Close to 300 people attended the Fourth Annual Virginia Wine Summit that took place on April 5, 2016, at the Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg.
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore participated in the event. Governor Terry McAuliffe joined us for the Champagne Reception: “We are pleased to host this annual event to showcase our world-class Virginia wines, and invite national and international opinion leaders to see and taste the recent developments in the Virginia wine industry.
The summit brought industry leaders and wine enthusiasts together to discuss the state’s burgeoning wine industry, and celebrate Virginia’s wine and food culture. It consisted of wine and food pairings, panel discussions, and one-on-one talks with Virginia winemakers. Those that attended the summit included restaurateurs, sommeliers, wine-shop owners, winemakers, wine enthusiasts, media representatives and other industry professionals.
The summit featured as keynote speaker Jon Bonné, one of the leading American voices on wine: "I've covered wine around the world and really to try to put Virginia into context of the 49 other states in terms of how much progress has been made in the wine industry, and really how wonderful it is that the focus has stayed on small, curious wineries that want to push things forward."
The Virginia Wine Summit is organized by the Virginia Wine Board. The summit was held in Richmond for the first three years.
The Conference
8:30AM – 9:30AM Registration
9:30AM – 10:45AM The Art of Whites, Grand Tasting
This seminar was a blind comparison of some of Virginia’s top white wines against their counterparts from other notable wine regions.
Moderator:
Jay Youmans, Master of Wine, DC: Capital Wine School, Beverage Consultant
Panelists:
Andy Myers, Master Sommelier, DC: Wine Director, José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup
Jon Bonné, NY: Author and Senior Contributing Editor, Punch
Anthony Giglio, NY: Author, Speaker, Wine Director, The Centurion Lounges by American
Express
Helen Johannesen, CA: Director of Operations & Wine Director of Animal/ Son of a Gun
11:00AM – 12:15PM Somm Might Say: East Coast vs. West Coast
Have you ever wondered how sommeliers approach wine and food pairings? At this seminar you could hear how East Coast and West Coast sommeliers approach pairings – ranging from the relatively simplistic to more sophisticated.
Moderator:
Anthony Giglio, NY: Author, Speaker, Wine Director, The Centurion Lounges by American Express
West Coast Panelists:
David Lynch, CA: Contributing editor, Bon Appetit and Wine Director of St. Vincent
Chris Tanghe, Master Sommelier, WA: Wine Portfolio Manager & Educator of Vinum Wine Importing and Distributing
East Coast Panelists:
Steven Grubbs, GA: Wine Director of Empire State South and Five & Ten
Jack Mason, Master Sommelier, NY: Wine Director, Marta
Menu designed by Kathy Morgan, Master Sommelier, VA/DC: Beverage Consultant & 2014 Somm Might Say Champion: Team DC
11:00AM – 12:15PM Find Your Match: Virginia Reds
In the speed dating style, in this seminar you could experience an intimate tasting of Virginia red wines with the winemaker themselves. The winemakers had 6 ½ minutes per table to present their wine.
Participating wineries:
Ankida Ridge Vineyards
Bluestone Vineyard
Boxwood Estate Winery
Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery
Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek
Chrysalis Vineyards
Narmada Winery
North Gate Vineyard
Sunset Hills Vineyards
The Williamsburg Winery
11:00AM – 12:15PM Talk Dirt To Me: Central VA vs Northern VA Terrior
A compelling winemaker discussion of the climates and soils of Central VA and Northern VA, and how they impart unique characteristics in their wines.
