Virginia’s newest winery (which isn’t yet open to the public) added more top awards by winning Best White Hybrid (traminette) and Best Rose (chambourcin) awards at the annual American Wine Society Competition at its annual conference which took place November 3-4 in Costa Mesa, CA.
Effingham Manor is a historic Tidewater style estate dating to 1767 in a national historic district located in Nokesville, in Prince William County, now featuring a brand new winery.
The owner is Albert Guber who is also a partner with Chris Pearmund and other investors. Pearmund is a long-established Virginia vintner and owner of Pearmund Cellars and Vint Hill Craft Winery.
The product line includes a red blend called King’s Ransom, meritage, norton, tannat, traminette, merlot, chardonnay, rose, and a sparkling wine. At the recent Virginia State Fair wine competition, Effingham won awards including a gold Medal for the King’s Ransom and the Meritage, also named Best Red Wine.
I tasted both the King’s Ransom and the meritage (both from 2014) and was impressed with their finesse. The dry chambourcin rose is zesty with lots of strawberry and cranberry and refreshingly dry.
“Effingham is the highest rated winery ever in the county, to not open [yet]”, says Pearmund. He points out that the same rose also won “Rose of the Year” in the Indy International Wine Competition.
Pearmund shares that he is impatient that “The feds are slow” with issuing the winery an operating license despite having received the correct paperwork; he points out that partners have invested $3 million in the venture. The partners should be pleased with so many high accolades for a winery that hasn’t opened yet; Effingham Manor Winery looks to have a bright future.