Virginia's Wine Women Come of Age

 January 27, 2025

In 2022, Melanie Natoli made history. The winemaker at Cana Vineyards in Middleburg became the first woman to craft the winning wine in Virginia’s prestigious Governor’s Cup competition since it was redesigned in 2012. She was joined on stage by Maggie Malick (Maggie Malick Cave Wines) and Rachel Stinson Vrooman (Stinson Vineyards), whose wines also made the Governor’s Cup Case. Natoli aptly observed that, two years ago, there number of women standing among the crafters of Virginia's top 12 wines was zero.

Maggie Malick (l) and Rachel Stinson Vrooman (r) join Melanie Natoli on center stage at the 2022 Virginia Governor's Cup Gala

Emily Hodson of Veritas receives Rich Smith Award 

January 2025 was a big month for Emily Hodson, head winemaker at Veritas Vineyards. Her 2023 Reserve Chardonnay was served at the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon. She earned Best in Class awards at the San Franciso Chronicle Wine Competition for both her 2023 Sauvignon Blanc and her 2023 Monticello White plus four additional golds. To top it off, Emily received the Rich Smith Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the American grape and wine industry. 

The wine world, and not just in Virginia, is beginning to take notice of the women making their mark in our exciting wine region.  

Nancy Bauer, founder of Virginia Women in Wine,
shares the love with Virginia Wine Dog Ecco

And if they haven’t noticed, Nancy Bauer will make certain that they do. Last year, the founder of Virginia Wine Love launched Virginia Women in Wine (VWW). Inspired by the growing recognition of the leading role women are taking in the wine and hospitality industries, the organization’s mission is to strengthen Virginia's wine industry through women-led media and marketing ventures, networking opportunities, and support for projects to raise the bar for women in Virginia wine. 

In conjunction with Women’s History Month this March, Virginia Women in Wine will publish an exciting study, Closing the Gender Gap in Winemaking. VWW also is sponsoring a wine trail from March 14-31, with events showcasing women winemakers, growers, and leaders of the Birthplace of American Wine. 

Women may not have been among the wine pioneers in Jamestown or at Mr. Jefferson’s Monticello, but women certainly have been up to their elbows in Virginia wine since practically the beginning of the modern era. 

Lucie Morton and Biscotti
(Photo by Dave McIntyre)

Lucie Morton began planting grapes in Virginia in the early 1970s. Today, she is among the East Coast’s leading viticulturalists and advises on where and what to plant in vineyards across the state and throughout the region. Morton received is the Virginia Wineries Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the American Wine Society National Merit Awards and was named one of Wine Industry Network’s most inspiring people in 2021.

VA Wine Pioneer Juanita Swedenburg

Juanita Swedenburg was among the first wave of winery owners in the modern era, opening Swedenburg Estate Vineyards in Middleburg in 1987. In the 2000s, she led the fight to allow wineries to ship their wines across state lines – a battle she won in the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005. Swedenburg died in 2007, and the winery was sold and now operates as Greenhill Winery and Vineyards.

The Horton clan with Gov. Youngkin
at the 2018 Governor's Cup Gala

Sharon Horton worked side-by-side with her husband Dennis from the founding of Horton Vineyards in 1989. Since Dennis’s death, Horton has become a multigenerational women-led winery.  Sharon continues to oversee the vineyard, with daughter Shannon and granddaughter Caitlin carrying on the tradition as winemakers.

Rachel Stinson with Ecco at Red Wine Tasting

Rachel Stinson Vrooman also has deep roots in Virginia’s wine industry. It was a family decision when the Stinsons decided to turn their farm property into a winery. Scott says he asked who wanted to become a winemaker and daughter Rachel, then a photojournalist in New York, "made the mistake of raising her hand." Her first vintage was 2010.  

Jenn Breaux in the tatsing room with Ecco

Among Virginia’s 300-plus wineries, many have women at the helm. Jennifer Breaux took over operations of Breaux Vineyards in 2005. The sprawling 404-acre estate in Loudoun County is one of the largest in the Commonwealth. Recently, Jenn returned to the tasting room to give her customers that personal touch.

Kelly Knight and Teresa Delmare talk
about running the family winery

At Rappahannock Cellars' annual soup event this past November, founder and patriarch John Delmare announced that Rappahannock is now a women-owned business.  While John continues in a strategic role, daughters Kelly and Teresa have taken over operations of the venture, which currently produces around 12,000 cases of wine annually.

