Vinifera Wine Growers Association's
23rd Annual Virginia Wine Competition

Sunday, July 25, 2004, Leesburg, Virginia: Surrounded by the elegance of Lansdowne Resort, host of this year's event, 16 distinguished wine judges gathered to conduct the Vinifera Wine Growers Association's 23rd Annual Virginia Wine Competition.

A rigorous and professionally managed competition, the oldest in the Commonwealth, the VWGA annual wine competition is one of the most prestigious and respected wine events on the east coast among non-profit wine organizations.

Forty Virginia wineries participated in this year's competition, entering 235 wines in 29 different categories. The number of high scores testified to the overall growth in quality and diversity of Virginia wine varietals available in the market. Examples of varietals and types of wines entered include the following: Chardonnay, Riesling, White Blends, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Traminette, Fruit wines, Blush wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Meritage, Petit Verdot, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Tannat, Red Blends, Chambourcin, Sangiovese, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Norton, and Dessert Wines.

Awards include the Jefferson Loving Cup for the Best of Show which was earned by Barboursville Vineyards for its 2001 Octagon V table wine, a blend of 70% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. Also, 18 gold, 38 silver, and 52 bronze medals were awarded. Additionally, with the largest number of dessert wines ever submitted to the competition, a special plaque was awarded to the category’s highest scoring 2003 V d’Or from Rockbridge Vineyards.

Jefferson’s dream that wines of quality, comparable to those of Europe, could be produced in Virginia has come true.

The VWGA competition employs an adaptation of the University of California Davis Campus 20-point scoring system, with 2 points for appearance, 5 points for aroma, 5 points for taste, 3 points for balance, 3 points for aftertaste and 2 points for overall impression. As judging is a skilled, but subjective experience, all judges are requested to be consistent in their assigning of numerical ratings to all wine categories in order to achieve overall fair and just scores.

With the extensive use of filtering at bottling, excluding purposely-bottled unfiltered wines, most wines are rendered perfectly clear. Appearance can change, however, as a result of poor storage, bacterial infection, bad corks, refermentation in the bottle, or overheating. Color is affected the same way as clarity, but also can reflect the ripeness of the varietal grape used and the method of vinification.

The term “aroma” or the way the sensors of the nose respond to the wine, usually refers to fresh, new wines, while the term “bouquet” indicates responses to older, aged wines. As grape maturity progresses, tannins are moderated and aromas change into deeper berry-flavors, spices, herbs, and dried fruits for red wines, or more tropical aromas in whites.

For taste, there are two factors that need to be considered: tongue response (sweet, sour, bitter, and salt) and flavor (the aromatic sensors in the back of the mouth and the nasal cavity).

Balance is also an important consideration in judging wine. If the aroma is outstanding and the taste is weak, not up to the promise of the nose, the wine is out of balance. Likewise, if there is little or no aroma but really good flavors, the wine is again out of balance. If the wine is too acidic or too sweet, or if the oaks and tannins overwhelm the fruits of a wine, it is out of balance.

Aftertaste measures the length of time that the wine affects the mouth, good or bad, but it must be a balance of texture, flavor, sweetness, sour (acid), and tannin, and have a clean, pleasant finish.

Overall impression gives the judges an opportunity to balance judgment of the total effect of the wine, particularly as it relates to the quality and marketability of the wine.

By having a panel of judges that represents a cross section of the wine industry, including retailer, wholesaler, importer, restaurateur, food and beverage, chef and sommelier, trade association, wine regulator, wine society, wine writer and educator, and scientific researcher, it has been the objective of the VWGA to award recognition to quality wines that will sell well in the marketplace and encourage the growth of a consumer public.

The VWGA competition places judges at four separate tables, each with a table monitor to ensure accuracy of wine pourings and scoring, a competition tabulator to register and certify score averages for all wine entries, an overall competition manager, a cellar master and other appropriate support staff.

All award-winning wines from the 2004 VWGA wine competition will be available to taste at this year's 29th VWGA Annual Virginia Wine Festival scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, August 21st and 22nd, at Historic Long Branch Estate, Clarke County, Virginia. The presentations of the Perpetual Monteith Trophy, the most prestigious sterling silver Tiffany wine trophy on the east coast, will be presented to the United States Congressional Wine Caucus. The silver Wine Grape Productivity Tray will be awarded to Dr. Francois M. Booyse for the Center for Wine and Cardiovascular Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and the Jefferson Loving Cup for Best of Show will go to Barboursville Vineyards for their 2001 Octagon V. A special plaque will be awarded to Rockbridge Vineyard for their 2003 V d’Or dessert wine. A Restaurant of the Year award will be presented to the Equinox Restaurant in Washington, D.C.

All presentations, along with the gold and silver medals, will be made at the annual awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 21st at the festival seminar tent. A tasting of selected gold and silver-winning wines will be offered at the conclusion of the awards ceremony. Also, at each of the daily wine seminars, including “The History of Wine in America,” “Wine and Health” and “All You Wanted to Know about Wine 101,” a drawing for award-winning wines will be held for the attending public.

