Understand
[edit]
Major wine production in the state picked up after the 1970s with the Zonin family of Venice purchasing the historic Barboursville estate.
Grapes
[edit]Depending on the region, Virginia grows a wide variety of both old world, hybrid, and North American grapes. The most produced grapes are Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Petit Verdot & Norton. The Norton, native to the state, is a source of particular pride among growers.
Climate and soil
[edit]Most of Virginia east of the blue ridge mountains have loam soils. The Shenandoah has limestone and much of the southwest is rocky with granite.
Climatically, the Chesapeake Bay and its river tributaries moderate the climate of the east and extend the growing season. The Shenandoah and Blue Ridge areas are cooler, tempered by elevation. Northern and central virginia are warm, with long summers and mild winters.
Appellation
[edit]
The American apellation system, the American Viticultural Area (AVA) is an optional geographic indicator. If a wine is labeled with an AVA, at least 85% of the grapes that make up the wine must have been grown in the AVA, and the wine must be fully finished within the state where the AVA is located. Virginia has 7 AVA listed below.
- 1 Middleburg AVA. Covering parts of Loudon and Fauquier counties, producing many of Northern Virginia's best wines.
- 2 Monticello AVA. The heartland of Virginia wine.
- 3 North Fork of Roanoke AVA.
- 4 Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA.
- 5 Rocky Knob AVA.
- 6 Shenandoah Valley AVA. A combination of limestone soils, cool temperatures, and a moderate position between two mountain chains give this region terroir unmatched in the state.
- 7 Virginia Peninsula AVA. The state's newest AVA is also its warmest and wettest.
- 8 Virginia's Eastern Shore AVA.
Regions
[edit]Virginia's topography varies greatly from the Chesapeake to the Blue Ridge, so it is best to think of its wines on a regional scale.
This region moderating effect of the Chesapeake Bay and rivers, leads to milder summers and warmer winters with a longer growing season. The predominant soils are heavier clay loams to well-drained sandy loams. Common grapes here are vinifera such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and hybrids such as Chambourcin & Vidal Blanc.
To reach this area from Washington or Northern Virginia, take I-95 south to Fredericksburg, then 3 East. Alternatively from Washington or Maryland, take 301 through Southern Maryland into Dahlgren. From Richmond, take Highway 301 towards Dahlgren or Highway 360 towards Tappahanock. From Hampton Roads, take Highway 17 through Gloucester, then Highway 3 into Kilmarnock.
Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA
[edit]This peninsula sits between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers.
- 1 Ingleside Vineyards, 5872 Leedstown Rd, Oak Grove, VA 22443, ☏ +1 804-224-8687.
- 2 Good Luck Cellars, 1025 Goodluck Rd, Kilmarnock, ☏ +1 804-435-1416.
- 3 The Hague Winery, 8268 Cople Hwy., Hague, ☏ +1 804-472-5283.
- 4 General’s Ridge Vineyard, 1618 Weldons Dr., Hague, ☏ +1 804-472-3172.
- 5 The Estate at White Hall Vineyard, 3668 White Hall Rd, King George, ☏ +1 540-656-6958.
- 6 Monroe Bay Winery, 4786 James Monroe Hwy, Colonial Beach, ☏ +1 804-410-5628.
- 7 Jacey Vineyards, 619 Train Ln, Heathsville, ☏ +1 804-580-4053.
- 8 Backporch Vineyard, 16595 Wilmont Rd, King George, ☏ +1 540-940-3939.
Middle Neck
[edit]This peninsula sits between the Rappahannock and James Rivers.
- 9 Caret Cellars, 495 Meadow Landing Ln., Caret.
- 10 Wind Vineyards at Laurel Grove, 5178 Richmond Hwy., Tappahannock.
- 11 Zoll Vineyards, 10309 Vineyard Rd., Dutton.
This region has similar soils to the Chesapeake region above, but is warmer and wetter, making winemaking a challenge. It is the closest wine region to Richmond, lying in the metropolitan area of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Virginia Peninsula AVA
[edit]
Nestled between the James and Rappahannock rivers and covering the peninsula from Greater Richmond to Newport News, this AVA has sedimentary soils and a mild maritime climate.
- 12 Williamsburg Winery, 5800 Wessex Hundred, Williamsburg, ☏ +1 757-229-0999.
- 13 New Kent Winery, 8400 Old Church Rd, New Kent, ☏ +1 804-922-7414.
- 14 Gauthier Vineyard, 5000 Farmers Dr, Barhamsville, ☏ +1 703-622-1107.
- 15 Saudé Creek Vineyards, 16230 Cooks Mill Rd., Lanexa, ☏ +1 804-966-5896.
- 16 Upper Shirley Vineyards, 600 Shirley Plantation Rd., Charles City, ☏ +1 804-829-9463.
Eastern Shore AVA
[edit]- 17 Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek, 9232 Chatham Rd, Machipongo, ☏ +1 757-678-5588.
Southside
[edit]- 18 Hampton Roads Winery, 6074 New Design Rd., Elberon, ☏ +1 757-899-0203.
- 19 Mermaid Winery, 101 Granby St., Norfolk, ☏ +1 757-233-4155.
- 20 Smithfield Winery, 117 N Church St, Smithfield, ☏ +1 757-797-9463.
- 21 Summerwind Vineyard, 71 Eagle Nest Ln, Smithfield, ☏ +1 757-357-2173.
- For individual listings and deeper information, see Northern Virginia Wine.
