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P.O.Box 91 | Clifford, Virginia 24533 | vva@hughes.net
VVA and Industry News
2007 Virginia Grape Acreage Increases
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Virginia Field Office has released data regarding Virginia grape bearing acreage statistics for 2007.
2008 VVA Annual Meeting: Awards
2007 GROWER OF THE YEAR
Dean Triplett - Greenstone Vineyard
Charlottesville,
Virginia At its annual membership meeting
on Friday, 8 February, 2008, the Virginia Vineyards Association
presented its 2007 Grower of the Year award to Dean Triplett.
He was chosen based on criteria that include: a grower actively
involved in operating or managing a commercial vineyard of at
least five acres for a minimum of seven years, a record of service
and active involvement in the Virginia Viticulture Industry,
and being a well respected leader among peers in the industry.
The award was presented following the Virginia Vineyards Association’s
annual meeting.
Dean and his wife Karen are the owners of Greenstone Vineyards, on the Catoctin Ridge in Loudoun County. Dean got his start in the wine industry, when in 1983, he took a ten week class in wine making at Lord Fairfax Community College, that was taught by Jim Law. In 1984, he followed with Jim’s 10 week grape growing class at the same community college. At the same time, he co-managed a one acre vineyard (half Riesling, half Chardonnay) near Markham Virginia. After nearly losing the entire crop to deer, he joined the VVA in 1985. In 1988 he and his wife Karen purchased property in Culpeper County (while still living in Fairfax County) and planted a half acre of Norton. The following year he planted a half acre of Cabernet Sauvignon, which was destroyed by a combination of Japanese Beetles and drought. The Norton got frosted out in the spring three out of the following four years. In 1993 he was asked to run for the position of secretary on the board of the VVA. He served as secretary for 8 years and vice president for 2 years. In 1995 they sold their land in Culpeper and purchased 8 acres on the Catoctin Ridge in Loudoun County in 1995. With the help of his wife and children, Ian and Mary, they started planting Merlot in 1996. Eventually adding Muscat Ottenel, Petit Verdot, Traminette and Albarino and got the acreage up to just over 4 acres, (all on GDC and Lyre).
In 2003, Dean was appointed to the Virginia Wine Advisory Board and in 2005 he was appointed to the new Virginia Wine Board. In 2007 he was reappointed for 4 more years. He currently serves as the chair of the VVA’s Research Committee and has written a number of short articles for the VVA’s quarterly newsletter, the Grape Press. He also serves as a regional reporter for the Grape Press. He is extremely active in all VVA events.
VIRGINIA VINEYARDS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD
Dr. Tony Wolf - Director, AHS Jr. Agricultural Research & Extension
Center
Charlottesville, Virginia At its annual membership
meeting on Friday, 8 February, 2008, the Virginia Vineyards
Association (VVA) presented its first ever Special Achievement
Award to Dr. Tony Wolf for his over twenty-two years of contributions
to the Virginia Wine Industry. The award was presented by Rock
Stephens, VVA president, during the Friday night banquet celebrating
the association’s 25th anniversary.
Dr. Wolf has been the state viticulturist since 1986 and as such played a key role in identifying what varietals would do well in Virginia’s climate, as well as, what locations in the state were the best sites for establishing vineyards. He has published over 40 research publications in addition to co-authoring the Mid-Atlantic Winegrape Growers Guide (1995) and a soon to be released “Wine Grape Production Guide for Eastern North America”(2008).
In 2004, Dr. Wolf was selected to become the Director of the AHS Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Winchester, Virginia in addition to his duties as State Viticulturist and a teaching Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He and his wife and two sons live in Shenandoah county.
Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts -USDA 2007 Preliminary Summary
2006 Virginia Grape Crop Report
Commercial grape acreage and production data are collected annually by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. In Virginia, this is done through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The 2006 Commercial Grape Report is now available on-line.
Virginia producers harvested 6,200 tons of grapes in 2006, up 11% over the 2005 crop. The raw product value was $8.6 million. Albemarle County continues to lead the state’s counties in both acreage and grape production. Remarkable figures. Two decades ago, Riesling was the 3rd most extensively planted variety and Viognier was just being considered for trial planting. Today the acreage of Riesling has fallen to about 50, while there are about 150 acres of Viognier.
If you are a new, commercial producer in Virginia, and/or do not
receive VDACS’s crop survey, please contact VDACS statistician
Mr. Jason Jones to add your vineyard to the survey. The data are
useful for illustrating growth and development of the industry,
lobbying legislative support, and justifying human and fiscal support
from state and federal agencies.
Jason Jones
USDA / NASS / Virginia Field Office, 102 Governor Street, Room
LL20
Richmond, VA 23219
(800) 772-0670 jason_jones@nass.usda.gov
Information provide by Tony K. Wolfe, Viticulture Extension Specialist, AHS Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Winchester, Virginia ,http://faculty.vaes.vt.edu/vitis
Travel + Leisure names Virginia as "One of Five Up-and-Coming Wine Regions" in the World
Richmond, Va. – Virginia is one of the top five new wine travel destinations in the world, according to the July issue of Travel + Leisure magazine. Virginia was the only American region to be featured in the Wine-Lover’s Guide: 5 Wine Regions to Visit Now article, highlighting some of globe’s hottest new wine destinations.
Written by Bruce Schoenfeld, the magazine’s wine editor and former contributing editor for Wine Spectator, the article features Virginia, as well as regions in the renowned wine-producing countries of Italy, Spain, Chile and New Zealand, as five new destinations for travelers who are passionate about wine, food and new experiences.
“If you’re a wine lover, you are going to love going to Virginia’s wineries,” said Bruce Schoenfeld, wine and spirits editor of Travel + Leisure. “It’s not just the wineries but also new restaurants, B&Bs and inns that make Virginia such a great destination. Virginia is democratizing the wine experience – anyone can go to a Virginia winery and feel comfortable while trying exciting wines.”
Schoenfeld’s article highlights Virginia’s largest wine regions in Central and Northern Virginia. Barboursville Vineyards, Breaux Vineyards, and Linden Vineyards are featured as wineries to visit. Boar’s Head Inn, 1804 Inn & Vineyard Cottage, Grandale Farm Restaurant, Inn at Little Washington, and Palladio are touted as cuisine and accommodation destinations. “This article captures the essence of wine travel in Virginia,” said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Our wineries stretch across the state and are surrounded by unique places to enjoy local cuisine and excellent lodging choices.
Virginia
is one of the only wine destinations that offers a kayak trip to
a winery or combines bluegrass with wine tastings. It’s these unique
experiences that are drawing more and more wine lovers to Virginia.”
Virginia is home to 130 wineries and is fifth in the nation for
number of wine producers. Wine tourism is so big that the state
designates October as Virginia Wine Month each year and celebrates
with special events, tastings and tours. Virginia’s picturesque
wine trails make visiting wineries easy and fun. Virginia wineries
that are open to the public are marked from the road with a designated
Virginia Wine Tour road sign.
Summer is an excellent time to visit Virginia wineries for tastings and special events. In August alone there are more than 50 concerts, special tastings and celebrations at Virginia wineries across the state including the Beach Party Wine Festival at James River Cellars just north of Richmond, Blackberry Days Wine Festival at Tarara Winery in Northern Virginia, or the Black Dog Wine and Music Festival at Chateau Morrisette in Southwest Virginia.
For more information about Virginia’s wineries and to start planning a visit, go to www.Virginia.org/wine or call 1-800-932-5827 to request a 2007 Virginia Travel Guide.
