Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier announced the winner of the 2026 Monticello Cup (best of the 12 gold medals in the competition) at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville on Friday, June 27th.
Hark Vineyards winemaker AJ Greely accepts the 2026 Monticello Cup from VA Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier
Out of the 12 top gold medal wines, Hark Vineyards took the honors for their 2023 Cabernet Franc, with winemaker AJ Greely accepting the award on behalf of the winery. In her acceptance remarks, Greely said she’d only ever worked in wine in the Monticello AVA, and was very grateful for being part of the winemaking community here, “because we work together to lift one another up.”
Frank Morgan, who also runs the Virginia Governor’s Cup, organized the Monticello Cup competition. David Kostelnik, General Manager of Southwestern Mountains Vineyard, was named the new President of the Monticello Wine Trail. The top twelve scoring gold medal wines were:
Afton Mountain 2024 Sparkling Rose”
Barboursville Nebbiolo Reserve 2025
Eastwood Vineyards Rose’ 2025
Fallen Tree Vineyards 2021 Meritage
Flying Fox Trio 2023
Hark Vineyards 2024 Roussanne
Hark Vineyards 2023 Cabernet Franc (winner)
Hazy Mountains Albarino 2024
King Family Vineyards 2022 Mountain Plains Red
Southwest Mountains Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve 2023
Veritas Vineyards Monticello White 2023
The author with Hark Vineyards winemaker and Monticello Cup winner AJ Greely