Charlottesville-Monticello Crowned as the International Wine Region of the Year

Experts suggest that the geographical transition zone between Virginia’s Coastal Plain and Piedmont is a hot spot for grape cultivation due to the favourable temperature mix.

Five counties in Central Virginia have joined the ranks of the most prestigious wine regions globally.

Charlottesville and the Monticello American Viticultural Area have recently been declared as the 2023 Wine Region of the Year at the 24th Annual Wine Star Awards by Wine Enthusiast. This recognition placed them ahead of other well-established international wine-making regions.

This award recognizes the efforts of more than 40 wineries in the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Nelson, and Orange.

“The region is situated in an interesting spot in Virginia,” said Drew Harner, assistant professor of viticulture for the Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Frederick County. AREC staff educate and assist growers with best practices, backed by the latest research.

Grapes thrive in the geographically transitional space between Virginia’s Coastal Plain and Piedmont, with a desirable temperature mix.

“There’s a range of soil types as well,” explained Harner, who also works as a Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist. “You get this ‘Goldilocks area’ where grape growers can work with a range of different growing conditions. They produce grapes and wines that are expressions of the conditions they’re working with, and the management practices they’re tailoring to these conditions.”

The 2022 Census of Agriculture reported Virginia’s vineyards span over 40,000 acres on 538 farms, generating $3.5 million in total market value. The rural areas surrounding Charlottesville are home to over 20% of Virginia’s vineyard plantings. A separate industry impact study said Virginia’s grape wine sector generated over $6 billion for the state when considering wages, tourism dollars and other indirect impacts.

During the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition, 58 gold medals out of the available 142 were awarded to wineries found on the Monticello Wine Trail.

The list of medal recipients included Eastwood Farm and Winery, which is situated within Charlottesville. This winery is owned by Athena Eastwood and its operations are managed with the help of her family. They choose to cultivate their grapes across two vineyards located in Albemarle and Nelson counties.

Athena Eastwood expressed, “This specific region has experienced continuous development over many decades with a plethora of renowned wineries that produce top-quality wines.” She also indicated, “Given that fact, it’s not surprising that we won this award! This entire region is full of incredible innovation and immense talent.”

She also shared that their French “clones” are performing exceedingly well in their vineyards. Case in point, Eastwood’s prize-winning petit manseng has a remarkable blend of flavours that include a mix of honeysuckle, pineapple, and mango.

It has been observed by the Wine Enthusiast that there is a “spirit of collaboration” prevalent among the winemakers of the region.

Eastwood comments, “This is one of the major factors supporting growth in this region. Other winemakers are just a phone call away when you need to discuss strategy or handle a challenge and they are always ready to assist.”

In addition to this, local wineries urge visitors to explore other sites, and some tasting rooms feature wines from emerging winemakers on their evolving incubator lists.

During the Monticello Wine Week, Eastwood will welcome 15 wineries for the White Wine Showcase on May 1. To view all the events of the week, visit monticellowinetrail.com/taste-of.

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!