Usually, when you hear about “wine country,” people are referring to Napa or Sonoma Valley in California. However, more and more wineries on the east coast, specifically in Virginia, are gaining in popularity and reputation.
Did you know that Virginia was the first place in North America where English settlers deliberately set out to produce wine? Neither did I.
In 1979, Virginia had only six wineries
Virginia can tout more than 100 wineries, along with national and international awards, including a “Best of Show” in a California competition.
More than 500,000 people visit Virginia’s Wine Country, annually. My personal favorites include Kluge and Veritas, located in the central region of Virginia.
In May 2007, Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Division of Workforce Training’s Wine Industry program helped facilitate a wine tasting round at White Hall Vineyards to determine which wines would represent Virginia at a historic wine tasting in London, England. More than 88 wines from 33 Virginia wineries were submitted with 65 high-quality wines selected for the London event. The theme at the Virginia Wine Experience in London was “Virginia, First in Wine” – a reference to both the history and quality of Virginia’s wine.
Piedmont Virginia Community College offers certificate programs in viticulture and enology. Click here for more information about their programs.
Posted by Heather Millar
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2 responses so far ↓
Jonas // October 23, 2007 at 6:24 pm
http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/NEWS01/710220302/1002
Looks like that program is gwoing the industry quickly.
winewithdinner // October 25, 2007 at 12:52 am
Virginia does have a lot of great wineries. I personally like some of the Northern Virginia vineyards, such as Hillsborough, Corcoran, and Breaux.
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