Though Virginia is recognized nationally as an up-and-coming wine region, it’s still hard to find more than a small section of state-made bottles at local wine shops. But through direct conversations with customers, shopkeepers are doing their part to sell local wine.
“Virginia wines sell on their reputation,” says Jennifer Witebsky, wine buyer for UnWined’s Belle View shop in Alexandria. “Customers often unintentionally apply their unique impressions to all Virginia wines, which is natural but can be unfair. It’s the biggest challenge with selling them.”
At the 10-year-old store, Witebsky hones in on the experience of local wine—the grape varietals, the winemaker’s approach in this environment—when discussing one of the more than 25 shelved Virginia bottles.
“There is very little recognition for it outside of the state,” says curator of Del Ray’s Planet Wine Joe Kulp about Virginia-sourced labels. “If people don’t hear or read about it, they are suspicious of it.” He often bends the conversation toward Virginia’s wine country.
If a customer likes Champagne, says Kulp, “but doesn’t want to pay Champagne prices, I steer them towards Thibaut-Janisson,” the Charlottesville winery’s Champagne-style sparkler using 100% Virginia-grown Chardonnay grapes. For rosé, Kulp suggests Early Mountain’s version, which he says is “fruity, but dry,” and for cabernet franc, he references a bottle from Pollack Vineyards outside of Charlottesville. “Even just by mentioning the wines as something that suits their needs sparks the conversation about Virginia wines,” says Kulp.
For Virginia natives, the interest can come naturally from visits to one of the more than 300 vineyards in the commonwealth, especially in the fall during the release of new vintages. This season, Kulp will push Barbera Reserve from Barboursville and cult-favorite RdV Vineyards Friends and Family, if Kulp can get his hands on it.
Virginia, says Witebsky, is a “younger wine industry, so we are currently watching it evolve, seemingly rapidly, and that’s wonderful.” // UnWined: 1600 Belle View Blvd., Alexandria; Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, noon- 5 p.m.; Planet Wine: 2000 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria; Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
Looking to find Virginia wine in your local neighborhood? Here, we share where to find it throughout the Northern Virginia region.
La Fromagerie
Where: 1222 King St., Alexandria
When: Wednesday-Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Wine producers: Glen Manor Vineyards, Early Mountain Vineyards, Michael Shaps Wineworks
Wine Gallery 108
Where: 108 N. Patrick St., Alexandria
When: Monday-Tuesday, 4-8 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
Wine producers: 868 Estate Vineyards, Chestnut Oak Vineyard
Department of Beer and Wine
Where: 2724 Richmond Highway, Alexandria
When: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
What: Early Mountain Vineyards, Gadino Cellars, Glen Manor Vineyards
Arrowine & Cheese
Where: 4508 Lee Highway, Arlington
When: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wine producers: Linden Vineyards, Michael Shaps Wineworks, Glen Manor Vineyards
Crystal City Wine Shop
Where: 220 20th St. S., Arlington
When: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wine producers: Stinson Vineyards, Ox-Eye Vineyards, Ankida Ridge Vineyards
Screw Top Wine Bar
Where: 1025 N. Fillmore St., Arlington
When: Monday, 5-10 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Wine producers: Early Mountain Vineyards, Rosemont of Virginia Winery
The Wine Attic
Where: 7145 Main St., Unit-2A, Clifton
When: Monday-Sunday, noon-8 p.m.
Wine producers: Three Fox Vineyards (coming this winter)
The Wine House
Where: 3950 University Drive, Suite 212, Fairfax
When: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Wine producers: Linden Vineyards, Glen Manor Vineyards, RdV Vineyards
City Vino
Where: 810 Caroline St., Suite 101, Fredericksburg
When: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
Wine producers: Barboursville Vineyards, Barren Ridge Vineyards, Bluestone Vineyards
Crafted Beer & Wine Shop
Where: 3511 James Madison Highway, Haymarket
When: Wednesday-Friday, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, noon-7 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
Wine producers: Sunset Hills Vineyard, LLC, Pearmund Cellars, Granite Heights Winery
Cheestique
Where: locations vary
When: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Wine producers: Chestnut Oak Vineyard
The Whole Ox Butcher Shop
Where: 8357 W. Main St., Marshall
When: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wine producers: Rockbridge Vineyard, Lovingston Winery, White Hall Vineyards
Gentle Harvest
Where: 8372 W. Main St., Marshall
When: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wine producers: Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery, Rappahannock Cellars, Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
Chain Bridge Cellars
Where: 1351 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
When: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wine producers: Barboursville Vineyards, Early Mountain Vineyards, Linden Vineyards
Locke Store
Where: 2049 Millwood Road, Millwood
When: Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wine producers: Ox-Eye Vineyards, Pearmund Cellars, Breaux Vineyards
Bottle Stop Wine Bar
Where: 311 Mill St., Occoquan
When: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Wine producers: Barboursville Vineyards, Linden Vineyards, Jefferson Vineyards
Oakton Wine Shop and Bistro
Where: 2952 Chain Bridge Road, Oakton
When: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wine producers: Gray Ghost Vineyards, Barboursville Vineyards, Linden Vineyards
The Wine Cabinet
Where: 1416 North Point Village Center, Reston
When: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wine producers: RdV Vineyards, Gray Ghost Vineyards, Thibaut-Janisson Winery
Vienna Vintner
Where: 320 Maple Ave. E., Unit-F, Vienna
When: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Wine producers: White Hall Vineyards, Granite Heights Winery, Glen Manor Vineyards
Norm’s Beer & Wine
Where: 136 Branch Road SE, Vienna
When: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wine producers: Early Mountain Vineyards, Barboursville Vineyards, Gray Ghost Vineyards
This post originally appeared in our October 2019 cover story. To get more food & drink news straight to your inbox, subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.
