Photo courtesy of the Virginia Wine Board
The top 12 wines, including the winner of the prestigious Governor's Cup, will be announced March 12 at the Virginia Governor’s Cup Gala in Richmond.
The first results have been announced in Virginia’s biggest annual wine competition — and the record-breaking numbers underscore how the industry continues to grow in both size and quality.
This year’s event reached a new milestone as 156 Virginia producers entered 677 wines, ciders and meads for the annual Governor’s Cup competition. Following multiple rounds of judging, 224 gold medals have been presented to 113 producers.
While these winning wines come from across the Commonwealth, more than a third of them are from the Northern Virginia wine region — within easy driving distance of Alexandria.
You can find a complete list of all the medal-winning wines on the Virginia Wine website.
Photo courtesy of the Virginia Wine Board
The top 12 wines, including the winner of the prestigious Governor's Cup, will be announced March 12 at the Virginia Governor’s Cup Gala in Richmond.
The next stage in the competition will be March 12 at the sold-out Virginia Governor’s Cup Gala at Main Street Station in Richmond. At that event, the top 12 wines comprising this year’s Governor’s Cup Case will be unveiled, culminating in the highest scoring wine taking home the prestigious Governor’s Cup.
Now in its 44th year, the Virginia Governor's Cup is widely regarded as one of the most stringent competitions in the United States in terms of its judging process and criteria. With a record number of entries, 2026 is among the most competitive years in the event's history.
The competition is organized by the Virginia Wineries Association in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association. It’s open only to wines and ciders that are made from 100 percent Virginia-grown fruit, a key factor in maintaining the high standards.
For the third consecutive year, Frank Morgan served as director of Judging. A longtime Virginia wine writer and Governor's Cup judge, Morgan noted the unprecedented scale and caliber of this year’s competition.
“It is an honor to serve as director of Judging for the Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition,” he said. “This role provides a front-row seat to the ambition and growth of wine quality across the state. The 2026 competition marks another record-setting year, with more wineries participating than ever before.”
A Rigorous Process with World-Class Judges
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Board
In the 2026 Governor's Cup competition, 224 gold medals have been awarded to 113 Virginia producers, including many in Northern Virginia.
Morgan also praised the extraordinary volunteers and distinguished judges who make the annual event possible — including several Masters of Wine and a Master Sommelier, both of which are the highest certifications in the industry, along with accomplished writers and respected wine professionals from across the industry.
These judges evaluate the wine entries during two separate rounds of judging, using a 100-point scoring system. Once the judging is complete, the average wine score is used to determine if it qualifies for a medal. A wine must score 90 points or higher to earn a gold medal.
From those gold medal winners, the 12 highest ranking wines will become the Governor's Cup Case, with the top wine earning the Governor’s Cup distinction — which will be announced March 12.
Gold Medals Reflect the Sweep of Virginia Wine
In total, more than 25 grape varieties from seven regions and nine vintages are represented among this year’s gold medal winners. Here’s a by-the-numbers look:
Wine regions: Gold medalists represented seven of Virginia’s 10 wine regions. Central Virginia accounted for 43 percent of gold medal-winning producers, followed by Northern Virginia with 37 percent, and the Shenandoah Valley with 14 percent.
Wine style: Red wines dominated the competition, earning 62 percent of gold medals, while white wines accounted for 31 percent.
Grape varietals: Gold medals went to wines made from more than 25 grape varieties. Meritage red blends garnered 50 gold medals. That was followed by Cabernet Franc with 30, Chardonnay with 19, Merlot with 15, and Petit Manseng with 14.
Wine vintages: The gold medal wines spanned nine vintages, representing the year the grapes were harvested. More than half of the gold medals were awarded to wines from the most recent vintages submitted, with the 2023 vintage accounting for 38 percent of those.
Apple cider: In addition to the winning wines, Virginia ciders claimed 10 gold medals. One of those will be named Cider of the Year at the Governor’s Cup Gala.
Photo courtesy of author
Jane Fullerton Lemons
Jane Fullerton Lemons is a Virginia-based writer and recovering Washington journalist focused on wine and travel. A 2026 fellow at the Wine Writers Symposium in Napa Valley, she shares stories of the people and places behind the bottles, while also helping American consumers understand agriculture and how it impacts their lives. You can follow her work here.