Athena Eastwood shows Ecco her
double-gold winning Petit Verdot

Eastwood Farm and Winery was a women-run enterprise from its birth in 2020. Founded by commodities attorney Athena Eastwood and her daughters Megan Taub and Hannah Velie, almost everyone working at the winery is female. While Athena finds the industry challenging regardless of gender, she says the prevalence of women "creates an environment where all the women help each other - sometimes even bringing their babies to work." Eastwood won two double golds and two golds at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Judging just wrapped up for the 2025 Virginia Governor's Cup. We look forward to learning which women will take the stage with award-winning wines this year.

Wine Dogs Talk Turkey

Thanksgiving Wines that Won't Bust Your Budget

Alexandria, Virginia

The Wine Dogs hosted their first official wine tasting,  "Thanksgiving Wine Pairings that Won’t Bust Your Budget," on Friday for about 50 neighbors at Marina Towers. It was fun – and with the positive feedback, we thought we’d share our recommendations to our fans.

Remember, the food is the star on Thanksgiving – they call it Turkey Day for a reason. So you don’t need showboat wines to upstage the food. 

Sparkling for Appetizers

Bubbles make any occasion festive – so why not start with a sparkling wine to pair with your appetizers? A dry (Brut) will keep the palate fresh for the feast to follow. 

Ecco was lobbying for her namesake Prosecco. But ultimately, we decided on Cava, the “champagne” of Spain. Small, tight bubbles without the big price tag. Our choice was Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava, available at Total Wine for $8.99 a bottle.

Going native with Virginia wines? Try Rappahannock Cellars Prestige (Traditional Method, Chardonnay grapes).

A Clean Crisp White

We were excited to introduce our neighbors to the lesser known Gruner Veltliner. The name translates to “Green Wine of Veltlin,” an area in the lower Alps that is now part of Italy. Gruner is the main grape of Austria, and can also be found in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

The Gruner is clean and minerally, letting food stand out while offering refreshment from the buttery, creamy excesses of the meal. We chose the Paul D (Direder) Gruner Veltliner, available at Balducci’s for $12.99 a bottle.

Other “clean” white grapes to consider are Viognier, dry Riesling, Albarino, and even a steel Chardonnay. Avoid the more tropical varietals like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.  

Going native with Virginia wines? North Mountain Vineyard and Winery harks to its Austrian roots with a Gruner Veltliner of its own.

Or an Oaky Chardonnay 

Going in the opposite direction, consider Chardonnay, the most commonly planted white varietal.

Chardonnay comes in different styles, but in this case, we wanted barrel fermented with oak and butter notes to play off the roasted meat and rich gravies and sides of our Thanksgiving meal. 

The VINTJS 2021 Chardonnay from Sonoma filled the bill at a price tag of just $8.99.

Going native with Virginia wines? Keswick Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay just made Wine Enthusiast’s list of the top 100 wines of 2023 (only a touch of oak).

The Classic Thanksgiving Wine

Yes, you can drink Red with your turkey; in fact, Pinot Noir is considered the classic Thanksgiving wine. Made famous in Sideways. Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied grape with acidity to melt though buttery gravies and stuffing and stand up to turkey. Its tart, tangy red fruit notes complement the cranberry sauce. 

Oregon is the go-to for Pinot Noir in the United States, and we selected Samuel Robert Pinot Noir Willamette Vintner's Reserve 2021, which sells for $15.99 at Total Wine (discount coupons brought price down to $12.66). 

Other red option include Beaujolais, Cabernet Franc, and the current in vogue GSMs (and the Syrah by itself). Avoid the heavier reds such as Cabernet and Meritage blends; I find Merlot too fruity and Zinfandel a little too jammy.

Going native with Virginia wines? Virginia’s Ankida Ridge has the cool climate conducive to an excellent Pinot Noir. 

Wine Dogs "Human" Terri Hauser relaxes after the presentation. Terri holds a Level 2 Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET2)

Wine Dogs Host VAWine Lovers Weekend

The first ever Virginia Wine Love Weekend is happening on May 13-14, and it's going to be PAWSOME! Fifty wineries are participating. If you want to take your best friend of the four-legged sort wining with you, join the Virginia Wine Dogs! We're hosting tables at four of our fav, dog-friendly venues (8 Chains North, Breaux, Fox Meadow, and Three Fox). Continue reading to see what else is in store at these locations.

