For Immediate Release: March 7, 2024
Contacts: Office of the Governor: Christian Martinez, Christian.Martinez@governor.virginia.gov

King Family Vineyards Wins 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup® for the 2019 Meritage

Winemaker Matthieu Finot brings further recognition to the Monticello AVA

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin awarded the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup® to King Family Vineyards for the 2019 Meritage – a blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. This year’s prestigious award was announced during the annual Virginia Governor’s Cup® Gala held at Richmond’s Main Street Station on March 7. In its 42nd year, the competition received 752 entries from over 135 Virginia wineries, cideries and meaderies.

“It is an honor to present this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup® to the team at King Family Vineyards,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “They’re a well respected example of the quality of wines being produced in the Commonwealth and I look forward to seeing the ongoing success and growth of this family-owned winery in the future.”

“Every year, I witness the rising quality of wines and ciders in this competition, said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. With another record-breaking year, 138 Virginia wines, ciders, and meads received a score of 90 points or higher. As this industry flourishes, it plays a pivotal role in supporting and enhancing both the agricultural community and Virginia’s economy.”

Located in Crozet, King Family Vineyards has been producing Virginia wines for more than two decades. Winemaker Matthieu Finot joined the team in 2007 and has been focused on producing quality wines expressive of the Monticello AVA, which was recently named the Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast. This year marks the fourth time the award has been given to King Family Vineyards, claiming the top-honor in 2004, 2010 and 2018.

To receive the Cup, the 2019 Meritage earned the highest average score from a panel of esteemed judges who evaluated the wines based on appearance, aroma, flavor, commercial suitability and overall quality. The wine will be featured alongside 11 other wines in the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Case, a collection of the competition’s 12 highest scoring wines.

The full case includes:
King Family Vineyards, 2019 Meritage
Afton Mountain Vineyards, 2019 T
Barboursville Vineyards, 2019 Paxxito
Bluestone Vineyard, 2017 Petit Verdot
Breaux Vineyards, 2019 The Fog Nebbiolo Reserve
Cave Ridge Vineyard, 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve
CrossKeys Vineyards, Blanc De Noir
Hark Vineyards, 2019 Spark
Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2020 L.Scott
Mountain and Vine Vineyards and Winery, 2022 Chardonnay October One Vineyard, 2022 Albariño
Paradise Springs Winery, 2022 Petit Manseng

The Virginia Governor’s Cup® Case includes a broad variety of wines and represents three leading wine regions across the Commonwealth including Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, and Shenandoah Valley. Seven of the case wines feature enticing red wines each delivering rich and complex flavors. Complementing these are five white wines, with one sparkling wine to complete the case.

For the fourth consecutive year, Virginia cider was judged in its own category with the highest scoring cider awarded as Best in Show. Earning a gold medal in this year’s competition, Buskey Cider received the Best in Show Cider recognition for its 2022 Ruby Red Crab Apple Cider.

About the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup® is held in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board. All entries must be made from 100% Virginia-grown fruit to be eligible. Each wine is ranked based on a unified scoring system. For more information about the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition and a complete list of winners, visit: https://www.virginiawine.org/governors-cup/awards.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2023 Governor’s Cup® Gold Medal Press Release

Delfosse Vineyards and Winery Wins 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup® for the 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage

Winemaker Andrew Bilenkij brings the Virginia Governor’s Cup® back to the Monticello AVA

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin awarded the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup® to Delfosse Vineyards and Winery for the 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage— a signature estate red blend of 50% Petit Verdot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec. The prestigious award was given during the annual Virginia Governor’s Cup® Gala held at Main Street Station on February 23. In its 41^st year, the competition received 614 entries from over 115 Virginia wineries, cideries and meaderies.

“It is an honor to present this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup® to the team at Delfosse Vineyards and Winery,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Delfosse is adding an exciting new chapter to its venerable history and we look forward to all they do next as Mountain and Vine Vineyards and Winery.”

“Each year I see the advancement in the caliber of wines and ciders in this competition. With another record breaking year, 66 producers received a 90 point score or higher,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr. “As this industry grows, it continues to support and strengthen both the agricultural community in the Commonwealth and Virginia’s economy.”

