From left to right: Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier, Competition Chair Frank Morgan, and Hark Winemaker and 2026 Monticello Cup winner AJ Greely
Here are the top twelve gold medal wines from the 2026 Monticello Cup Competition (wines from wineries in the Monticello AVA), that form the Monticello Gold Case:
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
In addition to these, there were 13 additional gold medals in the competition. While attending the celebration tasting, I made notes, although sadly, I did not have time to taste all 26 before the event was closed. Here are tasting notes of my favorites, in alphabetical order:
Barboursville Vineyards 2021 “Nascent”: an original, stylish blend of 80% Viognier, 15% Vermentino, and 5% Falanghina. Fresh but very delicately fruity on the nose, the palate shows racy acidity supporting the fruit, and a long finish. A Lamborghini of an Italian white blend in Virginia, meant for matching with fine cuisine.
Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery 2025 “Aubaine” : This allusion to Burgundy is appropriate with a non-oaked Chardonnay where winemaker Tim Gorman stirred the juice frequently pre-fermentation. The result is a rich yet refreshing Chardonnay, distinctive and stylish.
Eastwood Farm and Winery 2025 Rose’: a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this Provencal-style rose’ is elegant but also has much more fruit and flavor than the average Provencal version, hints of watermelon and strawberry, yet is fresh and vibrant with a long clean finish.
Hark Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2023 (Monticello Cup winner): Nose: clean, subtle, delicate cherry with a hint of baking spice. Palate: Wow! A surge of rich, pure Cabernet Franc fruit, with a silky and sexy texture in the finish. Great example of fruit-driven Virginia Cab Franc that doesn’t show any obvious oak.
Hazy Mountain Vineyards Albarino 2024: Nose: subtle white peach and white tea and a hint of oak. Palate: WOW! Huge flavor dimension with racy, linear acidity and lime/citrus, long finish. Reminiscent of fine Riesling.
Jefferson Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve 2023: Nose is subtle yet elegant, like white Burgundy. Palate: full and round, balanced and fine, only five percent new oak, all estate fruit, 8 months barrel age. Stylish, much like a Puligny-Montrachet.
Loving Cup Tellurian Red 2023: Certified organically grown grapes and wine, this is a fun, new style of red, 50/50 Marquette and Corot Noir grapes. Nose: wonderfully spicy. Palate: nice fruit/oak balance, full-bodied and dry, a richer but balanced style for Loving Cup.
Oakencroft Farm & Winery White Table Wine 2023: An elegant, stylish, understated but varietally true blend of Seyval blanc (90%) and Vidal blanc (10%). Seyval is a heritage white hybrid grape for Virginia, and what Oakencroft was known for in the 1980s and early 1990s. Winemaker Jessica Trapeni has carefully studied Seyval to learn how to make it in an ideal way without “over-making” it. This has subtle grapefruit aromas and flavors, with linear and long acidity; refreshing and vibrant.
Stinson Vineyards Mourvedre 2023: An amazing, racy and sensual example of the dark genius grape of the southern Rhone. Nose: clean earth with mineral and spice, mixed with ripe red and black fruits. Palate: richly fruity, but racy, linear acidity and dried herbs and a touch of garlic on the finish. Like a Flamenco dance; tight, linear and Dionysian!
Veritas Vineyards Monticello White 2023: a high-end, complex but integrated and balanced blend of 50% Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. Nose: subtle. Palate: rich, full-bodied but fruit-driven, firm acidity and long finish. Stylish and made for food pairing.
Highlights from the Monticello Wine Trail Rose’ Tasting
The week of June 20-27th was Monticello Wine Trail week, and following the gold medal awards tasting Saturday was the Rose Festival tasting at Hark Vineyards, featuring 14 Trail members’ rose’ wines.
My favorite of the tasting was the Cunningham Creek Sparkling Rose’ 2024 (from early-picked Cabernet Franc). This was made in the traditional methode champenoise process. Although it’s called “rose”, the color is almost a “gris” style pale, but that doesn’t detract from style or quality. Nose: fresh, with a hint of dry Riesling aromas and yeast. Palate: dry, with gentle red cherry fruit, smooth texture and excellent fruit/acid balance. Stylish and elegant ($40)
Flying Fox Rose’ 2023 (Cabernet Franc): slight pink color, with gentle, fresh red cherry aromas. Palate: full-bodied, juicy red cherry flavors, dry but with a round, plump texture. Pleasing and easy to drink.
Veritas Vineyards Rose 2024 (Merlot): light pink color, fresh, delicate hint of red fruits. Palate: smooth, clean, fresh, subtle at first, then juicy, full-bodied, dry but tently smooth. Very elegant!
Eastwood Farm and Winery Rose 2025 (also a gold medal winner in the Monticello Wine Trail Competition), Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pale, Provencal color. Nose: racy, fresh fruit, like Riesling! Palate: delicate, with fresh, gentle red fruits, then more volume of flavor but great fruit/acid balance.
Southwestern Mountains Rose 2025 (45% ea. Cabernet Franc and Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot). Poured from a magnum. Very subtle on the nose, with a hint of violets from the Petit Verdot. Palate: fresh, clean, smooth red fruits, gentle and subtle, with a touch of violets. Stylish, original, with a large palate volume yet still elegant.
Hazy Mountain Rose 2025 (60% Blaufrankisch, 37% Merlot, 3% Nebbiolo). Pale color. Nose: large fruit aromas with a bit of spice/salt. Palate: smooth, great fruit/acid balance, mid-palate strawberry flavors, high acidity on the finish, but well-integrated. Stylish and original.