The fastest growing wine region in the United States. Generally within a 90 minute drive of Washington, DC. Wine production is concentrated in Loudon and Fauquier counties but includes Rappahannock, Culpeper, Prince William, Farifax, and Stafford counties.
Middleburg AVA
[edit]Middleburg is the heart of Northern Virginia's wine country. The AVA stretches across central Loudon County and northwestern Fauquier County, along a valley between the Blue Ridge on the west and Catoctin Mountain in the East. Middleburg offers granite soils, eastern-facing hills, slightly cooler temperatures and more moisture than the rest of Loudon and Fauquier. Boudreaux varieties predominate though hybrids and Italian varieties (especially Sangiovese & Nebbiolo) are produced by many wineries as well.
Central Virginia
[edit]- For indivdual listings and deeper information, see Central Virginia Wine.
Central Virginia has a wine-making history dating back to Thomas Jefferson, who believed (correctly) that the region's topography and climate resembled that of France. Major wine production in the state picked up after the 1970s with the Zonin family of Venice purchasing the historic Barboursville estate. Horton Vineyards pioneered the viognier in the state and revolutionized Virginia wine in the 1980s.
This region of sunshine and rolling hills has seen a marked increase in both quality and quantity over the last three decades and has become a popular wine region to tour in the American East Coast.
In 2023 Monticello was named Wine Enthusiast's wine destination of the year.
Monticello AVA
[edit]
Shenandoah Valley AVA
[edit]
Sandwiched between the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, the valley benefits from a rain shadow effect. Temperatures are cooler than the rest of the state, and soils are limestone (as in Champagne, Burgundy, or Paso Robles), granting a higher acidity. Shenandoah Valley was Virginia's first AVA and stretches from Winchester in the north past Lexington in the south.
Southwest Virginia
[edit]North Fork of the Roanoke AVA
[edit]- 22 Valhalla Vineyards, 6500 Mt. Chestnut Rd., Roanoke, ☏ +1 540-725-9463.
Rocky Knob AVA
[edit]Cool winds on this ridge delay the arrival of spring and dry the climate here, leaving it less vulnerable to fungus than the rest of the Blue Ridge region. Its gravel and loam soils are well-drained. Common wines here include Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Italian varieties such as Aglianico.
- 23 Chateau Morrisette Winery, 287 Winery Rd. SW, Floyd, ☏ +1 540-593-2865. A popular winery known especially for its semi-sweet Blue Dog riesling.
- 24 Villa Appalaccia, 752 Rock Castle Gorge Rd., Floyd, ☏ +1 540-593-3100. Italian inspired wines on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Blue Ridge
[edit]The region southwest of Roanoke benefits from well-drained loam and gravel soils and high elevations.
- 25 Abingdon Vineyards, 20530 Alvarado Rd., Abingdon, ☏ + 1 276-623-1255.
- 26 AmRhein’s Wine Cellars, 9243 Patterson Dr., Bent Mountain, ☏ + 1 540-929-4632.
- 27 Beliveau Farm Winery, 3899 Eakin Farm Rd., Blacksburg, ☏ +1 540-961-0505.
- 28 Davis Valley Winery, 1167 Davis Valley Rd, Rural Retreat, ☏ +1 276-686-8855.
- 29 Iron Heart Winery, 3742 Boone Furnace Rd, Allisonia, ☏ +1 540-320-0203.
- 30 Nicewonder Farms & Vineyard, 22091 Nicewonder Dr., Bristol, ☏ +1 276-299-3260. Just of the border from Bristol, Tennessee.
- 31 Spinning Jenny Vineyard, 2664 Old Rte 100 Rd, Draper, ☏ +1 540-922-9829.
- 32 Stanburn Winery, 158 Conner Dr., Stuart, ☏ +1 276-694-7074.
- 33 The New River Vineyard & Winery, 6750 Falling Branch Rd., Fairlawn, ☏ +1 540-633-0033.
- 34 West Wind Farm Vineyard and Winery, 180 West Wind Dr., Max Meadows, ☏ +1 276-699-2020.
Virginia Mountains
[edit]- 35 Brooks Mill Winery, 6221 Brooks Mill Rd., Wirtz, ☏ +1 540-721-5215.
- 36 Burnbrae Vineyards, 3524 Cottontown Rd., Forest, ☏ +1 336-339-5634.
- 37 Fables & Feathers Winery, 2117 Bruno Dr, Goodview, ☏ +1 540-420-0916.
- Hickory Hill Vineyards, 1722 Hickory Cove Ln., Moneta, ☏ +1 540-296-1393.
- LeoGrande Vineyards & Winery, 1343 Wingfield Dr., Goode, ☏ +1 540-586-4066.
Appalachia
[edit]Very mountainous and rocky with a year-round temperate climate in the far west of the state.
36.99612528217802, -80.82195154802481
- 38 MountainRose Vineyards, 10439 N. Reservoir Rd., Wise, ☏ +1 276-328-2013.
- 39 Plum Creek Winery, 5418 Thompson Valley Rd., Tazewell.
- 40 Vincent’s Vineyard, 2313 E. Main St., Lebanon, ☏ +1 276-889-2505.
Southern Virginia
[edit]The warm region along the North Carolina border. Rural, historic, and wooded, this region includes Danville and Martinsville.
Buy
[edit]Many Virginia producers are small-scale, so if you like a bottle, it is best to buy it straight from the source. Virginia ABC stores have a better selection than most Grocery stores. Large retailers like Total Wine have a limited selection.