We guarantee you will be treated well. Ecco has packed up some of her favorite treats to share with her guests. And we will have dog toys (small) to give away to the first three pups at each location.

SATURDAY (Loudoun County)

8 Chains North Winery

Virginia Wine Dogs hosting 11-2 PM 

• 10% off bottle purchases
• 10% coupon given with purchase for future bottle purchase until 7/31/23
• Winery has an off-leash fenced area just for pup!

Breaux Vineyards

Wine Dogs hosting 2:30 - 5:30

• Craft vendors (2-5 PM)
• Virginia Wine Love member-only Nebbiolo guided tasting (1 PM, $25)
• Guided Wine Flight for Virginia Wine Love Group (2 PM, $15)
• Live Music with Shane Hines (2-5PM)
• Leave a Virginia Wine “love note” using sidewalk chalk
• Take pics and tag Breaux on social for chance to wine great prizes
• Pre-Register and in addition to the Arrival Meet & Greets (12-1 PM, you'll also get a wristband good for 15% OFF ALL WINES ALL WEEKEND.

Don't miss Dog Day at Breaux on May 27.

SUNDAY, Fauquier County

Fox Meadow Vineyards

Wine Dogs hosting Noon - 2:15 PM

• Reserved seating for VA Wine Love group members – see you in the gazebo
• Live music with Adriel Genet (1-4 PM)
• Giveaway raffle for VA Wine Love group members each day at 3 p.m. (one bottle of wine and two logo glasses) – must be present to win
• Cellar tours at 1 and 4 PM
• 10% of all bottle purchases
• Special Mother's Day Brunch Available at Noon ($75)

Penny's Puppy Pantry is always available on the deck. Rumor is Fox Meadow winery dog Penny and her sibling will also make a guest appearance on Sunday.

Three Fox Vineyard and Brewery

Wine Dogs hosting 2:30 - 5 PM

• Unreleased barrel sample for Wine Love members 
• Enter a giveaway of a private tasting for 4 guests
• Wood-fired brick oven pizzas available for purchase
• Live music with The Cold North 2-5 PM 
• Dog Treat Flight (while supplies last)

It’s a Petit Year for Virginia Wine at the 2023 Governor’s Cup

Main Street Station
Richmond, Virginia

Small grapes, big wines... that's the big story the Virginia Wine Dogs took away from the 2023 Virginia Governor's Cup Competition. And as a member of one of the smallest breeds in the dog world, Yorkshire Terrier and blogger-in-chief Ecco is thrilled the wine world has discovered small is beautiful. 

Governor Glenn Youngkin introduces the winemakers in the Governor's Cup Case, noting: "We only serve Virginia wines" at the Executive Mansion.

Before introducing Virginia's top 12 wines for 2023, a few observations.

Big Future for Petits

Half of the wines in this year's outstanding Governor's Cup Case come from the small berries of Petit Verdot (four wines) or Petit Manseng (two wines). And Petit Verdot is the dominant grape in the Delfosse Screaming Hawk, the Governor's Cup winner. Historically, Petit Verdot was a blending grape, and Petit Manseng is traditionally crafted as a sweet desert wine. Now these grapes are shining in Virginia as single dry varietals. Once thought to be Virginia's signature red and white grapes, it appears Cabernet Franc and Viognier are being eclipsed by the Petits (neither made the case).

Red Blends Finish Strong and Long

Rounding out the reds in this year's case are four strong Bordeaux-style blends, among them the Governor's Cup winner from Delfosse.

Virginia Wines Coming of Age

The 2023 competition saw a record 142 gold medals awarded by the distinguished judging panel. Consider that only 13 golds were awarded in 2012 when the competition first took on its current format. That speaks volumes for the high quality wine being produced in Virginia today. 

2021 Shaping Up to Be a Strong Year

Last year's competition saw 2019 vintages shine; this year, they're sharing the stage with their younger siblings from the class of 2021, which earned five spots in the case.

Monticello Reigns Supreme

Not only is the Governor's Cup returning to the Monticello AVA, but six more wines from the region where Mr. Jefferson first dreamed of growing wine in Virginia made the case. Northern Virginia, Shenandoah, and Eastern Virginia also are represented.

