| The Monticello Wine Trail (MWT) will hold its 30th Annual Monticello Cup Wine Competition on Monday, March 2 at Barboursville Vineyards. The competition is closed to the public, but results for the top scoring wines will be announced live during the public Monticello Cup Awards and Wine Auction as part of the 2020 Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) Wine Week.
This year’s competition is coordinated by Drink What You Like’s Frank Morgan and is a chance for MWT members to engage in a friendly members-only competition that focuses on wine produced from Monticello AVA grapes. All entered wines must contain a minimum of 85% fruit from the Monticello AVA. Morgan said, “I’m honored and excited to be the [competition coordinator]. The Monticello AVA is home not only to some of the best wineries and vineyards in the Commonwealth, but also some of the most notable on the east coast. We have an experienced group of 14 judges this year to taste the best of the region.” [Disclosure: this writer is one of the judges]. The public is invited to hear the top results at the Monticello Cup Awards and Wine Auction (MCA) on Friday, March 27 at a ticketed event held at Veritas Vineyard & Winery. MCA guests will enjoy dinner, sample award winning wines, and have the opportunity to bid on unique auction lots curated by MWT members. All proceeds from the auction will benefit UVA Children’s Hospital. David Pollak, owner of Pollak Vineyards and MWT Board Wine Auction Chair said, “Our first Monticello AVA wine auction will be a great opportunity to acquire some of Virginia’s best and most scarce wines, as well as an opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind experiences, all while helping the UVA Children’s Hospital.” In addition to the MCA, member wineries will participate in a number of other wine and food focused events through the week of Monday, March 23 – Sunday, March 29. These events include the annual Rose Lunch on Friday, March 27 at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards and Sparkling Brunch on Sunday, March 29 at King Family Vineyards. New additions for this year will include a Cane Burning Party at Hark Vineyards to welcome in the 2020 growing season, and a group guided tasting at Wineworks Extended. Additional events and dinners are still being added and more information can be found at monticellowinetrail.com/taste-of The MWT, a subsidiary of the Jeffersonian Wine Grape Growers Society (JWGGS), is a trade association of 38 Monticello AVA vineyards surrounding Charlottesville. The mission of the JWGGS is to support their members and promote quality grapes and wine produced in the Monticello AVA. |
