Pitch A Story To Virginia Wine Market: A Best-Practice Guide for Wine Writers

Clear standards, smart angles, and timelines that land

VirginiaWineMarket.com publishes service-driven stories that help readers navigate Virginia wine country. Strong pitches show why the idea matters now, how it serves readers, and what fresh reporting you will bring. The framework below blends our house style with widely accepted industry standards used by leading wine publications. It will help you shape timely, reported, and reader-first ideas that earn assignments.

What we publish

• Features and profiles. Narrative, reported pieces on winemakers, growers, innovators, and communities. Target 1,000 to 1,400 words.
• Travel guides and itineraries. Map-friendly routes with logistics, distances, and planning tips. Target 900 to 1,300 words.
• Tasting roundups and buyer’s guides. Comparative tastings or themed lists with concise notes, pricing, and availability. Target 600 to 1,000 words, about 40 to 80 words per bottle.
• Food pairings. Seasonal, practical matches with simple techniques and ingredient notes. Target 700 to 1,000 words.
• News and openings. Verified updates about notable launches, expansions, and closures. Target 300 to 600 words.
• How-to and education. Service pieces on storage, glassware, serving temperatures, and tasting skills. Target 700 to 1,000 words.

What we expect, and how we apply it

• Clear thesis and reader value. Lead with the angle in one sentence. Spell out the promise to the reader and the reporting you will do.
• Timeliness. Anchor ideas to a peg. Seasonal travel windows, releases, or vintage shifts. For seasonal content, pitch at least a month ahead of the moment you want to hit.
• No PR rewrites or “hashtag-holiday” pitches. Bring reporting and analysis. Avoid press-release summaries and novelty holidays.
• Evidence and attribution. Fact-check names, titles, places, vineyards, vintages, and prices. Attribute non-obvious facts to documents or on-the-record sources.
• Ethical transparency. Disclose comps and tasting context to editors before acceptance. If samples or admissions are complimentary, we note that in internal records.
• Blind tasting literacy. For buyer’s guides, understand widely used approaches to blind tasting, scoring bands, and how panels reconcile scores.

How to pitch Virginia Wine Market

• Subject line. Use a crisp identifier such as “Pitch: Blue Ridge Sparkling Weekend, winter window, service forward.”
• Open with the thesis. One or two sentences that state the angle and reader takeaway.
• Why now, why here. Give the time peg and the Virginia specificity. Name counties, AVAs, and producers.
• Reporting plan. List three to five sources you intend to interview, including at least one independent voice beyond the featured winery.
• Format and scope. Note section fit, estimated word count, any sidebars, map concepts, bottle callouts, or data you will compile.
• Clips and bio. Share two or three relevant samples and a two-sentence bio with location and expertise.
• Availability. State a realistic reporting window and any travel constraints.
• Follow-up. If you have not heard back in two weeks, a brief nudge in the original thread is welcome.

Editorial voice and style

• Journalistic, warm, and useful. Avoid hype. Serve the reader’s planning or purchasing decision.
• Plain English. Explain technical terms on first use. Keep sentences clean and active.
• Structure. Use informative subheads and short paragraphs. End with actionable takeaways.

Reporting standards we enforce

• Verification. Confirm proper nouns and quantitative details with primary sources before filing.
• Balance. Include context and counterpoints where relevant. Avoid single-source conclusions.
• Tasting integrity. Disclose tasting conditions to the editor. Keep notes contemporaneous and consistent.
• Corrections. If something is wrong, tell us immediately. We correct and update transparently.

Photography and visuals

• Specs. Horizontal images at 2,000 pixels on the long edge or larger, with captions and photographer credit.
• Rights. Submit photos you created or have permission to license. Confirm model and property clearances when identifiable.
• Alt text. Provide descriptive alt text for accessibility and search.
• Maps and data. For routes and buyer’s guides, include simple map concepts or sortable bottle tables.

Virginia-focused story ideas that fit

• Feature. “How Frost-Fighting Is Reshaping Spring in the Shenandoah Valley.” Stakes across multiple counties, on-site reporting, agronomy voices.
• Profile. “The Vineyard Manager Behind Virginia’s Most Surprising Cabernet Francs.” Site decisions and measurable outcomes.
• Travel. “A Blue Ridge Sparkling Weekend.” Back-roads itinerary, drive times, reservation tips, and three bottle stops.
• Buyer’s Guide. “Virginia Rosé Under $25.” Clear method, blind tasting notes, availability, and food matches.
• Education. “Viognier Beyond Aromatics.” Fermentation choices, oak vs. stainless, and serve-well advice for home tables.
• Food Pairing. “Chesapeake Seafood and Shenandoah Whites.” Seasonal recipes, substitutions, and sustainability notes.

What we do like to see in a story idea

• Service first. We prize guides and features that answer the questions readers ask before they drive to a tasting room or click “add to cart.”
• Local relevance. Anchor every pitch in a place, producer list, or subregion and make the utility obvious for Virginia readers.
• Transparent tasting. When compiling bottle lists, note tasting context in your draft and avoid pay-to-play dynamics.
• Seasonal lead time. Pitch travel and release-driven ideas far enough ahead to secure on-site access and photography.

What we do not like to see in a story

• Advertorial or promotional copy disguised as editorial.
• Event listings without reporting or service value.
• Generic “best of” lists without method or sourcing.
• Unverified claims about quality, health, or sustainability.

How to Contact Us

When you are ready to pitch us your story idea you can reach out using the Contact Us form in the footer below, or email us directly with your questions to editor@winemarketventures.com

Want to write for VirginiaWineMarket.com? Use this guide to shape sharp, timely pitches and explore our latest coverage to calibrate tone and service, then contact us with your story ideas using the Contact Us link in the page footer below.