Best of the Best

After an evening of tasting the Governor's Cup Case wines (and a few others), the Wine Dogs had some favorites of our own. We'll lead with our top four, in no particular order, followed by the rest of the case. 

Kim and Mark Kramer showcase the Mountain and View Screaming Hawk from Delfosse; York checks out the cup with winemaker Andrew Bilenkij

Wine Dogs agree the 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage from Delfosse Vineyards and Winery is a winner. With Petit Verdot in the lead (50%), the blend is rounded out with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Malbac for a long and pleasant finish. Delfosse also won golds for their 2020 Petit Verdot Reserve and 2021 Go-Go Girl. 

Cellar Rat Cory presents the case wines from Trump Winery

A second red blend that delighted the Wine Dogs' palate is the 2019 New World Reserve from Trump Winery, with 45% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot, and 10% Malbec. As per usual, a Trump sparkling found its way into the case - this time the 2016 Blanc de Noir. Three additional Trump wines earned gold.

 

Paradise Springs Tasting Room Manager Molly Hoke pours the wine while Founder and Yorkie lover Jane Kincheloe raises a glass to the Wine Dogs

In a rich field of Petit Verdot's, the Paradise Springs Winery 2021 Brown Bear Vineyard PV stands out as everything they say a Petit Verdot can't be. This is a complex wine that hits all the right spots on the palate with enough fruit to balance the tannins, even at a young age. Paradise Springs took five additional gold medals home to Northern Virginia. They will be opening a second Virginia winery and tasting room in the Charlottesville area in the fall.

Eric Paddock does a little bit of everything at Barboursville, while Luca Paschina consistently makes some of the most outstanding in Virginia

Refreshing was the word the Wine Dogs chose to describe Barboursville Vineyards 2021 Vermentino Reserve. The 2020 Vermentino claimed a place in Virginia's prestigious case last year, leaving the Wine Dogs to wonder why more Virginia wineries aren't trying this grape. Barboursville also earned gold for the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve and 2021 Sauvignon Blanc.

Director of Operations Aubry Fisher shows off the 50 West Vineyards 2020 Petit Manseng

The first of the Petit Mansengs in this year's case was produced by winemaker Jason Burrus for 50 West Vineyards, recently purchased by Katie and Chris Key, along with Sunset Hills Vineyard, which earned gold for their 2020 Reserve Cabernet Franc. 

Linda, JJ and Mark were having a great time serving Barren Ridge's Petit Verdot

Barren Ridge Vineyards added a taste of the Shenandoah Valley to the Governor's Cup Case with their 2019 Petit Verdot, produced by winemaker Jessi Gatewood who forged her love of the science and art of the vine under the guidance of Gabrielle Rousse.

Celebrating with Jefferson Vineyards Winemaking duo David Woodside and Chris Ritzcovan; Chris remembered the Wine Dogs from their 2012 visit

Jefferson Vineyards landed two spots in the Governor's Cup Case. There's the refreshingly dry 2021 Petit Manseng and a well balanced Meritage in Jefferson's signature chalkboard bottle. Jefferson also took home a golds for a pair of Petit Verdots.

Owner David Foster and Winemaker Eric Schenkel assure us Mountain Run Winery is very dog friendly   

The newcomer to this year's Governor's Cup Case is Mountain Run Winery in Culpeper, Virginia. In addition to placing their 2021 Petit Verdot in the top 12, Mountain Run earned golds for their 2021 Petit Manseng and 2021 Viognier. "Of course" Mountain Run allows dogs: look closely at the Petit Verdot label and you'll find a dog statue atop the large rock.

Pollak's Wine Club Manager Sarah has a winning smile to go with a winning Petit Verdot

The closest thing to a Cabernet Franc in the case is the Pollak Vineyards 2017 Meritage crafted by Benoit Pineau. The oldest Meritage in the case has had time to develop silky tannins in a full-bodied wine featuring 60% Cab Franc as its base, followed by Merlot (24%) and Petit Verdot (16%). 

Henry is crazy about Williamsburg wines and Yorkies (Wine Dog shout-out to Bailey and Peanut)

Last but certainly not least among the four Petit Verdots in the Governor's Cup Case is the 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve from The Williamsburg Winery. A lovely wine with a finish that lingers with satisfying warmth. Enjoy it by your fireplace with your favorite Wine Dog!