At a gala event at the Marriott in downtown Richmond Thursday February 23rd, the top twelve winners of the 2012 Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition were announced. Presiding were Governor Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell along with Agriculture Secretary Todd Haymore, Annette Boyd of the Virginia Wine Marketing Office, Competition Chair Jay Youmans MW, and the winery owners of some 20 Virginia wineries, including the top 12 winners which contained the finalist Cup winner.

Those finalists were:

Bluestone 2010 cabernet sauvignon

DelFosse 2007 Meritage

  Glen Manor 2009 Hodder Hill (red Bordeaux blend)

  Jefferson  2010 cabernet franc

  Keswick 2009 cabernet sauvignon reserve

  Keswick 2010 merlot

King Family 2008 meritage

  Potomac Point 2009 Heritage richland reserve (red Bordeaux blend)

  Tarara Winery 2010 Honah Lee white

Trump Winery 2008 SP Blanc de Blancs

 Veritas 2010 vintner’s reserve (red Bordeaux blend)

 White Hall 2010 gewurztraminer

The Virginia Governor’s Cup competition has undergone a significant metamorphosis this year under the chairmanship of Jay Youmans, a Master of Wine based in suburban Washington.

Youmans explains that the Virginia Wineries Association laid down its conditions for the event. There were two rounds; an intial elimination round, in which over 420 wines were tasted by six judges and given scores resulting in either no medal, bronze, silver or gold medals. The second round a week later took the top 120 wines determined by judge point scores, and eliminated 90%, resulting in the final 12 or “Governor’s Case.”

In the final round, some 15 esteemed judges, including two Masters of Wine, judged each wine and their marks were tabulated to determine the final 10%. For wineries to learn from the judges, the VWA decided to photocopy each judge score sheet where comments were encouraged, and give them back to the wineries (concealing the identities of the judges). Hopefully, this will give highly informed, blind and professional comments on quality that winemakers can learn from and improve in the future.

From the field of 12, the Glen Manor Hodder Hill edged out the others, based on total points awarded by the judges. Winemaker and proprietor Jeff White thanked the industry, his family and those who had built the industry paving the way for people today to learn from their example.

While 2009 was a challenging vintage for Virginia reds compared to 2007, 2008 or 2010, the finalist case showed several examples of exemplary red wines from that vintage, proving that in challenging conditions Virginia vintners could still make world-class red wines.

Jeff’s wife Kelly served me the winning Hodder Hill, a meritage-style blend. I was first struck by the color, very dark and dense for an ’09 red, which she explained was due to fruit concentration due to vineyard selection and dropping unripe fruit. The wine was young, but richly concentrated with damson plum and spice notes, firm acidity and a surprisingly long finish. Altogether it reminded me of a premier or grand cru Burgundy, due to its acidity, delicate but firm fruit, high acid and most of all, the length of the finish, more than of a Bordeaux-style wine. I trust the winemaker will take this as a compliment. This, along with the other top 2009 reds, will need at least 2 more years of aging to come together completely, and this one can last 15 years.

Aside from wines, people were also recognized at the awards ceremony. Chris Breiner, owner of Stone Mountain Vineyards and longtime official of the Virginia Wineries Association, was recognized in a moment of silence, having passed away on February 14th. The Wine Person of the Year Award was presented by Gordon Murchie to First Lady Maureen McDonnell in recognition of her personal dedication to the Virginia wine industry through her FLITE tours bringing restaurateurs and retailers to Virginia wineries to convince them to carry more of their products. She has also followed the lead of Acte Twelve of 1619 by the Jamestown Assembly that compelled male household heads to plant 20 grapevines apiece; last year she planted chambourcin vines at the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond.

Ann Heidig of Lake Anna Winery was awarded the Gordon Murchie Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of service as president of the VA Wineries Association, but also for her many efforts with WineAmerica and the National Grape and Wine Initiative to lobby for inclusion of the grape and wine industry for federal agricultural support, which have now been realized in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative grants and Specialty Crop Block Grants.

Delegate T. Scott Garrett was presented with the Legislator of the Year Award for his support of the 2011 Governor’s Winery and Vineyard Expansion Tax Credit.

Complete results of the 2012 Governor’s Cup Competition can be found online at www.virginiawine.org.

