Category Archives: Virginia

The RdV Salon Experience

RdV Vineyards has helped raise the national profile of Virginia wine since it offered its first wines for sale two years ago.  But vintner Rutger de Vink has always chafed at the marketing side of wine, acknowledging freely that he … Continue reading

Posted in Eastern US, Local Wine, Virginia, Wine | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Drink Local Wine 2013 – in Baltimore April 13

You can drink local wine any day, but you should Drink Local Wine on April 13. Okay, punning aside, the annual Drink Local Wine conference is fast approaching. After convening in Texas, Virginia, Missouri and Colorado, we are converging on … Continue reading

Posted in DrinkLocalWine.com, Eastern US, Local Wine, Maryland, Virginia, Wine | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Barboursville Earns Top Bling for 2009 Octagon

Virginia’s wine industry gave itself its annual report card Thursday, and Barboursville Vineyards was named valedictorian – its 2009 Octagon red blend won the Governor’s Cup. The trophy was presented to Barboursville winemaker Luca Paschina by Gov. Robert McDonnell tonight … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Competitions, Eastern US, Local Wine, Maryland, Sparkling Wine, Uncategorized, Virginia, Wine | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Virginia’s record wine sales show the Old Dominion’s for real

Maybe this regional wine thing is for real after all. Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell announced this week that Virginia wineries sold nearly 485,000 cases of wine in 2012, a new record. Virginia wine sales have risen by an average of … Continue reading

Posted in Local Wine, Parker, Virginia, Wine | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Inauguration Whine: Me Donner Un Break!

Yes, that’s right, “Give me a break!” President Obama is making headlines again in the silly little oenosphere (a word I just made up) because Korbel will be the featured bubbly at the inauguration luncheon at the U.S. Capitol after … Continue reading

Posted in Champagne, Eastern US, Merlot, New York, Rants, Riesling, Sparkling Wine, Uncategorized, Virginia, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A fantastic holiday pairing, and it wasn’t even wine

Thanksgiving at my house has become a two-day bacchanal, though probably not quite like this one enjoyed by my friends at First Vine Wines. On Wednesday, my mother-in-law, Sheila Chang, cooked up a Chinese feast for 11, during which we … Continue reading

Posted in Local Wine, Virginia, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

It all begins with an idea …

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History will unveil a new exhibit next week called “FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000.” A major part of this exhibit – which anyone who eats or drinks should visit – covers the … Continue reading

Posted in California, DrinkLocalWine.com, Eastern US, Food and Drink, Local Wine, Regional Wine Week, Virginia, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Steven Spurrier on American wines

During my interview with Steven Spurrier at the Virginia Wine Summit in Richmond earlier this month, I asked him about his impressions of U.S. wines, 36 years after his famous Paris tasting put California on the world wine map. The … Continue reading

Posted in California, Local Wine, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Washington Post, Wine, writers | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Virginia wins a key British endorsement

Steven Spurrier came to Virginia and liked what he saw — and what he tasted. “Virginia makes the kind of wines I like to drink,” Spurrier said at the inaugural Virginia Wine Summit held in Richmond earlier this month. Coming … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Eastern US, Local Wine, Virginia, Washington Post, Wine, writers | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Oh well, back to blogging …

Fall has turned cold. It’s definitely football weather. And apple cider weather, too. Apples are at their best this time of year, so I eat many more than in other seasons. Cider, of course, is not as perishable – that’s … Continue reading

Posted in Eastern US, Local Wine, Virginia, Washington Post | Tagged , , | 2 Comments