The Virginia Wine Experience in London, LLC, recently announced the results of its qualifying round to determine which wines will represent Virginia at a historic May
2007 wine tasting in London, England. After tasting more than 88 wines from
33 Virginia wineries, the qualifying wines to be presented at the London
wine tasting represent a diverse range from sparkling wines and meritage
blends to the native Norton grape. A complete list of the Virginia wines
can be found at http://www.vawineinlondon.com.
“We are pleased to be taking 65 high-quality wines to pour for media
and trade members in London. They truly represent the best quality in
today’s Virginia wines,” said Richard Leahy, executive director of the
Virginia Wine Experience in London, LLC.
The one-day qualifying round took place at White Hall Vineyards and
featured a panel of ten wine experts tasting the full range of Virginia
wines from vintage sparkling to dessert styles. The selected wines will be
introduced to an exclusive audience of media and wine trade members at the
renowned Vinopolis wine tasting venue in London on May 2nd, 2007, and
presented as worthy of comparison to fine wines from any region on the
world stage.
The theme at the Virginia Wine Experience in London will be “Virginia,
First in Wine” — a reference to both the history and quality of Virginia’s
wine. “Since this is the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement, now
is an excellent time to highlight the fact that Virginia was the first
place in North America where English settlers deliberately set out to
produce wine,” noted Leahy. “We believe Londoners will appreciate the
historical significance of our theme, and it’s a tremendous opportunity to
showcase recent progress in the Virginia wine industry.”
Virginia is both literally and stylistically between California and
Europe. Due to its favorable Mid-Atlantic location — between North and
South — Virginia wines represent both New World and Old World wine making
styles. Leahy noted further that Virginia’s climate produces the most
versatile range of fine wines in the Eastern United States.
Leahy points out that Virginia is on the cutting edge of the regional
wine industry, with a national reputation for Viognier and with major
awards in national and international competitions. “Our recent fine 2002
and 2005 vintages demonstrate just how far we’ve come, and we’re looking
forward to showing the British that their dream of establishing a
world-class wine industry in Virginia has finally been realized,” said
Leahy.
Virginia is known to produce a good wine for any palate. Varieties
worthy of note include Chardonnay, fine red Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Franc
and Petit Verdot (two of the red Bordeaux varieties), Viognier (a white
grape from the Rhone that many believe performs better in Virginia than
anywhere else in the country), specialty varieties, such as Petit Manseng,
and Virginia’s own native Norton grape.
A complete list of judges, participating wineries and the wines
selected for presentation at the London event, in addition to photos from
the qualifying event and more information about the Virginia Wine
Experience in London can be found at http://www.vawineinlondon.com.
About the Virginia Wine Experience in London
The Virginia Wine Experience in London, LLC, was formed by six Virginia
wineries (Keswick Vineyards, Kluge Estate Vineyard & Winery, Pearmund
Cellars, White Hall Vineyards, Williamsburg Winery, and Veritas Winery),
and is generously sponsored by the Farm Credit of Virginia. Richard Leahy,
the Executive Director, has written as a journalist on Virginia wine for 20
years, including acting as Mid-Atlantic and South Editor for the Oxford
Companion to the Wines of North America, and he is currently the East Coast
Editor for the trade magazine Vineyard & Winery Management.
[SOURCE Virginia Wine Experience in London, LLC]
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