Festival hours are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. The cost of tickets is $18 in advance for individuals 21 or over, or $22 at the gate; $5 for individuals under 21, and children aged 2 and under are free. Designated Driver tickets are $13 in advance, $16 at the gate. Ample parking. For advance tickets call (888) 435-9746, or order online at www.showsinc.com. For festival information, call (800) 520-9670.

Come join us! The award-winning wines for 2004 are as follows:

Best of Show
Barboursville 2001 Octagon V

Gold Medal Winners
AmRhein 2002 Petit Verdot
AmRhein 2003 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc
Barboursville 2001 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Barboursville 2002 Malvaxia
Barboursville 2001 Octagon V
Barboursville 2002 Octagon VI
Breaux 2002 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
Chrysalis 2003 Chardonnay
Chrysalis 2001 Locksley Norton Reserve
Horton Cellars 2002 Petit Manseng
Ingleside 2001 Cabernet Franc
Keswick 2002 Heritage
Pearmund 2002 Ameritage
Rappahannock 2003 Vidal Blanc
Rockbridge 2003 V d’Or
Sharp Rock 2003 Chamois Blanc
Veramar 2003 Chardonnay
Windham 2002 Meritage Vintner’s Reserve

Silver Medal Winners
AmRhein 2003 Chardonnay Ice
AmRhein 2003 Pinot Grigio
AmRhein 2003 Vidal Blanc
Barboursville 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Barboursville 2001 Malvaxia
Barboursville 2003 Pinot Grigio
Breaux 2001 Merlot
Breaux 2001 Nebbiolo
Breaux NV Sweet Evangeline
Chrysalis 2003 Albariño
Chrysalis 2002 Locksley Norton Reserve
Chrysalis 2002 Petit Verdot
Chrysalis 2003 Viognier
Farfelu 2002 Barrel Select Chardonnay
Gray Ghost 2002 Chardonnay Reserve
Gray Ghost 2003 Adieu
Hillsborough 2002 Opal White Table Wine
Horton Cellars 2002 Syrah
Lake Anna 2002 Barrel Select Chardonnay
Lake Anna 2002 Spotsylvania Claret
Lake Anna 2002 Merlot
Oasis 2001 Barrel Select Chardonnay
Pearmund 2003 Fletchers Chardonnay
Pearmund 2002 Petit Verdot
Prince Michel 2001 Barrel Select Chardonnay
Prince Michel 2001 Symbius
Rappahannock Cellars 2003 Chardonnay
Rockbridge 2002 Cabernet Franc
Rockbridge 2002 DeChiel Chardonnay
Rockbridge 2001 Heritage
Rockbridge 2001 DeChiel Merlot
Sharp Rock 2002 Chardonnay Reserve
Stone Mountain 2002 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Unicorn 2003 Merlot
Valhalla 2000 Valkyrie
Willowcroft 2002 Chardonnay Reserve
Willowcroft 2002 Merlot
Wintergreen 2002 Black Rock Chardonnay

Bronze Medal Winners
Afton Mountain 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Afton Mountain 2001 Estate Bottled Chardonnay
Afton Mountain 2002 Sangiovese
AmRhein 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
AmRhein 2003 Traminette
Barboursville 2002 Barbera
Barboursville 2002 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Barboursville 2002 Viognier
Bleu Rock 1999 Chardonnay
Bleu Rock 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Breaux 2002 Madeleine’s Chardonnay
Cardinal Point 2003 Barrel Select Chardonnay
Chateau Morrisette 2001 Chambourcin Reserve
Chateau Morrisette 2002 Chardonnay
Chateau Morrisette 2002 Frosty Dog
Chateau Morrisette 2001 Merlot
Chateau Morrisette 2002 Pinot Noir
Chrysalis 2002 Chardonnay
Chrysalis 2002 Mariposa
Chrysalis 2002 Rubiana
Chrysalis 2002 Viognier
Cooper 2002 Merlot
Farfelu NV Folly
First Colony 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Hillsborough 2002 Ruby Red Table Wine
Horton Cellars 2002 Rkatsiteli
Horton Cellars 2000 Tannat
Ingleside 2001 Merlot
Keswick 2002 Chardonnay
North Mountain 2002 Chambourcin
North Mountain NV Claret
Oasis 2001 Meritage
Oasis 2000 Merlot
Pearmund 2003 Chardonnay
Pearmund 2003 Lisa’s Merlot
Prince Michel 2002 Madison Chardonnay
Prince Michel 2002 Church Creek Merlot
Rappahannock Cellars 2003 Cabernet Franc
Rappahannock Cellars 2003 Seyval Blanc
Rappahannock Cellars 2003 Viognier
Rockbridge 2002 Norton (Virginia Claret)
Tarara 2003 Pinot Gris
Unicorn 2002 Meritage
Unicorn 2002 Viognier
Veramar 2003 d’Ora White Table Wine
Waterford 2003 Chardonnay
Waterford 2002 Meritage
Williamsburg 2001 Gabriel Archer Reserve
Willowcroft 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Willowcroft 2001 Merlot
Windham NV Doukenie
Windham 2003 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay