Twenty-two wineries based in the NoVA area claimed a total of 36 gold medals in the prestigious Virginia Governor’s Cup Awards for 2024.
The group said its panel of judges sampled more than 750 wines before awarding 138 gold medals to wineries, cideries, and meaderies. Red blends were the big winners, followed by petit verdot, and chardonnay. Albariño, a white grape varietal that many Virginia wineries are beginning to experiment with, won six gold medals — four of which went to Northern Virginia wineries.
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards in Hamilton, part of Loudoun County, was the region’s biggest winner with four gold medals. It took gold for its 2020 and 2021 Cabernet Franc, 2020 Petit Verdot, and 2022 Viognier. Michael Shaps, a renowned winemaker with his own vineyard in Charlottesville, is the winemaker for The Barns. He also won four gold medals for his Michael Shaps Wineworks entries.
Several NoVA wineries each won three gold medals, including Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, which won for its 2017 and 2019 Meritage, and 2019 The Fog Nebbiolo Reserve; Sunset Hills Vineyard in Purcellville for its 2021 Mosaic, 2022 Chardonnay, and 2022 Viognier; Granite Heights Winery in Warrenton for its 2019 Cabernet Franc, 2021 Petit Verdot, and 2022 Chardonnay; and Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton for its 2021 Petit Verdot (Williams Gap Vineyard), 2021 Tannat, and 2022 KIII.
Northern Virginia area vineyards that each took two golds include Carriage House Wineworks in Waterford, Endhardt Vineyards in Lincoln, Hillsborough Winery, Brewery & Vineyard in Hillsboro, and Three Creeks Winery in Hamilton.
The other NoVA wineries to win gold medals this year include 8 Chains North Winery in Waterford, Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg, Capstone Vineyards in Linden, Chrysalis Vineyards at The Ag District in Middleburg, Delaplane Cellars in Delaplane, Doukénie Winery in Hillsboro, Greenhill Vineyards in Middleburg, Molon Lave Vineyards in Warrenton, October One Vineyard in Leesburg, Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard in Stafford, The Wine Reserve at Waterford, Walsh Family Wine in Purcellville, and Zephaniah Farm Vineyard in Leesburg.
Not every winery submits bottles for consideration, including several vineyards that are highly respected. The Central Virginia region had the highest number of gold medals, with a total of 66. The top 12 wines that make up the Governor’s Cup Case, including the winner of the Governor’s Cup, and one cider to be named Best in Show, will be announced at a gala in Richmond on March 7.
Find all of the winners of the Virginia Governor’s Cup Awards for 2024, including those that won silver and bronze medals, at Virginia Wine’s website.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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