The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
19 results across all types
- news
Breaking News July 1st: On the 50th Anniversary of the “Judgment of Paris” Tasting (CA vs. French Wines), Virginia Wines Post the Highest Scores in All Categories, at a Blind Judging at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris!
Wine Writer Frank Morgan Reports on How Virginia Wines “Showed up–and Showed Off in Paris Wine blogger Frank Morgan (“Drink What YOU Like”) just returned from having co-organized a landmark tasting of Virginia wines in a blind tasting against comparable French counterparts, at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. He writes, “What began as an idea […]
- news
Tasting Highlights from the 2026 Monticello Gold Cup and Rose’ Tasting
From left to right: Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier, Competition Chair Frank Morgan, and Hark Winemaker and 2026 Monticello Cup winner AJ Greely Here are the top twelve gold medal wines from the 2026 Monticello Cup Competition (wines from wineries in the Monticello AVA), that form the Monticello Gold Case: Afton Mountain […]
- news
Hark Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2023 Wins 2026 Monticello Cup
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier announced the winner of the 2026 Monticello Cup (best of the 12 gold medals in the competition) at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville on Friday, June 27th. Hark Vineyards winemaker AJ Greely accepts the 2026 Monticello Cup from VA Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier Out of the 12 […]
- news
Pollak Vineyards to Hold “An Evening with Richard Leahy” on Virginia Wine, with Wines and Dinner, July 3rd, 6-8pm
As part of Pollak Vineyards’ “America 250 Series”, Pollak Vineyards will hold “An Evening with Richard Leahy,” author of the Beyond Jefferson’s Vines: the Evolution of Quality Wine in Virginia, the definitive book on Virginia wine, on Friday, July 3rd, from 6:00-8:00 pm, at their Greenwood winery near the intersection of Rts. 250 and 151. […]
- news
Monticello Wine Trail Announces 2026 Monticello Cup Gold Medal Winners
The Monticello Wine Trail has officially announced the 2026 Monticello Cup Gold Medal Winners, recognizing excellence in winemaking across the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) and celebrating the depth, diversity, and continued momentum of Virginia wine. Organized by wine educator and writer Frank Morgan, the Monticello Cup competition highlights standout winesfrom across the region, judged […]
- news
Wines of the Week: Ankida Ridge Pinot Noir Reserve 2017 and Barboursville Octagon 2015
Since I got a Coravin, a wonderful tool that extracts wine from a bottle through the cork and displaces the wine with inert argon gas, I’ve enjoyed sampling wines without having to either open or empty the bottle—I can “have my wine and drink it, too.” Recently during a cool spell, I decided to sample […]
- news
Tracey Love Named 1st Executive Director of the Monticello Wine Trail
The Monticello Wine Trail has appointed Tracey Love as its first Executive Director, marking a new chapter for the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) as it builds on its national momentum. The region was named Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Region of the Year in 2023, a recognition that underscored both its quality and collaborative spirit. The […]
- news
Monticello Wine Week Returns June 22–28, 2026
Monticello Wine Week, sponsored by the Monticello Wine Trail, will take place June 22–28, 2026, across Charlottesville and the surrounding Central Virginia region. This annual celebration highlights the depth, quality, and collaborative spirit of the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA), bringing together more than 40 wineries, hospitality partners, and visitors from across the country. Tracey […]
- news
Iconic Veritas Vineyards To Sell To New, Local Ownership
Acclaimed Head Winemaker Emily Hodson will continue to lead the cellar as partner in the new ownership team. AFTON, VIRGINIA — May 4, 2026 —Veritas Vineyards & Winery, one of Virginia’s most well-known and respected wine and tourism destinations, have agreed to be acquired by a new ownership group, Veritas Legacy Partners, LLC. Leading […]
- news
