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.

The gold medalists from this year’s Governor’s Cup were selected from 494 entries of both red and white wines, from 102 wineries. Eighteen red wines and five white wines from 15 wineries received the coveted gold medals. Seven wineries received more than one gold medal. Those wineries are:

Barboursville Vineyards (2)
Breaux Vineyards (2)
Jefferson Vineyards (2)
King Family Vineyards (3)
Michael Shaps Wineworks (2)
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards (2)
Veritas Vineyard & Winery (2)

Of the gold medal winning wines, twelve top scoring red and white wines will then comprise the Governor’s Cup Case to showcase the state’s top wines. The highest scoring wine of the competition will be awarded the grand prize of the Governor’s Cup itself.  The wines that make the Governor’s Cup Case and the winner of the Governor’s Cup will be announced by Governor Terry McAuliffe at the Virginia Governor’s Cup Gala on February 21. Stay tuned for the news on the Cup winner as it is announced via Twitter by vawineman.

2017 Governor’s Cup Gold Medalists

Winery Name                          Vintage                      Wine Type
Barboursville Vineyards                  2013                                        Paxxito
Barboursville Vineyards                  2014                                        Cabernet Franc
Breaux Vineyards                               2012                                        Meritage
Breaux Vineyards                               2014                                        Meritage
Cardinal Point Winery                     2014                                        Union
CrossKeys Vineyards                        2015                                        Cabernet Franc
Horton Vineyards                              2015                                        Viognier
Ingleside Vineyards                          2014                                         Petit Verdot
Jefferson Vineyards                         2012                                         Meritage
Jefferson Vineyards                         2014                                         Petit Verdot
King Family Vineyards                                                                       Brut
King Family Vineyards                   2014                                          Loreley
King Family Vineyards                   2014                                          Petit Verdot
Michael Shaps                                     2014                                          Meritage
Michael Shaps                                     2014                                          Cabernet Franc
Pollak Vineyards                               2013                                          Cabernet Franc Reserve
Sunset Hills Vineyard                    2012                                           Mosaic
The Barns at Hamilton Station 2014                                           Cabernet Sauvignon
The Barns at Hamilton Station 2014                                           Meritage
Upper Shirley Vineyards              2014                                           Zachariah
Valley Road Vineyards                  2014                                           Petit Verdot
Veritas Vineyards & Winery       2014                                           Petit Manseng
Veritas Vineyards & Winery      2014                                           Petit Verdot Paul Shaffer 6th Edition