Virginia Wines to Take Center Stage At Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

May 28, 2002
Contact: Pam Jewell
(804) 786-0481
pjewell@vdacs.state.va.us

Virginia’s favorite juice takes the spotlight on June 17 when the winner of the coveted Virginia Governor’s Cup is announced at the Virginia Wine Honors Awards Ceremony in Richmond at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. For the first time, Virginia wine lovers will have the opportunity to join Virginia’s wine industry for the unveiling of the best-of-the-best of Virginia wine.

The Virginia Wine Honors is an annual wine industry event recognizing the medal winners of the Governor’s Cup Competition, the Virginia wine retailer and restaurateur of the year, and Wine Industry Person of the Year. The Awards Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m., followed by a Savor Virginia Wine and Food Reception from 7-9 p.m., where wine aficionados will have the opportunity to sample some of the best of the Commonwealth’s wines and foods.

Only wines that have been produced by Virginia farm wineries from Virginia-grown grapes are eligible to participate in the Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition. A judging panel of nationally recognized winemakers, wine writers and leaders in the wine industry will choose the best Virginia wine for 2002. In 2001, the Rockbridge ’98 DeChiel Merlot won the Governor’s Cup award.

More than twenty-five wineries from around the Commonwealth will be offering their wines for tasting at this year’s Wine Honors Reception. The reception will also feature Virginia favorites such as bison, croaker, shiitake mushrooms, Virginia cheeses and a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Tickets for the event are $50 each and must be purchased in advance. To purchase tickets send check or money order made payable to the Virginia Wineries Association to the Virginia Wineries Association, c/o The Virginia Wine Marketing Office, P.O. Box 1168, Richmond, VA 23218. For more information, contact the Virginia Wine Marketing Office at 804/786-7380. The number of tickets is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for purchasing tickets is June 10.