We asked a panel of wine experts—educators, shopkeepers, restaurant owners—to name their favorite Virginia wines. These bottles haven’t necessarily won the most awards or are the most impressive bottles, but they are personal favorites for anything from a special occasion to a night on the back porch with friends. Because, if there’s one thing to remember about wine, any night is a good night for a good bottle.
This post originally appeared in our October 2019 cover story. To get more food & drink content sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.
Panel
Rita Allan, Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3, owner of City Vino in Fredericksburg
Richard Carson, WSET Level 2, specialist of fine wine at Arrowine & Cheese in Arlington
Joseph Kulp, manager of Planet Wine in Alexandria
Fran Kysela, Court of Master Sommeliers, owner of Kysela Pere et Fils, LTD. in Winchester
Jason Maddens, Court of Master Sommeliers, Level 2, owner of AhSo Restaurant in Brambleton
Jason Miller, WSET Advanced Certificate, owner of The Wine Kitchen in Leesburg
Kasia Tomecka, WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits, WSET Cerfidied Educator, Certified Sherry Specialist, wine educator at Capital Wine School
Neal Wavra, proprietor of Field & Main Restaurant in Marshall
Reds
Granite Heights Winery Lomax Reserve 2012
“This is a big red blend with lots of complexity.” –Rita Allen // 8141 Opal Road, Warrenton; $36
Paradise Springs Winery Meritage 2015
“Expertly produced by one of the state’s most accomplished winemakers (it’s a 2019 Governor’s Cup Case Winner) and exhibiting dark fruits and finessed tannins, while brilliantly showcasing integrated blending at its finest using four Bordeaux grapes. You can hold it through 2025.” –Richard Carson // 13219 Yates Ford Road, Clifton; $49
Delaplane Cellars Springlot Red 2016
“Year in and year out, this wine is a personal favorite thanks to the elegant, finessed profile. The wine drinks silky in its youth and ages beautifully. I have a few bottles set aside from the year my eldest daughter was born.” –Neal Wavra // 2187 Winchester Road, Delaplane; $52
Paradise Springs Winery Petit Verdot 2016
“This beautifully rich, dark wine has a great nose of blueberry and fresh blackberries, with tannin structure that is bold but not overly drying.” –Kasia Tomecka // 13219 Yates Ford Road, Clifton; $35
RdV Vineyards Friends and Family 2016
“It has everything—black cherry and currant flavors are firmly structured with a graphite minerality—and can be enjoyed immediately on opening. The quality of the wine is worth a try. If you can find it.” –Joseph Kulp // 2550 Delaplane Grade Road, Delaplane; $40
Walsh Family Wine En Passant 2016
“A wine of cool flavors and puzzling complexity, it’s richly textured with a great blend of tannins and crispness, offering a wine perfectly at home with a burger Tuesday night or duck a l’orange when the in-laws come over for Saturday dinner.”
-Jason Miller // 16031 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville; $32
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard Three Captains Red 2015
“Featuring grapes that thrive in Virginia—chambourcin and cabernet franc—this wine is well-balanced and full of value.” –Jason Maddens // 9381 Dunlop Mill Road, Leesburg; $28
Boxwood Estate Winery Topiary 2016
“A strong fruit character leads subtle hints of graphite, challenging the norms of merlot-based Bordeaux blends with its lively fruitiness and a lengthy and full-bodied finish.”
-Fran Kysela // 2042 Burrland Lane, Middleburg; $31
Whites
Rappahannock Cellars Chardonnay-Viognier 2017
“A balanced wine—flavors of cantaloupe, melon and pineapple, with a kiss of oak and a pleasant finish—that pairs well with many foods or just a warm afternoon.” –Rita Allen // 14437 Hume Road, Huntly; $28
Slater Run Vineyards Blanc de Blancs Sparkling 2016
“Delicious notes of crisp apple and brioche with bright acidity and finish.” –Richard Carson // 1500 Crenshaw Road, Upperville; $42
Chrysalis Vineyards Albarino Verde 2018
“This verde-style albarino adds a touch of effervescence which makes it even more fun and inviting. It is the ideal dry, aromatic and refreshing white wine.” –Kasia Tomecka // 39025 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg; $24
Linden Vineyards Avenius Sauvignon Blanc 2017
“I have enjoyed this wine each vintage for over a decade, even serving it at my wedding. The vines now are over 20 years old and are producing a wine with layers of texture and a density that is compelling.” –Neal Wavra // 3708 Harrels Corner Road, Linden; $36
Linden Vineyards Hardscrabble Chardonnay 2015
“Immediately you taste yellow apples, but the lingering finish and modest tannins produce a subtle honeyed characteristic that reminds you there was a very judicious use of oak. It shows the high quality that Virginia whites can achieve, and convert your friend that says they don’t like chardonnay.” -Joseph Kulp // 3708 Harrels Corner Road, Linden; $42
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard Viognier 2016
“A wine of quiet confidence. With notes of apple, orange blossom and beeswax, it creates an ethereal nose while strong structure keeps the finish firmly grounded, so the wine doesn’t get too big of a head.” –Jason Miller // 19381 Dunlop Mill Road, Leesburg; $30
Casanel Vineyards & Winery White Spark Blanc de Blancs 2015
“A pet project by Casanel to create the first 100% chardonnay sparkling wine in Loudoun County, this wine has all of the qualities of a Champagne, from mouthfeel to finish.”
–Jason Maddens // 17956 Canby Road, Leesburg; $60
Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng 2017
“This dry style of petit manseng highlights the wine’s natural, crisp acidity.” –Fran Kysela // 6190 Georgetown Road, Broad Run; $24
Rosé, Dessert and the Rest
Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard La Bella Vie Rosé 2017
“Juicy and mouthwatering, this wine finishes clean with refreshing acidity.” –Rita Allen // 275 Decatur Road, Stafford; $16
Walsh Family Wine Twin Notch Rosé 2018
“Beautifully made cabernet franc rosé from a skilled winegrower and winemaker at his new winery in Purcellville, this shows bright acidity with notes of cherry and a clean spicy finish.” -Richard Carson // 16031 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville; $26
Glen Manor Vineyards Raephus 2015
“Jeff White pays homage to his family with each wine he produces from the vineyard that is sited on the farm that has been in his family for over 100 years. This late-harvest petit manseng showcases how well this grape grows in Virginia. The sweet honeyed nectar is luscious and electric. If you can manage to save some, it ages remarkably well.” –Neal Wavra //2244 Browntown Road, Front Royal; $35
Linden Vineyards Late Harvest Petit Manseng 2014
“Many are shying away from sweeter wines, but to me, there isn’t much better than a stinky blue cheese and late harvest-style petit manseng. A gorgeous intense nose full of tropical fruit, but with great acid making it pleasantly sweet without being cloying.” -Kasia Tomecka // 3708 Harrels Corner Road, Linden; $28
Tarara Winery Viognier 2015
“Customers think of viognier as the white wine of Virginia. Tarara’s has aromatics and flavors of over-ripe tree fruit with just a hint of petrol. Your out-of-state friends will be impressed by the quality.” -Joseph Kulp // 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg; $27
Fabbioli Cellars Raspberry Merlot
“Just sweet enough, like your best friend’s grandmother. It’s light and refreshing for a dessert wine with notes of raspberries that blend with the acid of a well-made red wine. We enjoy ours with copious amounts of chocolate.” –Jason Miller // 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg; $24
Walsh Family Wine Petillant Naturel Rosé 2018
“Made from Walsh’s Twin Notch Vineyard cabernet franc, picked early and bottled before fully fermented, this pet nat rosé showcases the flavor of the grape, remains dry and has slight refreshing effervescence.” –Jason Maddens // 16031 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville; $35
Sunset Hills Vineyard Dusk 2014
“Chambourcin has proven to be a great varietal for this port-style wine. Dusk was aged partially in whiskey barrels to give an edgier approach to such a concentrated wine.”
–Fran Kysel // 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville; $35
