Six, yes SIX wines from Virginia

Six, yes SIX wines from Virginia – Episode #528

August 27, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes 6 Virginia wines along with a crowd at the Winery at La Grange in Haymarket, VA.

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“Virginia is for Vignior….” by John Gavin
“I went to the Virginia Wine Festival in Richmond last year and King Fa…” by Matlock the Burgundian
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 La Grange Pinot Grigio
2007 Pearmund Viognier
2006 Rappahannock Cellars Cabernet Franc
2007 King Family Cabernet Franc
2004 Pearmund Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 La Grange Snort – Fortified Red Wine

Links mentioned in todays episode.

How To Get Your Wine Palate Trained – Episode #148

152 Responses

August 27, 2008

hingrman
I guess we are trying VA again!
August 27, 2008

Deano
#2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 27, 2008

Phil G
Looking forward to a palate-changing experience…
August 27, 2008

Susan
Gary & Mott, Virginia!!! YEAH!!!!! Can’t wait……….
August 27, 2008

Mojave Joe
Top 10–go cavaliers!
August 27, 2008

BF
Thomas Jefferson couldn’t make it work in Virginia — can this generation??
August 27, 2008

Withnail
Excellent. Good to see a great state getting some recognition.
August 27, 2008

John Farrin
8
August 27, 2008

DC7
Tremendous! Now, let’s get to the other VA wineries!!!
August 27, 2008

Doug
Was at this taping and had a great time. Thanks.
August 27, 2008

bwizzle
I must say, virginia has some good wines but I cannot stand the VA wines made with the Norton grape.
August 27, 2008

Smahlatz
QOTD : Country Roads (never been there)

I just got my G4 wristband !!! Thanks Santa GaryVee
August 27, 2008

Susan
Gary & Mott, GREAT EPISODE!!!!!! My parents used to live in VA ( no I didn’t live there). I like VA. I have been there MANY times!!!! Happy to see you featuring the other 48!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 27, 2008

Shep H
Next time you are in VA we need to get you down to the Monticello AVA.
August 27, 2008

Loweeel
Yay for VA!
August 27, 2008

BF
QOTD: The best thing about Virginia is that you can see the campus of Georgetown from across the Potomac.
August 27, 2008

Jay
The best thing about VA is the fact that you have a Skins spit bucket. Awesome!
August 27, 2008

EricB
VA – cool, where I grew up.
The best Virginia wine I’ve had was a Norton from Rockbridge Winery. Top notch, in the 91 point range in my book.
August 27, 2008

Dr T from N. Carolina
QOTD — genuine Virginia ham!
August 27, 2008

EIPCI
Gary and Mott – great show and we’re so very pleased you made the time to visit. Look for http://www.virginiawineblog.com in a couple of weeks! You have us inspired. I may even start liking the Jets.
August 27, 2008

Kevin K
QOTD: Arlington National Cemetery.
August 27, 2008

Tom Jones
QOTD: I have driven through Virginia but I have never been there. I will have to add it to the ever growing list of places to go.
August 27, 2008

Ken
QOTD: Skyline Drive
August 27, 2008

Clayton Havens
QOTD: Variety… from the mountains to the beach, forest, rivers, every type or person you can image… love the state, and love visiting family there… If it was closer to Colorado I’d visit even more.
August 27, 2008

Scott
Viogniers are quickly becoming my favorite…Great episode. Just got my first WLTV shirt today…going to wear it tasting in the Washington Yakima Valley on Saturday. QOTD – never been, west coaster here…might just have to make a trip out east sometime soon!
August 27, 2008

Slushpuppy
QOTD: Driving through on the way to N.E. Tennesee, Jonesborough. Keep a watch-out for the dreaded Jack-A-Rynis!
Smell it first!
August 27, 2008

Neil
QOTD: Sonny Bowman
August 27, 2008

Shawn_944
Nice Job Gary. Bringing out six wines, awesome work!
August 27, 2008

Chaz C.
QOTD: Best thing about Virginia is the diversity of the state. To the west you’ve got the mountains. To the east there is the beach.