VA Wine Industry Fundraiser at Hazy Mtn. Vineyard, Sat. 4/25, 6-9pm, to Feature Live and Silent Auction, Hors d’Oeuvres and VA Wine
You may have heard that the Virginia (and Maryland) wine industries were hit hard this week by a freeze, following an early budbreak and most vineyards had green shoots out already, making the crop vulnerable to the freeze with temperatures in the mid-20s F. Despite lighting fires, using fans, and other methods, damage was widespread […]
- news
2026 Eastern Winery Exposition Brings over 1,000 to Richmond, VA for the First Time
Frank Morgan moderates with winemakers as attendees tastes gold medal winners of the 2026 VA Governor’s Case wines From March 24-26th, the 14th Eastern Winery Exposition brought the industry’s largest trade show and conference for the production grape and wine industries east of the Pacific states to Richmond, VA for the first time, drawing over […]
- news
Governor Spanberger Announces 2026 Virginia Governor’s Cup Winner: Valley Road Vineyards’ 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve
March 12, 2026 – During the annual Virginia Wine Governor’s Cup Gala at the Main Street Station, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced that Valley Road Vineyards of Afton had won the 2026 Virginia Wine Governor’s Cup competition with their 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve. Following multiple rounds of rigorous blind tasting by nationally recognized wine professionals, […]
- news
Wine of the Week: Jump Mountain Borderland 2021 Red Blend, Shenandoah Valley, VA
Blend: Tannat 62.5%, Cabernet Franc 25%, Cabernet Sauvignon 12.5% If you’ve been looking for a red Virginia wine “for a winter’s night,” you can hardly do better than this original, stylish yet elegant blend from the west of Rockbridge County in the shadow of Jump Mountain. **** Jump Mountain Borderland 2021 Color: pleasingly dark and […]
- news
Damien Blanchon Named 2026 “Grower of the Year” by the VA Vineyards Association
On February 25th, At the annual Virginia Vineyards Association Technical Meeting at the Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg, the newly-appointed Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier (herself a Valley native) announced that the 2026 “Grower of the Year” Award given by the Association for exemplary work had been won by vigneron Damien Blanchon, both vineyard manager […]
- news
Wine of the Week: Keuka Lake Estate Riesling Semi-Dry, Finger Lakes, NY 2010: A Rare 5-Star Rating!
I keep a library of bottle-aged Finger Lakes Riesling. I’ve found (due to a geeky phenomenon of bound vs. free terpenes), that Rieslings are best in the first two years, or, if from a classic cool climate region, at 15 years or older, if well-cellared and if the corks aren’t plastic. This Riesling is not […]
- news
Wine of the Week: Veritas Petit Verdot 2019
In this wretched “winter of our discontent”, it’s vital to know you have enough full-bodied, rich red wines to last you through it. Virginia excels in producing varietal Petit Verdot, which has perfume, ripe black fruits, guts of deep but smooth tannins, and can handle oak well. Petit Verdot is also a critical component of […]
- news
My Favorite Wines of 2025
This was written in the course of the year, so the ones tasted first were listed first. The scoring system is at the bottom of the entry; wines are not listed in order of score. ***+ Philip Carter Winery “Cleve” 2019 This wine is the estate flagship red, a blend of 50/50 Petit Verdot and […]
- news
Wine Recommendations For Your Thanksgiving
I promote drinking locally, especially since Thanksgiving is an East Coast American tradition. Here are a couple of guidelines if you plan to observe Thanksgiving with a traditional menu: You can find the best wine matches for the traditional menu with East Coast/Midwest wines instead of West Coast/European wines. Think “ABC”, or “anything but Chardonnay […]
- news
CrossKeys Vineyards’ 2024 Chardonnay Wins the 2025 Shenandoah Cup
The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, comprised of wineries in the Shenandoah Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), the oldest and largest in the state, presented the Seventh Shenandoah Cup trophy to the top-rated wine submitted in its competition at a Celebration held on November 14 at The Yellow Barn at Shenandoah Caverns in Shenandoah County. CrossKeys […]