Moderator:
Frank Morgan, VA: Author for DrinkWhatYouLike.com and Contributing Editor VA Wine Lover Magazine, VA
Panelists:
Luca Paschina, VA: Winemaker & General Manager, Barboursville Vineyards, VA
Mattieu Finot, VA: Winemaker, King Family Vineyards, VA
Benoit Pineau, VA: Winemaker, Pollak Vineyards, VA
Doug Fabbioli, VA: Winemaker, Fabbioli Cellars, VA
Jim Law, VA: Winemaker, Linden Vineyards, VA
Gonzalo Ortiz, VA: Vineyard Manager, Breaux Vineyards, VA
12:30PM – 2:00PM Lunch
Prepared by Chef Chris Edwards of The Salamander Resort
Keynote Speech from Jon Bonné
2:30PM – 3:50PM Moments in Time: Vintage Variation
In this workshop we explored Virginia’s past vintages and how weather patterns have shaped the wine through vertical tastings.
Moderator:
Erin Scala, VA: Beverage Director & Owner for Petit Pois & Fleuire, and Co-host for I’ll Drink to That Podcast
Panelists:
Stephen Barnard, VA: Winemaker, Keswick Vineyards, VA
Doug Flemer, VA: Owner & Winemaker, Ingleside Vineyards, VA
Michael Shaps, VA: Owner & Winemaker, Michael Shaps Wines, VA
2:30PM – 3:50PM Uncommon in the Commonwealth
Up-and-coming varieties like Petit Verdot, Nebbiolo, Tannat, Albariño and Petit Manseng are quickly gaining recognition as unique and captivating wines. In this seminar you could enjoy an informative tasting and discussion around these interesting wines.
Moderator:
Jennifer Knowles, DC: Sommelier and Wine & Beverage Director for The Jefferson Hotel and Plume Restaurant
Panelists:
Erik Segelbaum, DC: Sommelier, Le Diplomate
Fred Dexheimer, Master Sommelier, NC: Creator of RxWine Lab
Andy Wedge, TN: Sommelier, Husk Nashville
Kathy Morgan, Master Sommelier, DC: Master Sommelier & Beverage Consultant
2:30PM – 3:50PM Why Chardonnay Matters
Chardonnay is Virginia’s most widely planted grape. The panelists and attending winemakers discussed the different styles being produced in Virginia and what happens to this elegant grape when it meets Virginia’s varied terroir.
Moderator:
Richard Leahy, VA: Wine Consultant & Author
Panelists:
Andy Chabot, TN: Sommelier and Director of Food & Beverage, Blackberry Farm
Neal Wavra, VA: Sommelier and Co-Found of FABLE Hospitality
Julie Dalton, MD: Sommelier, Wit and Wisdom Tavern
Julie Defriend, KY: Sommelier, 8Up Elevated Kitchen & Drinkery
4:00PM – 5:00PM Reception at Harriman's Restaurant
We finished off the day at Harriman’s Restaurant, enjoying sparkling wine and local craft beer while listening to remarks from Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe.
Wine Producer Virginia
Virginia is the 5th largest wine industry in the US, with nearly 300 wineries and over 3,500 acres of vineyards. In the original charter of the thirteen colonies was a royal commission to pursue three luxury items that England was unable to provide for itself: wine, silk, and olive oil. Every colony made attempts to satisfy the requirements of its charter. Despite many years of failure, the early Americans persisted in their efforts. A big step forward was made in 1740 when a natural cross pollination occurred between a native American grape and a European vitis vinifera. Other successful crossings followed.
In 1762, John Carter, who had 1,800 vines growing at Cleve Plantation, sent 12 bottles to the Royal Society of Encouragement of the Arts, Manufacture and Commerce in London for their evaluation. Minutes of their meeting on the 20th of October 1762 declared Carter’s wines to be “excellent” and a decision was taken to reward Carter’s efforts with a gold medal for his wines. These were the first internationally recognized fine wines produced in America.
Over the past 30 years or so, Virginia wines have experienced a tremendous development - to elegant and balanced, mostly European vinifera-based wines. Recently, Donald Trump as well as AOL founder Steve Case bought a Virginia winery.
Today, the vitis vinifera grapes Chardonnay and Viognier are the leading white varieties. Increasingly they are made without any or with neutral oak, to retain natural acidity and freshness. It appears Viognier is on its way to becoming Virginia’s official “signature grape”.