The first thing you see driving into the winery is a south-facing roof completely lined with solar panels; the winery has a gold level LEED (leadership in environmental and energy design) certification. I was fortunate to be invited to attend a wine club event where members tasted the newly released 2010 cabernet franc and chambourcin wines; brilliantly matched with fine finger foods.

The chambourcin was much more forward and ready to drink.  Owner/winemaker Mark Fedor explained that when they made a rose from the chambourcin, they added the skins from which the wine was taken back into the chambourcin juice later pressed for red wine, concentrating color, aromatics and flavor. Opaque, the wine has a rich spicy fruitiness reminiscent of a Duoro still wine with port-like spiciness. The palate is deep with full, round, rich and firm fruitiness. Finished at 1.5% residual sugar, I would have preferred the wine dry, but you hardly notice the sweetness with the depth of fruit. An outstanding example of varietal chambourcin.

The cabernet franc, not quite as dark, was more closed at this point, with a subtle nose of plum, cherries and black raspberries. On the palate, it is smooth and plump with lots of cherries and plum with good fruit/acid balance. The wine has finesse but needs more time.

In the tasting room, the 2010 viognier which won a gold medal in the Governor’s Cup last year was gone, but I was pleasantly surprised by the 2010 barrel fermented chardonnay. It has aromas of bright lemon/citrus, with a juicy palate but with firm acidity balancing the forward fruit, oak and yeast elements; fresh and stylish.

Another surprise was the dry 2010 petit manseng. Due to its tropical fruit aromas and flavors, and high acid, most wineries finish it slightly sweet to dessert style; this is a rare exception (14.5% alc.) The nose was full of grapefruit and rind/zest aromas. On the palate, the wine was juicy, with alcohol clearly high, but finishing with firm acidity. As a dry, pungent wine, it’s most similar to a Marlborough style New Zealand sauvignon blanc, but with a twist all its own. It will be a fun, original and brilliant pairing with foods like Indian, Asian and fusion cuisine, especially with mango, cilantro or basil seasoning.

Although the 2010 cabernet franc is promising but young, the 2009 cabernet franc is a completely different style, but equally worthwhile. Despite a difficult vintage for red wines, this wine is clean and shows fine varietal character, but is mature now and ready to drink. The nose shows cherry, earth and vanilla/oak elements nicely balanced. On the palate, like flavors are well-integrated, and the wine has an elegant Right Bank Bordeaux style; enjoy while  you’re waiting for the 2010 to come around.

A fine complement to the ’09 franc was the 2009 merlot, also an elegant Right Bank style. Dark ruby in color, the nose reveals earth, crushed blackberries, sage and thyme. On the palate, the texture is deep and smooth with supple black fruits and fine tannins; drinking well now but will age a couple of years. Superior to most ’09 merlots.

The ’09 meritage (45% cabernet franc, 35% cabernet sauvignon, and 10% each petit verdot and merlot) is much like the ’09 merlot and cab franc but with more dimension and finesse. The nose reveals lively black fruits and some pepper. On the palate, the wine is juicy, supple and smooth, with lots of black cherry and a fine mocha finish. Very stylish, you could drink it now but it would be ideal from November on.

North Gate also makes an apple wine, which is nicely spicy in a natural way, with very good fruit/acid balance, and not too sweet.

I was pleased to see North Gate offers reasonably priced foods (especially local cheeses and hot baguettes) to fortify the intrepid wine taster on the trail, and I enjoyed their cheese sampler of four different cheeses with a baguette, chatting with Debbie, a wine club member who is a regular. I arrived about 1:30 when the winery was almost empty; I left at 4 p.m. when it was full of smiling people and the sounds of many people enjoying themselves.

Leaving North Gate, I drove north on Rt. 690 then turned right on Rt. 9 which is becoming a small-scale Virginia version of Rt. 29 in Napa Valley; every hundred yards or so you see a different winery.

A couple of miles down the road I turned right and drove through a farm to reach 8 Chains North, a new winery that like North Gate was doing a brisk business with affluent Northern Virginians happy to enjoy themselves away (but not too far) from suburbia.

8 Chains North does a better job making reds than whites at this time. The reds are very good however, and malbec plays an important role as a blending grape in their red Bordeaux varietals and blends.

