[from a Monticello Wine Trail press release]
Charlottesville, VA – The Monticello Wine Trail (MWT) has elected Winemaker Stephen Barnard to serve as president of the association beginning July 1 for the 2021-2022 board cycle.
Current President George Hodson commented, “The Monticello Wine Trail continues to grow in size and reputation. Consistently leading the state in quality and innovation, the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) has been a driving force in Virginia Wine for over 40 years. I am excited to see how much more we can do with Stephen’s leadership!”
Barnard has served on the MWT Board of Directors in the past and will rejoin the board in this new role.
“I am so excited about the opportunity to work with all the incredible wineries, and to build upon the incredible work done by George Hodson and the other board members. I’m looking forward to working together to promote this incredible wine region to many more people, virtually, and hopefully socially, within the very near future” commented Barnard.
The MWT is part of the Jeffersonian Wine Grape Growers Society (JWGGS), a vineyard trade association established in 1981 and currently consisting of 40 Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) vineyards surrounding Charlottesville in the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Nelson, and Orange. The mission of the JWGGS is to support its members and promote quality grapes and wine produced in the Monticello AVA.