Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Board
Looking for a last-minute gift?
The holiday season provides a great opportunity to include Virginia wine in your celebrations, whether you’re giving a gift, planning a party, or ringing in the New Year.
When you uncork a Virginia wine, you’ll be showcasing bounty from the state’s burgeoning wine industry while also supporting local producers – the fellow Virginians who grow the grapes, tend the vines, and make the wine.
Drink Local and Give Local
You can find exceptional wines at more than 350 wineries across the Commonwealth to fit any taste – red, white, rosé, or sparkling. You can pick up bottles right at the winery, or you can have them shipped.
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Board
You can find exceptional wines at more than 350 wineries across the Commonwealth to fit any taste.
If you want to purchase bottles in person – and perhaps enjoy a tasting while you’re there – many wineries are easily accessible from the Alexandria area. The Northern Virginia wine region ranges from Mount Vernon to Skyline Drive to Harper’s Ferry, and it’s home to roughly 100 wineries. It includes the Middleburg American Viticultural Area (AVA), with wineries in Fauquier and Loudoun counties. Other nearby wine regions include the Eastern Shore, Chesapeake Bay, and Shenandoah Valley.
You can find a complete list of Virginia wineries at the Virginia Wine website, where you can filter by location and by the wine style you’re looking for.
In addition, you can buy a wide selection of Virginia wines at Virginia ABC, which can be picked up at specified stores.
For something unique, consider reaching out to your favorite winery for an older vintage or a custom gift. Many Virginia wineries also have wine clubs with special pricing and events, so a membership can make a thoughtful gift that keeps giving throughout the year.
A Collab with the Virginia First Lady
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Board
The latest edition of a limited-release wine collaboration between First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and an award-winning Virginia winemaker is now available — just in time for holiday celebrations.
For a special bottle, you could opt for the latest edition of a limited-release wine collaboration between First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and an award-winning Virginia winemaker.
Known as Cornus Virginicus, the wine honors Virginia agriculture – and supports youth scholarships. Its name is Latin for “flowering tree of Virginia” and pays tribute to the Commonwealth’s official state flower and tree, the dogwood.
Cornus Virginicus III is now available for purchase online through Virginia ABC and Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery, which created the red blend. Purchasers have the option to pick up their wine at a selected Virginia ABC location or directly from the winery. In addition, bottles can be shipped from the winery.
The previous edition of Cornus Virginicus was made by Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg, and it is also available from Virginia ABC.
An Award-Winning Experience
Tickets are on sale now for biggest annual event in the Virginia wine world – the Virginia Governor's Cup Gala. It’s one of the most stringent competitions in the United States, hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association.
The 2025 event will be held March 13 in Richmond at the Main Street Station. In 2024, more than 750 wines from across the Commonwealth were entered in the competition. Of those, 137 received Gold Medals, with the highest 12 ranking wines comprising the Governor's Cup Case – and one bottle took home the coveted Governor's Cup.
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Board
Tickets are on sale now for the Virginia Governor's Cup Gala.
That announcement of the 2025 winners will be made by Governor Glenn Youngkin at the annual gala, and the public is invited to join the festivities. Find all the details about purchasing tickets here.
In addition, wineries offer cozy experiences throughout the winter months, from seasonal tastings to special events. Treat someone to a memorable outing – or plan a trip together. Explore winter winery events here.
A Toast to the New Year
An increasing number of Virginia wineries are making sparkling wines. So when you’re looking for a bottle of bubbly, think local.
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Board
Get ready to ring in the New Year with a sparkling wine.
Just as the red and white wines from across the Commonwealth are diverse, so are the sparkling wines. You’ll find sparklers made from a wide assortment of grape varieties and reflecting a wide range of production methods. Wineries are producing everything from traditional Champagne-style wines to refreshingly natural Pét-Nat wines.
More than 50 Virginia wineries produce sparkling wines, and that number is growing. When you’re ready to pop the cork, discover Virginia bubbles here for your next celebration.
