VIRGINIA’S TOP WINE RECOGNIZED
The 2020 Governor's Cup was awarded by Governor Ralph Northam to 868 Estate Vineyards for their 2017 Vidal Blanc Passito. The winning wine
was unveiled at the Virginia Wineries Association celebration on Tuesday.
All wines in the Governor's Cup competition must be made from 100 percent
Virginia fruit, but the 868 Vidal "Passito" represents the first winner made entirely
from Loudoun County fruit. Produced by the Italian "appassimento" technique of partially drying grapes to concentrate flavor, the winemaker halts the fermentation
early to retain the natural grape sugar in the final product.
More than 530 Virginia wines were submitted into this year's Governor's Cup competition. Of 64 gold medalists, 12 were selected for the Governor's Case:
868 Estate Vineyards Vidal Blanc Passito (2017)
Afton Mountain Vineyards Tradition (2017)
Barboursville Vineyards Octagon (2014)
Barboursville Vineyards Vermentino Reserve (2018)
Delaplane Cellars Williams Gap (2017)
Lake Anna Winery Tannat (2017)
Michael Shaps Wineworks Meritage (2016)
Pippin Hill Vineyards Petit Verdot (2017)
Pollak Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve (2017)
Pollak Vineyards Smuggler (2017)
Rockbridge Vineyard Vd'Or (2017)
Shenandoah Vineyards Shenandoah Reserve Red (2017)
For complete information about the 2020 Governor's Awards
visit www.virginiawine.org
visit www.virginiawine.org