Virginia is the fifth largest wine producer in the United States.
Virginia is the fifth largest wine producer in the United States. It also has a rich history of viticulture, dating back to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate and beyond. Today, Virginia boasts more than 230 wineries and is home to a variety of wine styles, including Albariño, Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Meritage blends. Virginia wines can be found throughout the country and enjoyed at top restaurants such as Blue Duck Tavern in Washington DC.
Virginia’s vineyards are a half-century older than those in California.
Did you know that Virginia is the home of the first permanent English colony in the United States, established back in 1607?
As you can imagine, there’s more to wine production in this state than just a long history. In fact, Virginia is now the fifth largest wine producer in the country. So how did we get from that first settlement planting grape vines to where we are today? Let’s explore how the Virginia viticultural area’s history contributed to it becoming a significant wine-producing region.
The first permanent English colony at Jamestown, Virginia was established in 1607 and wines began being shipped there as early as 1619.
One of the first permanent English settlements in America was established in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. By 1619, wines were being shipped to this colony from Mexico and South America. The wine was produced by another settlement 300 miles away, on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic), which had been founded several years earlier by Spanish colonists. This settlement survived for only two years, however, before it was abandoned. The next such settlement was not established until 1555 in Pensacola, Florida.
The motivation for shipping wine to Virginia despite such a long distance and limited infrastructure is believed to be religious: many church services would historically include communion wine and it might have seemed worthwhile to ship this important beverage thousands of miles across treacherous seas considering how important it was to religious practices at that time.
More than 300 grape varieties are grown in Virginia.
Virginia is the 5th largest wine producer by volume in the United States and has 300+ grape varieties grown across its wine regions. The state’s wine industry has more than doubled in size since 2000, and its economic impact is estimated to be over $1 billion annually.
Virgina’s viticultural areas include the Monticello AVA, Middleburg AVA, Montpelier AVA, Loudoun AVA and more.
Virginia is the fifth largest wine producer in the United States. With its higher elevation and cooler climate, Virginia is well-suited for growing many different varietals including Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The state’s viticultural areas include the Monticello AVA (the largest viticultural area in the state), Middleburg AVA (the smallest viticultural area in the state), Montpelier AVA (the only AVAs in Virginia to be named after a person) and Loudoun AVA (the newest viticultural area in Virginia). You can learn more about each of these regions below.
Barrel aging has been common in Virginia since 1990.
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Merlot is the most planted red wine grape in Virginia followed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Although white wine grapes are the most planted varietals in Virginia, Merlot is the most planted red wine grape in Virginia followed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Other grapes grown include Petit Verdot, Tannat, Mourvedre and Petit Manseng.
Regional appellations of the “Commonwealth” are Monticello AVA (American Viticultural Area) and the larger Chesapeake Bay Region that extends from Maryland to Virginia.
Viognier and Chardonnay are the white wine grapes that most frequently achieve acclaim in Virgina, in addition to Albariño, Riesling and Pinot Gris.
It’s pretty obvious that white wines are made from white grapes. What may not be quite as clear is which grape varieties are the most common and sought-after in all of the major wine regions around the world.
In Virgina, Viognier and Chardonnay, along with Albariño, Riesling and Pinot Gris, are the white wine grapes that most frequently achieve acclaim.
Viognier was once nearly extinct because it was difficult to grow. But its savory, spicy aromas and light body have helped it become a top variety in Virginia.
Chardonnay is the most widely-grown white wine grape in California. Unlike Viogner and Albariño, it can produce both fresh and oaked styles of wine.
Albariño is the most widely grown white wine grape in Spain., where it can produce wines with notes of citrus fruit, honeydew melon or tropical fruit like pineapple or mango.
Wines from Virginia are worthy of attention, especially on the East Coast.
Virginia has a long history of wine production, but it’s only in the last 10 years that the region’s wines have started to gain broader recognition.
Wine Enthusiast has been showcasing Virginia’s wineries for more than a decade, and we have seen steady improvement in quality across the state, with both red and white wines getting better with each vintage. In fact, Virginia is well known for its Bordeaux-style red wines and its Viognier. And more recently Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are emerging as solid varieties worth seeking out.
If you’re on the East Coast, Virginia should be on your list of destinations if you love wine. The state’s winemakers have made great strides in developing their own identity—one that is worthy of attention from anyone who enjoys drinking good wine.