Another big win for Matthieu Finot and King Family Vineyards

By Frank Morgan, originally published on Drink What YOU Like

At the Monticello Wine Awards celebration in Charlottesville this evening, the 2019 Monticello Cup was presented to Matthieu Finot and the team at King Family Vineyards for their 2016 Mountain Plains.

A blend of cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot, Mountain Plains is named for a deed drafted in 1773 by Thomas Jefferson to transfer ownership of a land grant. King Family Vineyards sits on part of the land included in that grant.

Last night, the 2019 Annual Virginia Governor’s Cup Gala was held at Richmond’s Main Street Station. After 102 wineries submitted more than 500 wines, an esteemed panel of 18 judges selected 68 Gold Medal winning wines to be celebrated at this year’s gala. Locals, Afton Mountain Vineyards, Barboursville Vineyards, DelFosse Vineyards and Winery, Early Mountain Vineyards, Horton Vineyards, Jefferson Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, King Family Vineyards, Trump Winery, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, Brix & Columns Vineyards and Virginia Wineworks all made the prestigious list, showcasing the true talent coming out of our local wine region.

Monticello Wine Region Expanding into Fluvanna

By Bryan McKenzie, originally published by The Daily Progress

Joined by soil and climate, a portion of Fluvanna County has been added to the official Monticello grape-growing region and has pulled in two county vineyards and wineries along with it.

The Monticello American Viticultural Area is expanding its 1,320 square miles with 166 square miles of Fluvanna County. That includes the Cunningham Creek Winery at Middle Fork Farm, near Palmyra, and Thistle Gate Vineyard, near Scottsville.

The area, known as an AVA, includes most of Albemarle County and portions of Nelson, Orange and Greene counties. It’s one of the oldest wine-making regions in the state and in the nation, and it is now home to 35 vineyards and wineries.

The Two Unsung Grapes Putting Virginia Wine on the Map

Petit Manseng and Petit Verdot may not be household names yet, but a group of Virginia winemakers are looking to change that.

By Carrie Dykes, originally published by Wine Ethusiast

While California undoubtedly produces excellent wine, it's got stiff competition these days. The United States is as of 2016 home to 238 American Viticultural Areas, or AVAs–grape-growing regions designated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. We asked a panel of wine industry experts to pick their favorite American wine regions. Vote for your favorite out of this pool of 20 nominees once per day until voting ends on Monday, August 20 at noon ET.