scenic wine regions, complimented by wine, food and entertainment driven activities.

2010 Governor's Cup for White Wine Results

Karen Batalo - The Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office Sep 29, 2010

Richmond, Va. - Aged in first and second year French oak for nine months Sur Lie, Paradise Springs 2009 Chardonnay has won the coveted 2010 Governor's Cup for White Wine. This, in the winery's first year of operation. “Paradise Springs winning this award is a great example of what can be accomplished when we all work together as industry. Many talented minds with great vision and execution worked hard to reach this pinnacle. After everything we have been through to open Paradise Springs, receiving this recognition is a great reward. We will carry the Governor's Cup with honor as we look forward to the many great years ahead. The future of Virginia wine is bright," said Paradise Springs co-founder Kirk Wiles...

Vintage: The Winemaker's Year

Annette Boyd - The Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office Sep 21, 2010

Vintage: The Winemaker’s Year, a feature length documentary exploring the rapid growth of the wine industry in Virginia, will premiere on public television stations across Virginia and the nation in October 2010 in coordination with Virginia Wine Month. The film is distributed by American Public Television. WCVE Richmond PBS is the presenting station...

Festa Rappahannock Celebrates the launch of New "Artisanal Wineries of Rappahannock" Wine Trail

Rappahannock Cellars - Rappahannock Cellars Jul 21, 2010

Rappahannock County, VA, July 15, 2010 – Five wineries located in Rappahannock County, Virginia, will celebrate the launch of the new “Artisanal Wineries of Rappahannock” wine trail at FESTA RAPPAHANNOCK on July 31 and August 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The celebration will take place at Rappahannock Cellars, 14437 Hume Road in Huntly, Virginia. Proceeds will benefit Hospice of the Rapidan

ATLANTIC SEABOARD WINE ASSOCIATION SIXTH ANNUAL WINE COMPETITION

Carl Brandhorst - ATLANTIC SEABOARD WINE ASSOCIATION Jul 17, 2010

July 18 - The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association held the Sixth Annual Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition July 17 and 18 in Haymarket, Virginia. 110 wineries from eleven Atlantic Seaboard states entered 538 wines in the competition. The Best of Show was awarded to Rosemont of Virginia Winery for their2007 Meritage...

Governor McDonnell Announces National Wine Bloggers Conference to be Held in Virginia

Stacey Johnson - Office of the Governor Jul 06, 2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE- Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that the national 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference will be held in Charlottesville. The conference is expected to bring at least 300 attendees to the area for the 3-day gathering...

Monticello Wine Trail Awards Announced

Neil Williamson - The Trellis Group Jun 13, 2010

Charlottesville, VA - The Monticello Wine Trail, the richest wine region in the Old Dominion, announced the results of their 20th annual wine competition. The competition, which is limited to wineries in the appellation, received almost 60 wines from sixteen wineries. The wines were evaluated by a tasting panel that included sommeliers, wholesale wine buyers, retailers and other wine industry professionals...

Governor McDonnell Announces Wineries Unlimited to Move to Virginia in 2011

Stacey Johnson - Office of Governor Bob McDonnell Apr 27, 2010

RICHMOND — Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that the Wineries Unlimited trade show will relocate from Pennsylvania to Richmond, Virginia in 2011. Wineries Unlimited is the second largest vineyard and winery conference and tradeshow in North America. It is estimated that the 2011 event will bring over 2,000 visitors and $1.5 million in revenue to Virginia...

Wine Loft celebrates Short Pump grand opening with Virginia Wine Backpack challenge

Karen Batalo - The Wine Loft Richmond Mar 24, 2010

For every bottle of Virginia wine sold between now and the end of the school year, the Wine Loft will sponsor a weekend backpack of food for an at risk child. Of critical importance to the CVFB is stopping childhood hunger. Poverty and food insecurity negatively influence the diet and health of many low-income children. Weekend backpacks are delivered to children at risk of hunger in Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield schools. The BackPack Program is designed to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations...

Virginia's Own Veritas Viognier Poured at State Department Celebration of International Women of Courage

Andrew Hodson - Veritas Vineyards & Winery Mar 10, 2010

Emily Hodson Pelton the winner of the National Women’s Wine Competition 2007 was invited to the State Department where the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and guest speaker Michelle Obama honored –The Fourth International Women of Courage Awards to ten women from around the world. The award recognizes their courage and leadership as they fight for social justice, human rights and the advancement of women. Deborah Brenner author of Women of the Vine shared the honor of being invited not only to be present at the ceremony but also to pour her Merlot with Emily’s Veritas Viognier 2009. Emily had the honor of meeting both Madame Secretary and the First Lady who affirmed her enjoyment of Emily’s Viognier – high praise indeed.

Virginia Wine Week to Offer Love By the Glass – March 22-28

The Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office - The Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office Feb 28, 2010

Richmond, Va. (March 1, 2010) The Virginia Wine Marketing Office and the Virginia Tourism Corporation today announced Love By the Glass, the first-ever Virginia Wine Week. Wine lovers will celebrate Virginia Wine Week March 22-28, 2010 at more than 100 participating restaurants and wine shops across the state...

King Family Vineyards Meritage Awarded

Karen Batalo - The Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office Feb 25, 2010

Richmond, Va. - Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains 15 minutes from Charlottesville, a small, family-owned vineyard has achieved what Thomas Jefferson dreamed of at his Monticello vineyards: the production of an award-winning Virginia wine. The King Family Vineyards 2007 Meritage has won the coveted 2010 Virginia Governor's Cup award for red wine. Selected from more than 200 entries representing all of the appellations in the Commonwealth, King Family Vineyards 2007 Meritage is a blend of 56% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Malbec.

2010 Virginia Governor’s Cup Medal Results

Annette Boyd - The Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office Feb 08, 2010

Leesburg, VA –On January 23, the 2010 Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition took place at Lansdowne Resort. This year the Virginia wine industry changed the Governor’s Cup competition from previous years. Only red wines were tasted (medals listed below). The coveted Governor’s Cup will be awarded to one of the Gold medal recipients at the Virginia Wine Expo’s Governor’s Cup Grand Tasting on February 26th, held in Richmond, Virginia.

Virginia Takes Home 24 Awards at the San Francisco Wine Competition

Annette Boyd - The Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office Jan 14, 2010

San Francisco, CA – Proclaimed as the “Largest Competition of American Wines in the World,” last week the 2010 San Francisco Wine Competition awarded Virginia wineries with 24 awards. With over 63 professional judges on hand, the week-long competition presented Virginia with medals ranging from Gold, Silver to Bronze. Virginia excelled in the Cabernet Franc category where six wineries took home top awards. Another strong category for Virginia was Viognier, bringing home four medals....