Lucky for me I live right in between those. Everybody should visit Richmond, VA great town just to walk through and see the sites.
August 27, 2008

KVolk
QOTD: No doubt it is the Shenendoah valley first virgina beach second…

Love the live audience Gary it really gets you going…………
August 27, 2008

Paryb
GV!! I visited Virginia a few years ago when my best friend lived there…been a couple times actually. QOTD: Favorite thing in VA, well when I was still a single guy, the lovely girls from Martha Washington College in Fredricksburg. Now, some of the wine, I had a bunch of really good things, but the one that really stood out for me was some stuff from Keswick Vineyards, they made a blend, seems like it was cab, cab franc, Touriga National, and a couple others too, called it Trevillian. Rocked my face off.
August 27, 2008

David
Great to see you in VA. QOTD: Close call between the Shenandoah Valley and the ham.
August 27, 2008

JoeQ
LaGrange and Pearmund are well known to me. Chris makes great wine. Hopefully you visited another well known winery nearby; Mediterreanean Cellars. They have the Cab Franc and it’s “peppery” finish you are so fond of. They also have 11 other great wines to choose from. Visit Mediterreanean Cellars next time your visit VA.
To bad the Jets got rid of Pennington for Favre.
August 27, 2008

pete
charlotteville. Monticello UVA the mountains… Magical
August 27, 2008

Anthony L.
Love to hear about wines from the other states.
August 27, 2008

Jason S.
QOTD: Buzz and Ned’s BBQ in Richmond – THE BEST!

Fun show – wish I knew you’d be out in VA, would have driven out from DC for the show
August 27, 2008

Lawrence Leichtman
My children who all grew up in Virginia. Thanks for the review of my state’s wines. Gives me renewed hope that VA can produce good wines if the use the right varietals. I am working with a good friend in Franklin VA to produce a vineyard with really good grapes. This will be the first harvest of Grenache, Viognier, rrousanne, and Syrah. I still live in VA and have had really mixed feelings about the wines until I tasted some of the great Viognier’s here. I’m hoping that Grenache will catch on as well.
August 27, 2008

Tooch
best thing about virginia is DCA.
August 27, 2008

Richard Okimoto
That Pearmund Viognier is now at the top of my shortlist to try… I would have been at the taping if it hadn’t been 75 bones to attend.

QOTD: Robert E Lee
August 27, 2008

Kevin
QOTD: Never been, cause it’s on the other side of the continent.
August 27, 2008

Mike S.
Had a Breaux viognier recently – really, really good stuff. Winemaker, David Collins, is a family friend, but it’s still really good stuff. Gary – give it a shot the next time you do Virginia wines.

QOTD – your University of Virginia men’s lacrosse team – next year’s NCAA champs. Go Wahoos!
August 27, 2008

Maria M.
Just got back from a vacation in Virginia so I’d say the Lake Anna area is my favorite thing about VA.
August 27, 2008

Withnail
QOTD: It’s for lovers
August 27, 2008

DAve A
Great show. Liked the low seat! 6 wines! GREAT! Virginia? GREAT!
Good politician words on the La Grange! haha. Gary O-ba-ma!

Great verbage, good humor. love it!

QOTD: Virginia Creeper Trail, Virginia local theatre, Virginia horseback riding, and a couple of the wineries. smile.
August 27, 2008

Yvette W
It’s great that you did a show in Virgina! Great show!

QOTD: The Virgina beach is great, along with all the historical sights like Williamsburg, and the fact that many parts of it are so close to DC. Just went to Arlington, VA this summer for vacation with the family, and it was wonderful an relaxing.
August 27, 2008

Dale Cruse
My favorite thing about Virginia is that my Rhone Ranger friend who got me into wine lives there.
August 27, 2008

Mike Cox
QOTD: The beautiful mountains

To anyone in the Vaynernation, if you wanna see VA let me know. I will show you the best spots.
August 27, 2008

Mark S
QOTD: By far the mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway. Last time there the kids were too young so we didn’t visit the wineries. It is now high on my list to get back to visit them. Great Show.
August 27, 2008

Kelly Goff
SO FUN to meet you, Mott and Lizzy! I hope to see you guys again soon here in VA.

