Beyond Jefferson’s Vines, the definitive guide to Virginia wine from 1619 to the present, has been re-released in a revised and updated third edition (2020), with a foreword from renowned British wine critic Steven Spurrier.

Beyond Jefferson’s Vines is the complete story of wine in Virginia, from the Jamestown Settlement, to Thomas Jefferson and his vineyard at Monticello, to the thriving world-class wine industry of today. It focuses on the last two decades and explains how vintners today have achieved the success Jefferson only dreamed of.

Since the second edition was published in 2015, 100 new Virginia wineries have joined the industry. This third edition is a thorough revision, with personal tasting notes, more wineries, and notes on only those wineries who won silver or gold medals in recent Governor’s Cup competitions. Qualified wineries are found from the Tidewater to Bristol, and from the Potomac River to Southside, and is 309 pages long.

There are dozens of new wineries featured, and Leahy also includes in-depth personal tasting notes. Actual winery addresses are given instead of driving directions for easy GPS mapping. There’s also a new chapter on “A Glimpse From the Summit” featuring four of Virginia’s top wineries.

Beyond Jefferson’s Vines focuses on the last decade and explains how vintners today have achieved the success Jefferson only dreamed of. The narrative blends history with travelogue and basic viticulture, along with personal interviews with key industry members to help you gain a full understanding of the subject. You’ll have a new appreciation for the quality Virginia wine has achieved today, and the risk these dedicated people take in their dogged pursuit to realize Jefferson’s dream of a fine wine industry in Virginia.

To order  Beyond Jefferson’s Vines in either Kindle or paperback formats, visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578701146

Nancy Bauer, www.vawineinmypocket.com