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Today we have a post from Richard Leahy, a Charlottesville, Virginia-based wine professional. Richard will be leading a session entitled “Virginia Wine: 400 Years Young and World-Class” as part of SWE’s 43rd Annual Conference, to be held this August in Washington DC. Read on as Richard tells us about the little-known history of Virginia wine.
The “Acte Twelve” of the Jamestown Assembly in 1619 mandated the planting of at least ten European grapevines per household, so we are now moving in to Virginia’s fifth century of documented winegrowing.
Twenty five years ago Virginia wine was little more than a curiosity. In 2012, Steven Spurrier, the renowned British wine critic for Decanter, said “My favorite North American wine region is Virginia, because it makes the kinds of wines I like to have a second glass of.” Richard Leahy, author of Beyond Jefferson’s Vines, the definitive book on Virginia wine, will take you through highlights of the Virginia wine story, and with a curated tasting, show you the diversity and quality of Virginia wine as it moves into its fifth documented history.
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This session will highlight some of the fascinating milestones in Virginia wine history, explain the many natural challenges of viticulture in this climate, and review the most popular wine grapes of the state. We’ll explore the ways that Virginia wines demonstrate the state’s unique terroir and take a glimpse into the future of Virginia wine.
You’ll enjoy Chardonnay that is more like that of Burgundy than California and Meritage with the unique spice and violets of Petit Verdot. Attendees will be able to taste why Cabernet Franc has undergone a renaissance in style and quality as Virginia’s most consistent red grape, and enjoy the freshness and balance of local Sauvignon Blanc. (And there’s more!)
After enjoying this class, you’ll be well-prepared to not only enjoy Virginia wines, but to show them (and your new knowledge) off to friends. After all, if Virginia wine was Thomas Jefferson’s dream, let’s toast that 200 years later we can enjoy it today!
Richard’s session— Virginia Wine: 400 Years Young and World-Class—will be held on Thursday, August 15 (2019) at 10:30 am as part of the Society of Wine Educators’ 43rd Annual Conference, to be held in Washington DC.
About the presenter: Richard Leahy is a wine professional based in Charlottesville, Virginia and coordinates the conference program for the Eastern Winery Exposition, the largest wine industry trade show east of the Rockies. He has been writing about wines of Virginia and the East since 1986, and in May 2012 his book Beyond Jefferson’s Vines, the definitive book on Virginia wine, was published to high praise from reviewers and is now available on Amazon.com in a revised second edition. Richard is a member of the American Wine Society and the Circle of Wine Writers, and also has a website and blog (richardleahy.com) focused on wines of the East.
Are you a conference speaker that would like to provide a preview of your session? Contact Jane A. Nickles at jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org