Richard Leahy is a wine author and wine industry consultant specializing in regional wines east of the Rockies. He has been reporting on the wines of Virginia and other regional wine states since 1986. Richard works with numerous wineries, associations and state agencies, and is the Conference Manager for the largest wine industry trade show on the East Coast, the Eastern Winery Exposition.
RECENT POSTS
Wine of the Week: Jump Mountain Borderland 2021 Red Blend, Shenandoah Valley, VA
Blend: Tannat 62.5%, Cabernet Franc 25%, Cabernet Sauvignon 12.5% If you've been looking for a red Virginia wine "for a winter's night," you can hardly do better than this original, stylish yet elegant blend from the west of Rockbridge County in the shadow of Jump...
Damien Blanchon Named 2026 “Grower of the Year” by the VA Vineyards Association
On February 25th, At the annual Virginia Vineyards Association Technical Meeting at the Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg, the newly-appointed Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier (herself a Valley native) announced that the 2026 "Grower of the Year" Award...