For French-American hybrid varieties, Seyval Blanc is still popular, but resembles now the fresh and crisp wines from France’s South West. Vidal has become the backbone of the artificially frozen (cryoextraction), ice wine which I am not a great fan of. Cryoextraction is an approach, developed by the French, which kind of simulates the frost in the vineyard in the wine cellar.
As far as red wines are concerned, there has been a shift from straight varietal wines to blends, with the blends now being dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Mirroring the Virginia white wines, there is an increasing focus on neutral oak and clean, vibrant fruit. Tannat, Uruguay’ signature grape from the South West of France, is showing up in more Virginia wines, usually as a blend. The only red French American hybrid which has performed consistently well in Virginia is Chambourcin, which resembles the Gamay grape of Beaujolais.
Finally, Claude Thibault, a native from France, has taken Virginia sparkling wines to a new level. His NV Thibault-Janisson Brut, made from 100 percent Chardonnay, is as close as you can get to Champagne outside of France.
See:
American Wines with French Roots: The Wines President Obama Served at the State Dinner for President Hollande, USA/France
As Close as You Can Get to (French) Champagne at the US East Coast – Claude Thibaut and His Virginia Thibaut Janisson Sparklers at screwtop Wine Bar
Claude Thibault of Thibault Janisson – an Ultra-premium Sparkling Wine Producer in Virginia, USA - at American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter)
schiller-wine: Related Posting
Northern Virginia Magazine October 2012: Wine Recs from Local Winos
Virginia Wines Shine in San Francisco - 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition, USA
Jim Law and Linden Vineyards in Virginia – A Profile, USA
Boxwood Winery in Virginia: Lunch with Wine Makers Rachel Martin and Adam McTaggert in the Chai between the Tanks – TasteCamp 2012 East Kick-Off, USA
An Afternoon with Jordan Harris, Winemaker of Tarara, Virginia, USA
Vineyard Walk, Wine Tasting in the Vineyard and Lunch in the Tarara Tank Cellar with Wine Maker Jordan Harris, Tarara Winery, USA
Visiting Jennifer Breaux Blosser and Breaux Vineyards in Virginia, USA
Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Visiting Rutger de Vink and his RdV Vineyards with Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St. Julien, Bordeaux
Judging Virginia Wines in Suffolk, Virginia - Virginia Wine Lover Magazine Wine Classic 2012
A New Winery in Virginia - The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, USA
Boxwood Winery in Virginia: Lunch with Wine Makers Rachel Martin and Adam McTaggert in the Chai between the Tanks – TasteCamp 2012 East Kick-Off, USA
Book Review: "Beyond Jefferson's Vines - The Evolution of Quality Wine in Virginia" by Richard Leahy, USA
TasteCamp 2012 in Virginia, USA – A Tour d’Horizont
As Close as You Can Get to (French) Champagne at the US East Coast – Claude Thibaut and His Virginia Thibaut Janisson Sparklers at screwtop Wine Bar
See: American Wines with French Roots: The Wines President Obama Served at the State Dinner for President Hollande, USA/France
Visiting Wine Maker Doug Fabbioli and his Fabbioli Cellars in Virginia, USA
North Gate Vineyard in Virginia, USA – A Profile
Anniversary Dinner at North Gate Vineyards with Owners/ Winemakers Mark and Vicki Fedor and Chef Sebastian Oveysi from Amoo’s Restaurant in McLean, Virginia/ USA
Virginia Wine Chat “Live” with Frank Morgan at Breaux Vineyards, Virginia, USA
Virginia's Best Wines: 2016 Virginia Governor's Cup, USA
Virginia's Best Wines: 2015 Virginia Governor's Cup, USA
Virginia's Best Wines: 2014 Virginia Wineries Governor’s Cup, USA
Governor’s Cup Competition 2013, Virginia, USA