Winemaker Andrew Bilenkij and owners Mike and Adrienne Albers accepted the Cup on behalf of Delfosse Vineyards and Winery.

“Since coming to Delfosse in 2019, this is one of my first vintages to see from vineyard to bottle. I’m excited and proud to see it recognized by the Virginia Governor’s Cup judges,” said Andrew Bilenkij.

“I have told my team every year throughout the grape growing season and winemaking process that we want to win the Governor’s Cup– it’s been our goal,” said Mike Albers.

Located in Faber Virginia, Delfosse will soon be undergoing a rebrand to Mountain and Vine Vineyards and Winery, a reflection of their appreciation for the beautiful features of the vineyard property. Owners Michael and Adrienne Albers purchased the property in 2016 with the ambition to produce award winning wines using 100% estate grown fruit.

The 2021 Screaming Hawk earned the highest average score from a panel of esteemed judges who evaluated the wines based on appearance, aroma, flavor, commercial suitability and overall quality. The wine will be featured alongside 11 other wines in the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Case, a collection of the competition’s 12 highest scoring wines.

The full case includes:

Delfosse Vineyards and Winery, 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage

50 West Vineyards, 2020 Petit Manseng

Barboursville Vineyards, 2021 Vermentino Reserve

Barren Ridge Vineyards, 2019 Petit Verdot

Jefferson Vineyards, 2021 Petit Manseng

Jefferson Vineyards, 2019 Meritage

Mountain Run Winery, 2021 Petit Verdot

Paradise Springs Winery, 2021 Petit Verdot

Pollak Vineyards, 2017 Meritage

The Williamsburg Winery, 2019 Petit Verdot

Trump Winery, 2016 Blanc de Noir

Trump Winery, 2019 New World Reserve

The Virginia Governor’s Cup® Case includes a broad variety of wines and represents four leading wine regions across the Commonwealth including Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, and Eastern Virginia. One third of the wines in the case are Meritage, Bordeaux-style blends, with another third being Petit Verdots. Elegant, expressive white varietals also add to the story of outstanding wines in this year’s competition with two Petit Mansengs, a Vermentino and a sparkling Pinot Noir rounding out the case.

For the third consecutive year, Virginia cider was judged in its own category with the highest scoring cider awarded as Best in Show. Earning two gold medals in this year’s competition, Albemarle CiderWorks received the Best in Show Cider recognition for its Orchard Blush. Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Parker Slaybaugh, presented this top cider award to cidermaker Chuck Shelton and the rest of the Albemarle CiderWorks team.

About the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition

The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup® is held in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board.

All entries must be made from 100% Virginia-grown fruit to be eligible. Each wine is ranked based on a unified scoring system. For more information about the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition and a complete list of winners, click here.

Cana Vineyards Wins 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup® with 2019 Unité Reserve

Winemaker Melanie Natoli Becomes the First Woman to Receive Coveted Cup on the Competition’s 40th Anniversary

RICHMOND, VA–During the annual celebration held at Main Street Station, Governor Glenn Youngkin awarded the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup® to Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg for its 2019 Unité Reserve—a signature estate red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The competition received a record-breaking number of entries this year—615 wines from over 100 Virginia wineries.

Winemaker Melanie Natoli received the prestigious Governor’s Cup® on behalf of Cana Vineyards, becoming the first woman in the competition’s history to receive the award. Cana Vineyards’ first plantings were in 2012 with Natoli joining as winemaker and vineyard manager in 2015. The 2019 Unité Reserve is a particularly special wine for her as she notes, “it’s in my hands from bud break to bottle.”

“It is an honor to present this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup® to Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg and Melanie Natoli, the first woman winemaker to receive this award,” said Governor Youngkin. “The 40th anniversary of the competition saw the most diverse selection of award-winning wines to date, demonstrating the passion and experimental spirit of Virginia driving our wine industry to new heights.”

Cana Vineyards’ 2019 Unité Reserve earned the highest average score from a panel of esteemed judges who evaluated the wines based on appearance, aroma, flavor, commercial suitability and overall quality.