Right now, tasters have a rare opportunity to have a vertical comparison tasting of merlot (’08 vs. ’09) and their Furnace Mountain Red (meritage-style blend) in ’08 vs. ’09 vs. reserve ’09, and these comparisons are worth the visit alone. You get a good sense of wine quality and how the vintage influences the flavor and style of the wine.

The 2008 merlot (80% merlot, 10% malbec, 5% petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon) has a nose that is earthy, robust and rustic but clean (no funk/brett). On the palate, the wine is lively and rich, with some spice, and a bit of bittersweet chocolate on the finish. It is more full-bodied than most merlots thanks to the other grapes. A complex wine with some fine minerality, it is a fine example of the 2008 vintage. While drinking well, it’s still evolving and is worth buying if you’re out of 2008 Virginia reds.

The 2009 merlot (90% merlot, 10% malbec) is very different, with a light, lively and vibrant nose with raspberry and mineral notes. On the palate, it is smooth and juicy but with lively red cherry/berry fruit, round mid-palate but firm acid. Still young, it needs two more years to mature completely but will make a fine warmer weather red wine.

A departure from the red Bordeaux theme is their ’09 Otium dornfelder. The grapes were purchased from a neighboring vineyard specializing in German varieties; this was blended with 10% malbec and 15% merlot. Very dark purple in color, the nose is thick and earthy with some boysenberry fruit. On the palate, it is round and smooth but a bit funky.

I loved the three way comparison of the Furnace Mountain Red blends. The first, 2008 vintage, is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot, malbec and syrah. The nose is an intriguing blend of meat, minerals, black cherry and roasted plums. On the palate, there is rich chocolate-cherry and mineral/slate with fine acidity. Drinking well, it will improve another two years.

The 2009 Furnace Mountain Red is very different, with a delicate but nervy nose like a fine pinot noir; black raspberries and violets. On the palate, it has loads of berry/cherry fruit and is clean and vibrant. A lightet red, fine for warmer weather drinking but worth laying down for 2+ years.

The 2009 reserve was the same blended base wine aged another year in barrel. The nose was much less forwardly fruity than the regular ’09, with a hint of clean earth. On the palate, the wine is round, rich and layered, a very different texture from the crisp ’09 regular. The acidity comes through in the finish, but the oak adds more depth without obnoxious vanilla flavors or tongue-coating lactones. This is a fine wine for meat or dark chocolate, and is mellow and rich enough to sip on its own.

Usually it’s not hard for me to prefer one of two wines. I couldn’t call a favorite in either of these two vertical tastings; all the wines were excellent examples of their style and vintage, and I can only urge fans of fine Virginia reds to try these comparative tastings at 8 Chains North for themselves.

Gordon Murchie, long of the Vinifera Winegrowers Association, head of the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association, and wine writer and lecturer, was given the annual Award of Merit, the society’s highest honor. Murchie was presented the award at the annual meeting of the AWS last November for his decades of work improving the regulatory environment for the wine industry and protecting public access to wine. He helped lay the groundwork for the bipartisan U.S. Congressional Wine Caucus, and was head of the Virginia Wineries Association and the National Wine Coalition.

“Being recognized for something I love doing, promoting the appreciation, history and culture of American wine, is truly an honor,” Murchie said.

At the National Conference, Dave Barber was named the AWS 2011 Outstanding Member. According to the AWS, Dave joined the AWS in 1979 and has served as Chapter Chair of the Philadelphia and Northern Virginia groups. He coordinated the 1989 Amateur Wine Competition and served as Virginia Regional Vice President for eight years. He graduated from the Wine Judge Certification Program (WJCP) in 1988 and has been an instructor in the program since 1990. He chaired the WJCP for 10 years, raising the program standards
and maintaining a rigorous curriculum. Because of his efforts, the AWS achieved a reputation for qualified wine judges and reputable wine competitions.

“One thing that I really admire in the American Wine Society is that we are a volunteer organization. In order for this type of organization to be successful in its operations, it is essential to use its core volunteers to their fullest. But then, the AWS doesn’t just work with a core of volunteers…. It requires all of its members to step up and help out where necessary. Think about this as you return to your home chapters, and even come back to future Conferences. Don’t just sit there and wait for someone else to do what needs to be done…stand up, pitch in and help the cause,” said Barber at his acceptance speech.

