by Richard Leahy | Apr 8, 2026 | Conferences & Meetings, News, XXVirginia Wine
Frank Morgan moderates with winemakers as attendees tastes gold medal winners of the 2026 VA Governor’s Case wines From March 24-26th, the 14th Eastern Winery Exposition brought the industry’s largest trade show and conference for the production grape and...
by Richard Leahy | Mar 17, 2026 | Competitions, News, Virginia Wine
March 12, 2026 – During the annual Virginia Wine Governor’s Cup Gala at the Main Street Station, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced that Valley Road Vineyards of Afton had won the 2026 Virginia Wine Governor’s Cup competition with their 2023 Cabernet Franc...
by Richard Leahy | Mar 1, 2026 | Wine of the Week, XXVirginia Wine
Blend: Tannat 62.5%, Cabernet Franc 25%, Cabernet Sauvignon 12.5% If you’ve been looking for a red Virginia wine “for a winter’s night,” you can hardly do better than this original, stylish yet elegant blend from the west of Rockbridge County...
by Richard Leahy | Feb 25, 2026 | Conferences & Meetings, News, Virginia Wine
On February 25th, At the annual Virginia Vineyards Association Technical Meeting at the Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg, the newly-appointed Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier (herself a Valley native) announced that the 2026 “Grower of the...
by Richard Leahy | Feb 21, 2026 | Finger Lakes, Regions & Terroir, Varietals, Wine of the Week
I keep a library of bottle-aged Finger Lakes Riesling. I’ve found (due to a geeky phenomenon of bound vs. free terpenes), that Rieslings are best in the first two years, or, if from a classic cool climate region, at 15 years or older, if well-cellared and if the corks...
by Richard Leahy | Feb 13, 2026 | Tastings/Evaluations, Varietals, Virginia Wine, Wine of the Week, XXVirginia Wine
In this wretched “winter of our discontent”, it’s vital to know you have enough full-bodied, rich red wines to last you through it. Virginia excels in producing varietal Petit Verdot, which has perfume, ripe black fruits, guts of deep but smooth...
