by Richard Leahy | Aug 16, 2026 | Virginia Wine, XXVirginia Wine
At the end of July, this writer marked the 40th anniversary as a published wine writer, specializing in wines of Virginia and Eastern North America. My first piece on the Virginia wine festival in Culpeper, in July 1986, was published in the Reston Connection’s...
by Richard Leahy | Aug 15, 2026 | Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine, Winery Visits, XXVirginia Wine
Ten miles north of Winchester, at 39.2 latitude (shouting distance from WV) and 720 ft. elevation is Briede’ Family Vineyards, a star in that “far north” part of the state. Briede’ Family Vineyards (from their website) Amongst neighboring...
by Richard Leahy | Aug 10, 2026 | News, Regions & Terroir
[from a press release from the Maryland Wineries Association, Aug. 10th, 2026] The Maryland Wineries Association, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, conducted six ceremonies the weeks of July 20th and 27th at the tasting rooms of some of the...
by Richard Leahy | Jul 1, 2026 | Competitions, News, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine, XXVirginia Wine
Wine Writer Frank Morgan Reports on How Virginia Wines “Showed up–and Showed Off in Paris Wine blogger Frank Morgan (“Drink What YOU Like”) just returned from having co-organized a landmark tasting of Virginia wines in a blind tasting against...
by Richard Leahy | Jun 29, 2026 | Events, Tastings/Evaluations, XXVirginia Wine
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...
by Richard Leahy | Jun 27, 2026 | Competitions, News, Regions & Terroir, Virginia Wine
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...