For more information on the American Wine Society, visit www.americanwinesociety.org

Content strategist Mary Ann Dancisin says, “Weʼre planning an ambitious campaign to reach more Virginia wine fans in 2012. New social media strategy, more interactive romotions, a visible presence at key wine festivals and trade shows – these are some of the elements weʼll employ to become the go-to source for the latest news on wine and winery-related tourism in the Commonwealth.” VWG-Online is published by Effective Communication Solutions, LLC, Dancisinʼs wine marketing firm located in Rappahannock County.

The focus of the revamped online magazine will be “to match [the consumerʼs] own preferences with the group of wineries most likely to please,” as stated in the new entityʼs Facebook profile. VWG-Onlineʼs objective is to cover all segments of Virginiaʼs wine scene: the e-zine will provide readers a clear path to finding and enjoying the wines they will love most.

For more information, contact Mary Ann Dancisin at vwg@studioecs.com or 540.937.2804.

Dennis Horton, founder of Horton Vineyards and a long time friend said, “Chris was one of the good guys in the Virginia Wine industry. You knew where you stood with Chris and he always, always, did exactly what he said he would do. I will miss him tremendously.”

In a statement the Breiner family said, “Stone Mountain Vineyards is truly a testament to the vision and hard work Chris, and our late father Al, put into their collective dream. Both men had an abundant love of agriculture and of the land. They saw the vineyards and winery as a perfect vehicle to keep the rural mountain land preserved in productive agricultural production. The family remains committed to this shared family vision. The tasting room will reopen, as scheduled, on March 2nd and regular winery operations will continue; Chris would have wanted it no other way”.

Services and interment will be private.

As evidenced in the reader comments below, Breiner made a lasting personal impact on those who remember him and his wines and the contribution he made to the Virginia wine industry.

“WHEREAS, in 2012, the Virginia Wine Industry celebrates 250 years of producing internationally recognized fine wines; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has a long and proud tradition of winemaking that traces its roots back to Colonial times, when settlers planted grape vines and made their own wines from the harvest; and

WHEREAS, several of the nation’s founding fathers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, had an interest in viticulture and enology and contributed to the development of the wine industry in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, by the 1760s, Charles Carter, son of famed Virginia landowner and former speaker of the House of Burgesses, Robert “King” Carter, had planted 1,800 vines at his estate and was producing wines from both native and European grapes; and

WHEREAS, at the time, the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (Society) in London, England, offered awards for desirable enterprises in the colonies, including vine growing and winemaking; and

WHEREAS, in 1762, Charles Carter sent the Society a dozen bottles of his wine, made from the American winter grape and white Portugal summer grapes; and

WHEREAS, the Society awarded Charles Carter a gold medal as the first person to make a “spirited attempt towards the accomplishment of their views respecting wine in America,” making his wines the first internationally recognized wines of America; and

WHEREAS, the following year, Royal Governor Francis Fauquier, the governor of the Colony of Virginia, certified that the Carter family was successfully growing European vines, the first recorded history of successful grape production with European vines in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, the Virginia Wine Industry will mark the 250th anniversary of the first internationally recognized fine wines produced in the Commonwealth as a result of Charles Carter’s award from the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia Wine Industry on the occasion of its 250th anniversary of producing internationally recognized fine wines in the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia Wine Council and Philip Carter Strother, owner of Philip Carter Winery, as an expression of the General Assembly’s congratulations and appreciation of the Virginia Wine Industry’s historic contributions to the Commonwealth’s economy and viticultural heritage.”

May 24-26, 2012 will see a series of events commemorating the 250th anniversary of Charles Carter’s recognition by the Royal Society of Fine Arts, at Philip Carter Winery near Hume,  including a cultural evening, “Of Wine & Words…the Carter Wine Legacy” at the Historic Christ Church, Lancaster County, VA (founded by the Carters) on Thursday the 24^th of May 2012.  Following on Friday the 25^th a colonial dinner paired with Philip Carter Wines will be held in Cleve Hall at the winery in Hume.  On Saturday the 26^th of May, a festive celebration will conclude the Anniversary events. http://www.pcwinery.com/calendar.html.

“This year’s nominee exceeds the Grower of the Year requirements, and then some. She is an invaluable resource to growers throughout Virginia and up and down the East Coast, and I am honored to present her with this award,” said Sec. Haymore. 

