2019: the Best Vintage for Virginia Red Wines Since 2001

by Richard Leahy | Oct 15, 2021 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine

I’ve been tasting and making notes on the red wines of the great 2019 vintage in Virginia since late January. Some of the wines were made in a fruit-forward style and bottled and released early. Others were made in a more reserve style, with more oak and...

Find Richard Leahy Now in Wine & Country Life Magazine

by Richard Leahy | Oct 13, 2021 | News/Announcements, Uncategorized, Virginia Wine

Richard Leahy and Jennifer Bryerton, co-Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of Ivy Life & Style Media, are pleased to announce that Richard is now writing Virginia wine articles in addition to those found on this blog, in the monthly online version of the glossy...

Horton Vineyards Hosts International Rkatsiteli Day Sat. October 16th

by Richard Leahy | Oct 12, 2021 | Events, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine

Horton Vineyards, the first winery in Virginia to plant and make a varietal Rkatsiteli, will host an International Rkatsiteli tastng Saturday 10/16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They will start at 11 am tasting different Rkatsiteli wines from Virginia Vineyards, New York...

Lewis Ginter Gardens near Richmond to Host “Virginia Wine: 400 Years Young and World-Class” on Thurs. 10/7, 6-7 p.m.

by Richard Leahy | Sep 13, 2021 | Events, Virginia Wine

As part of their educational events on Virginia botany, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens will host a presentation titled “Virginia Wine: 400 Years Old and World-Class”, on Thursday, 10/7, from 6-7 pm. The event features this writer presenting the talk on...

Early Fall Fresh, Bright, 2020 VA White Wines

by Richard Leahy | Sep 8, 2021 | Tastings/Evaluations, Varietals, Virginia Wine

Virginia wineries are now releasing their 2020 white wines and rosés. I recommend seeking them out and enjoying them as long as hot summer weather lasts in September into October. I enthusiastically reviewed the early-released 2019 red wines, and some whites, back in...

Monticello Wine Media Event Draws 15 to Two-Day Immersion in Area Wines

by Richard Leahy | Aug 5, 2021 | Conferences & Meetings, Regions & Terroir, Virginia Wine, Winery Visits

The Monticello Wine Trail Media Event, co-organized by Virginia wine writers Frank Morgan and Nancy Bauer, brought a versatile, curated group of 15 writers to Charlottesville on August 1-2 for an immersion in the wines, winemakers and winery owners of the Monticello...