Wine Enthusiast Magazine has named Virginia one of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations for 2012. Virginia is one of only three domestic destinations to make the list of wine lover regions to visit in 2012.
With more than 200 wineries located throughout the state, Virginia’s rich history, natural beauty and wine makers are some of the many reasons why the Old Dominion was chosen as a hot wine travel destination. Other wine destinations on the list include regions in Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Hungary, Germany, France, Chile and two regions in California.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said,
“Virginia is in excellent company in this list of Wine Enthusiast’s 10 best wine travel destinations for 2012, and I applaud our wineries and wine makers on this achievement. We are well on our way to being recognized as the premiere wine destination of the East Coast, which is one of my administration’s top agricultural and tourism priorities. I have great confidence that this article will bring even more tourists to visit our wineries across the state and continue to build our reputation as the ideal travel destination for people who love to try new wines.”
Governor McDonnell has promoted Virginia wines at the Virginia Executive Mansion, throughout Virginia, on domestic business recruitment visits and on international trade and marketing missions to Great Britain, China, South Korea, Israel and India. First Lady Maureen McDonnell has incorporated wine and wine tourism promotions into her First Lady Initiative Team Effort, or FLITE. More domestic and international promotions are planned for 2012.
Todd P. Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, said,
“Virginia’s vibrant wineries and talented wine makers are becoming less of an insider’s secret. Indeed, the word is getting out that some amazing, well-balanced, old-world styled wines are being made right here in the Commonwealth. With our history, beautiful scenery, and ability to create world class wines, Virginia deserves to be recognized alongside the other amazing international wine regions listed in Wine Enthusiast.”
Alisa Bailey, President and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, said,
“The fact that Virginia has wineries in every region of the Commonwealth sets us apart as a wine travel destination. Where else in the world can you enjoy bluegrass music as a winery, kayak to a winery, taste local wines at a national park, sip local wines at a National Historic Landmark or bike from winery to winery. All those experiences are found in Virginia.”
Virginia Wine History
The wine industry in Virginia has been around for quite some time. Jamestown colonists (circa. 1607) grew grapes and made wine. Thomas Jefferson was a big supporter of wine and had an extensive collection at Monticello. In 1787, he took a three and a half month tour of the wine regions of southern France and northern Italy and kept extensive notes and journals on the subject in the hope of bringing the wine industry to America (i.e. Virginia).
Virginia Tourism and the Wine Industry
Tourism is a top revenue-maker in Virginia. In 2010, tourism generated $19 billion in revenue, supported over 204,000 jobs and provided $1.3 billion in state and local taxes. Approximately one million people include a visit to a Virginia winery while visiting the state.
Sales of Virginia wine reached a record high in 2011 with more than 462,000 cases sold. This was an increase of more than 11 percent over the previous fiscal year. Virginia is the nation’s fifth largest wine producer and seventh largest wine grape producer.
The Virginia wine industry employs approximately 3,000 people and contributes almost $350 million to the Virginia economy on an annual basis. In 2005, there were 120 wineries in Virginia. Today, there are more than 200 farm wineries in the state.
Richmond area wineries
Cooper Vineyards
Grayhaven Winery
James River Cellars
Lake Anna Winery
Mattaponi
Williamsburg Winery
Windy River
Please visit Virginia.org to learn more about wine travel in Virginia or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.
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