 Smith began working in Virginia vineyards in 1981, while studying horticulture at Virginia Tech. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1983. She since has been involved in planting, management and maintenance of vineyards in New York, North Carolina but primarily in Virginia. Her viticulture experience has run the gamut from vineyard laborer, manager, agricultural extension agent, consultant and sales agent for a major east coast agricultural chemical company. She has been education and research committee chair for the Virginia Vineyards Association as well as a member of the Virginia Wine Advisory Board.

“Jeanette is to be commended for the way she reaches out to our membership and shares her wealth of knowledge. She has been a tremendous supporter of the Virginia Viticulture Association members, and I, for one, would be at a loss without her Herbicide, Fungicide and Insecticide guide. Jeanette is an absolutely super person and I am sure that everyone will agree that this award is well deserved,” said Bill Tonkins, president, Virginia Vineyards Association.

Many growers in Virginia and throughout the East Coast and beyond may know her best as the brains behind VineSmith Vineyard Services.  Each year she publishes and sells her Vineyard Pest Management Tool Kit which gives growers updated, at your finger tips, information regarding the latest in fungicide, insecticide and herbicide chemical information. There are probably very few vineyards in Virginia, and the East Coast, where you can’t find this invaluable management tool tacked to the wall of the vineyard manager’s office.

 Smith, who lives in Shenandoah County, operates her own vineyard; runs VineSmith incorporated, and still finds time to consult for a number of vineyards throughout the state. She can often be found out in the vines with her trusty companion and completely spoiled beagle, Libby.

  Since 2005 The Virginia Vineyards Association has been pleased to honor one of its peers with The Grower of The Year Award. The criteria are: the nominee must be an active member of the Virginia Vineyards Association with at least seven years experience managing or operating a commercial vineyard of at least 5 acres. The nominee must be an active participant in the Virginia viticulture community with a track record of service to our industry. And last but not least, the nominee must have the respect of his or her peers.

  The Virginia Vineyards Association, incorporated in March 1983, originated in 1979/80 as a joint effort for information exchange and cooperation among viticulturists, wineries, and VPI & SU. Our goal to increase awareness and recognition of the quality and diversity of Virginia’s grapes and wines.  For more information, visit  http://www.virginiavineyardsassociation.com/

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that a newly released economic impact study shows that Virginia’s burgeoning wine industry contributes almost three-quarters of a billion dollars – or $747 million – annually to Virginia’s economy, an increase of 106 percent over the figures from the last economic impact study conducted in 2005. All major economic drivers examined in the comprehensive study showed significant double-digit percentage growth.

“The Virginia wine industry has seen tremendous growth over the last few years,” said Governor McDonnell. The 2010 Economic Impact Study of Wine and Wine Grapes on the Commonwealth of Virginia, which was completed by Frank, Rimerman + Co., was commissioned by the Virginia Wine Board (VWB) and completed in January 2011. It is the first economic impact study of the Virginia wine industry since 2005. That report showed that the Virginia wine industry employed just over 3,100 people and contributed more than $360 million to the Virginia economy on an annual basis. The study reflected the impact of approximately 130 wineries in 2005.

In comparing the figures from 2005 and 2010, the full economic impact of wine and wine grapes on the Virginia economy has more than doubled, from $362 million to $747 million, a 106 percent increase. The number of wineries increased from 129 in 2005 to 193 in 2010, a 49 percent increase. The number of full-time equivalent jobs at wineries and vineyards rose from 3,162 to 4,753, a 50 percent increase, and wages from jobs at wineries and vineyards increased from $84 million to $156 million, an 86 percent increase, during the same time period.

The report showed significant growth during the five-year period examined in the number of grape growers and grape bearing acreage as well as taxes generated for state and local governments. For example, the number of grape growers climbed from 262 to 386, a 47 percent rise over the same period. The number of grape bearing acres increased from 2000 in 2005 to 2,700 in 2010, a 35 percent climb. The amount of taxes paid to the state and to local governments grew from $21 million to $43 million, a 105 percent increase.

The study also highlights the significant impact that tourism is having on the Virginia wine industry, with the number of wine-related tourists visiting Virginia increasing from 1 million in 2005 to 1.62 million in 2010, a 62 percent increase. Expenditures related to winery tourism are up dramatically as well, with $57 million in 2005 versus $131 million in 2010, a 130 percent increase.

“The Virginia wine industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of Virginia’s diverse agricultural industry,” said Todd P. Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. “Most of the investments made, jobs created, taxes generated, and tourism driven expenditures around the wine industry are in rural areas, where they are making a big impact on local economies. This is especially good news for those regions, and the study shows what powerful economic drivers agriculture and tourism, two of Virginia’s largest industries, can be for the overall economy.”

Raising the profile of Virginia wines and wine tourism are key components of the governor’s economic development and jobs creation initiatives. The governor has promoted Virginia wines at the Virginia Executive Mansion and throughout Virginia, on domestic business recruitment visits, and on international trade and marketing missions to India, Israel, and countries in Europe and Asia. First Lady Maureen McDonnell has also incorporated wine and wine tourism promotions into her First Lady Initiative Team Effort or FLITE.

Sales of Virginia wine reached a record high in fiscal year 2011 with more than 462,000 cases, or more than 5.5 million bottles, sold. This volume marks a sales increase of more than 11 percent over the previous fiscal year. Virginia currently ranks fifth in the number of wineries in the nation with 210. Virginia is also the nation’s fifth-largest wine grape producer.

For the full 2010 Economic Impact Study of Wine and Wine Grapes on the Commonwealth of Virginia, please visit the Virginia Wine Marketing Office’s website at www.virginiawine.org/ or call 804-344-8200.

This is a small artisanal winery and this wine is a limited production of 315 cases. Maybe what I like most about it is that it’s a field blend of 75% zinfandel (just enough for legal varietal designation),   petite sirah,  carignane and  mataro/mourvedre, all head-pruned vines.  Sound familiar? That’s very similar to the varietal proportions in Ridge Vineyards’ “Geyserville” label (from which the varietal designation is deliberately removed as it’s all about the vineyard and the field blend).

This wine took awhile to open up, but when it did, I was impressed with the finesse, the expression of terroir, and the balance of components. And while the wine is a hefty 14.8% alcohol, I never noticed it; it was just another integrated component.

First, the nose; dried fruits, herbs and spices, most reminding me of fennel, sage and dried red cherries, with some white (not black) pepper. Fragrant and elegant despite the high proof! Palate: smooth entry, fine integration, no planky new oak or heavy coarse texture. Nice briar fruits, with lots of anise/licorice and then spicy black fruits and a fresh lingering finish. Who knew zinfandel (OK a blend) from Dry Creek could be this elegant at this alcohol level?  Any of you Old World terroirists out there who are skeptics about zin should look into this. It may not be still available in the 2008 vintage, but if they did so well with this I’d trust them with what else they have.

Richmond, VA – January 13, 2012 – Twenty-two awards went to Virginia wines at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition last week, including one Best in Class and one Double Gold. This competition is the largest competition of American wines in the world.

The list of winners was released on Friday, January 6th, at which point Barboursville Vineyards learned that they not only won awards for their 2010 Viognier Reserve and their 2007 Octagon, but that their 2008 Cabernet Franc Reserve won Best in Class for Cabernet Franc, the highest award within each category. The Barboursville 2008 Cabernet Franc Reserve placed above 97 other entrants in Cabernet Franc, from California, Washington, New York, and also Virginia.

Barrel Oak Vineyards also won an outstanding 5 medals for their 2009 Cabernet Franc, 2009 Petit Verdot, 2010 Chardonnay Reserve, 2010 Chardonnay, and 2010 Viognier. Within the category of Chardonnay in the $25.00-$29.99 price range, the Barrel Oak 2010 Chardonnay Reserve won a Double Gold medal out of 89 medals awarded.

Other Virginia wineries who won medals at this competition include Barren Ridge Vineyards, Doukenie Winery, Gray Ghost Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Philip Carter Winery, and Rappahannock Cellars.

The 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition set a new record for American wine competitions this year with 5,500 entries. There were 65 judges from around the country who participated in the evaluation of these wines. A public tasting of many of the winners will take place in San Francisco on February 18, 2012.

For a complete list of Virginia medals in the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, visit www.virginiawine.org/industry/documents. A full list of results can be found on http://www.winejudging.com