From light and bright whites to rosé and cider, your new favorite glass awaits. Summertime calls for easy-drinking, refreshing bottles. Taste through the suggested wines below and explore this Light & Brights Pairing Guide for the ultimate summer day. Albariño Cider Petit Manseng Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris Rosé Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling wines Winery Events & Offerings Kick-off Summer with Memorial Day weekend happenings. Drink Pink on June 10th in celebration of National Rosé Day. Find events happening through the end of June.  Featured Partners Virginia Win ..read more

From winter dormancy to growing season and ultimately harvest, there’s always something happening in Virginia’s vineyards. The transition to the spring growing season and into the summer is a particularly exciting and crucial time for each vintage of #vawine as farmers battle the risk of frost, maintain the vines and await the ripening of each variety.  After talking with wineries and vineyards across the Commonwealth, a promising 2023 vintage is well underway. Here’s a snapshot.  Conditions always vary across the state thanks to Virginia’s 10 diverse growing regions. Overall, there ..read more

As the weather continues to warm and signs of spring are evident in the vineyard, it’s the perfect time to plan a trip to Virginia’s picturesque wineries and get a taste of their exquisite wines. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day in wine country, special events, or a chance to explore and earn rewards, Virginia wine country has something for everyone. Here are some of the #vawine happenings this season. Special Events If you’re looking for something unique to do in Virginia wine country this spring, you’re in luck! Monticello Wine Week & Awards: These events offera dynamic wine ex ..read more

Each year, the top twelve Virginia wines entered in the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition go on to make up the Virginia Governor’s Cup Case. This award-winning lineup is a representation of the experimentation and mastery found within the #vawine industry. Below, you’ll find an in-depth tasting guide, along with tasting notes and pairing suggestions from the winning wineries themselves.  Winning Wines 2016 Blanc de Noir – Trump Winery Winemaker Jonathan Wheeler Composition: 100% Pinot Noir Tasting Notes: This beautiful, pale yellow wine with a finely beaded mousse has a vibrant, racy ac ..read more

Before there were 300+ wineries and over 5,000 acres of grapes, there were pioneers like Juanita Swedenburg who set their sights on producing wine in the Commonwealth— pursuing the potential for a flourishing, locally sourced agriculture industry.  Though the first attempts to produce wine in Virginia can be traced back to the first settlers, and even a few founding fathers, it wasn’t until the late 1970s when the industry began to take root. When much of the wine world dismissed Virginia viticulture as a lost cause, an eclectic handful of individuals pressed on – from European immigrants ..read more

A Passport to Virginia’s Best Wines Virginia is home to over 300 wineries spread across 10 distinct regions, offering endless opportunities for #vawine lovers to explore. For a narrowed-down curation of Virginia’s best, sign up for the free Gold Medal Wine Trail. The trail offers a mobile passport featuring this year’s 66 highest-scoring wineries, cideries and meaderies in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup competition.  Not only do you unlock access to these 66 gold medalists, but you’ll also have access to exclusive discounts, offers and prizes along the way.  How it works The mobil ..read more

Since 1982, the Virginia Governor’s Cup® has highlighted the growth and innovation of the Virginia Wine industry. The competition, hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association, is one of the nation’s most stringent and recognizes the top entries with medals and special awards. Read along to discover more about the competition and the grand celebration that follows.  The competition Each year, farm wineries across the state submit their most promising craft beverages to the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition. Now in its 41st year, the competition has taken many shapes— coming a long way si ..read more

Before there were 300+ wineries and over 5,000 acres of grapes, there were pioneers like Jenni McCloud who set their sights on producing wine in the Commonwealth— pursuing the potential for a flourishing, locally sourced agriculture industry.  Though the first attempts to produce wine in Virginia can be traced back to the first settlers, and even a few founding fathers, it wasn’t until the late 1970s when the industry began to take root. When much of the wine world dismissed Virginia viticulture as a lost cause, an eclectic handful of individuals pressed on – from European immigrants with ..read more

Since the late 1970’s, Virginia Wine has been carving its rightful place in the wine world. Drawing from early discoveries and constantly evolving through experimentation, winemakers across the Commonwealth showcase their top wines by entering in the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition year after year.  After hundreds of entries, world-class judges award the best wineries in Virginia with medals and special honors. The competition culminates with a celebration and, for the second year, Virginia Wine fans from all over are invited to enjoy award-winning sips and savors in one grandiose eve ..read more

Before there were 300+ wineries and over 5,000 acres of grapes, there were pioneers like Diane Flynt who set their sights on producing wine (or cider in this case) in the Commonwealth— pursuing the potential for a flourishing, locally sourced agriculture industry.  Cider is a centuries-old tradition in Virginia, first imported from England as a way to stay hydrated when safe water was scarce. From those humble beginnings, the industry has matured and today, 50 cideries across the Commonwealth are crafting ciders of uncommon diversity and sophistication. The ensuing years would see an expl ..read more