The 2019 Unité Reserve will be featured alongside 11 other wines in the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Case, a collection of the competition’s 12 highest scoring wines. Cana Vineyards also placed a second meritage blend in the case with its 2019 Le Mariage. The full case includes:

Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg 2019 Unité Reserve
50 West Vineyards 2019 Ashby Gap
Barboursville Vineyards 2020 Vermentino Reserve
Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg 2019 Le Mariage
Maggie Malick Wine Caves 2020 Albariño
Michael Shaps Winery 2019 Chardonnay
Pollak Vineyards 2017 Meritage
Rockbridge Vineyard 2018 V d’Or
Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Reserve Red
Stinson Vineyards 2017 Meritage
Trump Winery 2015 Brut Reserve
Wisdom Oak Winery 2019 NINETEEN

The Virginia Governor’s Cup® Case includes a variety of styles and represents three leading wine regions across the Commonwealth: Central Virginia, Northern Virginia and Shenandoah Valley. Seven wines in the case are meritage, Bordeaux-style blends—wines that balance the subtlety of the Old World with the boldness of the new, embodying Virginia’s unique place in the world. Elegant, expressive white varietals also tell the story of this year’s competition with Chardonnay, Vermentino, Albariño, sparkling and a dessert rounding out the case.

For the second consecutive year, Virginia cider was judged in its own category with the highest scoring cider named “Best in Show.” Earning three gold medals in this year’s competition, Albemarle Ciderworks received the top cider recognition for its 2019 Virginia Hewes Crab.

“Virginia wines and ciders continue to cement their place in our exceptional agriculture and tourism industries and as major contributors to the Virginia economy,” said Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr. “As the state’s oldest operating cidery, this year’s Best in Show Cider winner Albemarle Ciderworks has shown a dedication to bringing locally crafted cider to the table of Virginians everywhere.”

About the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition

The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup® is held in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association.

2022 Governor’s Cup Gold Medal Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office

Contact: Annette Boyd

Phone: 804-402-1896

Email: Annette.Boyd@Virginiawine.org

Virginia Wineries Association Announces Virginia Governor’s Cup® Gold Medalists

Richmond, VA (March 8, 2022) – Celebrating its 40^th anniversary, the Virginia Governor’s Cup® received an unprecedented number of entries from across the Commonwealth. Regarded as one of the nation’s most stringent wine competitions, gold medals have been awarded to 127 wines from 65 Virginia wineries after a series of rigorous blind tastings.

“The Virginia Wineries Association is thrilled to host the 40th year of the Virginia Governor’s Cup®,” said Virginia Wineries Association President George Hodson. “With the most gold medals ever awarded, the 2022 results highlight the industry’s ever-growing commitment to produce the highest quality wines, expressive of Virginia’s grit and experimental spirit.”

To receive a gold medal, a wine must receive an average score of 90 points or higher on a 100-point scale from the competition’s expert panel of world-class judges—led by the esteemed Jay Youmans, MW.

“Each year, it’s incredible to see the diversity of wines the judges favor,” said Youmans. “ From the mastery of Meritage blends to the evident understanding of varieties like Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc and the exploration of unique varieties like Petit Manseng, the caliber of Virginia wines continues to impress.”

In addition to awarding its highest number of gold medals, the year’s competition also saw the highest number of ciders (10) and meads (7) receive this high honor. The winners span the state, with the majority being based in the Central Virginia (29), Northern Virginia (18) and Shenandoah Valley regions (9). For a full list of gold medalists, visit: www.virginiawine.org/governors-cup/awards.

On March 24, the VWA will host the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Celebration at Richmond’s Main Street Station to unveil the competition’s top awards—the Governor’s Cup® Case, consisting of the 12 highest-scoring red and white wines, Best in Show Cider and the coveted Governor’s Cup®. For the first time, this is a ticketed event open to the public. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.exploretock.com/virginiawine/event/319456/2022-virginia-governors-cup-celebration.

Adventurous wine lovers looking to discover Virginia’s best wineries can sign up for the Gold Medal Wine Trail , a mobile passport that includes all 65 gold medal winners. A free resource, passport holders who visit and check-in at participating venues are eligible to receive special offers, discounts and prizes. For more information on the Gold Medal Wine Trail, visit: taste.virginiawine.org.

For interviews and photo requests, please contact Annette Boyd at 802.402.1896 or Annette.Boyd@Virginiawine.org .

About the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition

The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup® is held in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association.

Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup History & Overview

View the video here.