Guides to Wine

Wine can be pure celebration with friends, or it can be a quiet, focused moment in your glass. This guide explains the difference between drinking and tasting, then walks through a simple five step method you can use at any Virginia winery. Arrive ready to enjoy the day and get more out of every pour.

Pinot Noir is a cool-climate classic that thrives in a handful of Virginia’s highest, breeziest sites. Here is how it tastes here, how to serve and pair it, and the producers to know—including houses crafting traditional-method sparkling wines with Pinot Noir.

Virginia’s sparkling wines now rival beloved Old World bottles. This guide explains how they are made, who makes them, what to pair with them, and how to pour like a pro for New Year’s.

The Virginia Governor’s Cup Gala returns to Richmond on March 12, 2026. Tickets are on sale now for an evening of Gold Medal wines, chef-paired bites, and the live unveiling of the Governor’s Cup Case. Secure your spot before it sells out.

A standout holiday party starts with a cheese board that looks like art and tastes like celebration. Use this step by step guide to select five essential cheese styles, match them with crowd pleasing Virginia wines, and finish with festive accents guests will talk about well into the new year.

If Virginia wine nights have filled a drawer with corks, consider this your stylish solution. From quick coasters to heirloom-worthy wreaths, here are beautiful, doable ways to repurpose corks at home. For inspiration, look to Gray Ghost Vineyards’ legendary cork artistry, then make something delightfully your own.

Albariño has crashed Virginia’s white-wine party in the best way. Clean citrus, seaside snap, and just enough stone fruit to make your heart flutter. Let’s toast the 2025 Governor’s Cup golds proving this Spanish original has a serious Virginia accent.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with perfectly paired Virginia wines! Discover expert tips on pairing soft Merlot with roasted turkey, zesty Albariño with creamy sides, and floral Viognier with spiced sweet potato casserole. Highlighting Barboursville, Horton, and Early Mountain Vineyards, this guide ensures every dish shines alongside Virginia’s top wines. Make your Thanksgiving unforgettable with local wine pairings that elevate your holiday feast.
 

Viognier is the white that seduces with perfume before a sip ever hits the lips. Apricot, peach, honeysuckle, and a hint of ginger define its signature style. In Virginia, this grape has become a calling card for wineries that favor richly textured, dry whites.

Petit Verdot is one of Virginia’s quiet powerhouses. This late-ripening Bordeaux grape delivers saturated color, floral aromatics, firm tannin, and structure that make it a favorite for both blending and varietal bottlings in the Commonwealth.