Once the first settlers in Jamestown began establishing their settlement, efforts to transplant the European Vitis vinerfera vines began. Initial efforts failed, as would many more efforts over the next two hundred years.
The Father of Virginia Grape Growing
Thomas Jefferson, the third US President, but Virginian’s first father of wines pushed vine growth at his beloved Monticello home in central Virginia. Although, Mr. Jefferson never saw vineyard success in his lifetime, due to pests and diseases native to Virginia and America, he made every effort to get the red clays of Virginia to produce wines.
Wine, being among the earliest luxuries in which we indulge ourselves, it is desirable that it should be made here and we have every soil, aspect and climate of the best wine countries. – Thomas Jefferson
The documentation of Jefferson’s effort and those of the master European winemakers that he engaged were a vain attempt at vineyard establishment. The failures of Monticello wine growing were related in Jefferson’s “The Parent of Misery.” Regardless of Jefferson’s assertion that Virginia’s rolling hills and temperate climate were perfect for grapes, he eventually gave up his dream.
Jefferson's Dream of Virginia Wines is Achieved
It has taken several hundred years for the successful integration of Virginia climate and vines to make Jefferson’s Monticello Plantation a viable winery area. Today the plantation is planted with more than 20 varieties of grapes and is home to a successful winery. Not only are grapes planted at Monticello but there are 45 other wineries in the designated Monticello AVA.
From the humble beginnings at the Jamestown settlement to the failed Monticello efforts, Virginia vineyard efforts of the past fifty years have proved that the red clay of Virginia makes a good home for vines. Virginia has become home to 156 wineries this year, ranking the Commonwealth 5th in the “number of wineries” per state. Not only is Virginia moving up in the wine rankings of US states, but the recognition of Virginia wines continues to grow in internationally too.
Virginia Wine Trails
Virginia wineries are grouped along twelve wine trails spread across the six Virginia AVA (American Viticulture Areas) designations. These regional wine trails breakdown the current 156 wineries into regional groups. While the trails make tasting tours a convenient way to taste Virginia Wine, the wine trails also offer a grouping of vineyards that are pulled together by common climate and terrain.
With the varied landscape of Virginia, from the sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean to the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the climate, terrain create differences in taste. Additionally, the variety of planted grapes, offer many tastes. White wine grapes such as Viognier and Seyval Blanc prove that the Chardonnay grape isn’t the only grape to create an excellent wine. Virginia’s native Norton and Chambourcin grapes create tastes that can also hold their own against Merlot grapes, which have also adapted well to Virginia.
The combination of terroir and grapes makes Virginia a continuing wine area to watch and taste. The Virginia Wine organization provides the wine taster with information to make keeping up with the expansion of Virginia's growing number of wineries.
 |
