(DOSWELL, July 9, 2019)—Twenty-two Virginia wines representing 14 wineries garnered gold medals, and 21 wines representing 13 wineries won silver medals June 17 in the 26th State Fair of Virginia Commercial Wine Competition.
Entries from Ingleside Vineyards in Westmoreland County and Maggie Malick Wine Caves in Loudoun County captured the most gold medals with three each.
The competition drew 129 entries from 26 Virginia wineries and meaderies statewide. A panel of wine retailers, writers, collectors, restaurateurs and other industry professionals sampled and critiqued entries at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. There were two medal categories, along with four label categories.
The State Fair wine competition promotes and showcases a vibrant and important element of Virginia agriculture and benefits the fair’s scholarship program.
Wines were judged per national industry standards. Judges awarded gold and silver medals and label awards. The Best in Show wines will be announced Sept. 26 at the fair’s benefit gala, Black Tie & Boots.
Virginia is ranked in the top six states nationwide for number of wineries and for wine grape production and is home to more than 250 wineries. The Virginia wine industry employs more than 8,200 full-time workers and contributes almost $1.37 billion to the state’s economy, according to a 2017 economic impact study.
The 2019 medal winners are:
Gold Medal
Barboursville Vineyards – Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2017
Blacksnake Meadery – Meloluna
Chateau MerrillAnne LLC – Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Cunningham Creek Winery – Rivanna Red 2016
Cunningham Creek Winery – Viognier 2017
Eden Try Estate Winery – Adam’s Rib 2007
Effingham Manor Winery – Rosé 2018
Generals Ridge Vineyard – Viognier 2016
Ingleside Vineyards – Albariño 2018
Ingleside Vineyards – Sangiovese 2016
Ingleside Vineyards – Viognier 2018
Maggie Malick Wine Caves – Fortissimo 2016
Maggie Malick Wine Caves – Tempranillo 2016
Maggie Malick Wine Caves – Tannat 2016
Mountain Run Winery – Simply Chardonnay 2017
Mountain Run Winery – Chardonnay 2016
MountainRose Vineyards – Riesling 2016
Pearmund Cellars – Ameritage Reserve 2016
The Winery at Bull Run – Reconciliation 2017
The Winery at Bull Run – Petit Verdot 2017
Vint Hill Craft Winery – Enigma 2017
Vint Hill Craft Winery – Traminette Trixie 2018
Silver Medal
Barboursville Vineyards – Octagon 2015
Barboursville Vineyards – Allegrante 2018
Breaux Vineyards Ltd. – Madeleine’s Chardonnay 2017
Breaux Vineyards Ltd. – Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Chateau MerrillAnne LLC – Governor Spotswood 2016
Chateau MerrillAnne LLC – Viognier 2017
Effingham Manor Winery – King’s Ransom 2017
Generals Ridge Vineyard – Petit Manseng 2016
Generals Ridge Vineyard – GRV Rosé NV
Gray Ghost Vineyards – Riesling 2018
Horton Vineyards – Mourvedre 2016
Ingleside Vineyards – Right Bank 2015
Ingleside Vineyards – Cabernet Franc 2015
Ingleside Vineyards – Chardonnay Reserve 2017
Maggie Malick Wine Caves – Kaleidoscope 2016
Maggie Malick Wine Caves – Petit Manseng 2018
MountainRose Vineyards – Splashdam 2016
Revalation Vineyards – Village 2017
Revalation Vineyards – Petit Manseng 2017
The Winery at Bull Run – Sweet Victory 2017
Vint Hill Craft Winery – Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Best Cider
Mountain Run Winery – Hard Cider 2018
Best Rosé
Effingham Manor Winery – Rosé 2018
Best Dessert Wine
The Winery at Bull Run – Sweet Victory 2017
Best Mead
Blacksnake Meadery – Meloluna
Best Sparkling Wine
Casanel Vineyards – White Spark 2015
Blue ribbon winners in the 2019 State Fair of Virginia Wine Label Competition are:
Best Individual Bottle Design
First: The Winery at Bull Run – Sweet Victory 2017
Second: Vint Hill Craft Winery – Enigma 2017
Third: Barboursville Vineyards – Paxxito
Overall Winery Presentation
First: Revalation Vineyards
Second: Effingham Manor Winery
Third: Chateau MerrillAnne LLC
Best Use of Illustration
Horton Vineyards – Gears and Lace Series
Judges’ Award
Revalation Vineyards
Proceeds from the wine competition benefit the State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program. Since 2013 the State Fair has awarded more than 1,270 scholarships and has dedicated more than $472,000 to youth education. The fair offers more than $70,000 each year in scholarship money through 4-H, FFA and vocational competitions and specific equine, fine arts and horticulture competitions.
The 2019 State Fair of Virginia will run from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6. Information is available at StateFairVa.org.
The State Fair is held each fall at its permanent home at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County and attracts 250,000 fairgoers. The event celebrates the best of Virginia’s past, present and future through scholarship initiatives, creative programming and a focus on the commonwealth’s agriculture and natural resources industries.
Media: Contact Sara Owens, communications, at 804-290-1133, or Stuart Sanders, educational programs manager, at 804-994-2800.