QOTD: There are lots of faves for me since I live here, but I love the fall season here especially if we are staying at a B&B in the western part of the state. Also the history! It all started here in VA!
August 27, 2008

manonthemoon
Nice to see some familiar bottles on the show, too bad I can’t really say I enjoyed any of them.

As a life long resident of the domininon there are many things I love about my state, family, friendly people (south of NOVA), history, and the VPI. My favorite part has to be the AT (Appalachian Trail), which is the greatest hiking trail of all and the most miles happen to run through this great state. Of course the thing I like the least is VA wines, been to the majority of the wineries tasted at various va tasting festival and am always walk away unimpressed.
August 27, 2008

Doug from New Orleans
Great show!
August 27, 2008

Robin C
QOTD: I used to live in Baltimore, Maryland when I was 12. I guess that’s the closest to Virginia I came. I liked the snowstorms and my snowsuit with mittens attached. I liked making snow angels. I walked to school and played at the construction sites when it wasn’t too cold. It was great when they would let us inside the school even if we were early.

It’s interesting to know about Virginia’s wines. We’ve met a couple of people who have been to the International Pinot Festival in McMinnville and raved about it, so our thought are turning to Oregon.
August 27, 2008

Chris in Tulsa
QOTD: Live in Oklahoma. Never been to Virginia or anywhere east of Arkansas here in the US. Always have heard Virginia is beautiful and nice to know now they have some nice wines also. More reason for me to go there.
August 27, 2008

WineWoman
QOTD: Charlottesville—college town and home to several wineries. Beautiful fall foliage, Monticello, Jefferson Vineyards, tons of wineries, great Viognier. Norfolk Waterfront, mild winters—may just relocate here in 10 years.
August 27, 2008

whitney
QOTD: the mountains, the james river, and the frontier culture museum in Staunton, VA. in fact, staunton in general is pretty awesome.

VERY psyched that you did a show in my home state.
August 27, 2008

Leif erik Sundstrom
QOTD:: all the lovers
August 27, 2008

Herm
I think Virginia is a very scenic state…..love the mountains….It’s nice to know there are many good wineries there….Great show Gary!
August 27, 2008

Andrea
Have had the LaGrange Snort and really liked it. Will have to track down the Viognier. Thanks for coming to our neck of the woods!
August 27, 2008

Reed
It’s nice to see that you are expanding the regions that you are reviewing. Did you ever consider reviewing some the the wineries in North Jersey or Bucks County Pa? There is probably at least 40 within an hour of New Hope.
August 27, 2008

Paul V
QOTD: Virginia. It’s a beautiful state.
August 27, 2008

Jimmy T
QOTD: I would have to say, “being born there”. And that my Great Grandmother still lives there.

!!!What’s up with the down on Clos Du Bois? I guess you call me “green” on this but I have had a ton of cabs and one that stands out with only a few other is the ‘03. I don’t know but I would love to know a list of 5 cabs at the same price point as the Clos du Bois that match it or beat it.

Great Show!
August 27, 2008

ChiroGuyDC
QOTD: I’ve never been to Virginia, only through Virginia on the way to Florida. Got stuck in one of those 3 hurricanes coming up the coast in August 2004, so 95 South through Virginia took 14 hours!!! Of course, Virginia is for lovers as well, right?

Great show Gary…you need to be live from Providence someday!
August 28, 2008

neutron212
QOTD: you gotta love the history both revolution and civil war and the food and VA Beach
August 28, 2008

jaredlevy
Good show Gary. Keep “the other 46″ shows coming. Next up, Hawaii!

Anyway, QOTD: Busch Gardens, of course!
August 28, 2008

Rowland
Dammit Mott, too lazy to pan. Gary put that guy to work, moving cases of wine or something till panning the camera seems like chump work. Yo Gary you are noticeably more nervous when your with the wine makers, this episode is 30 min not because your tasting 6 wines, but cause your justifying your scores to the 30 people in the room.
qotd, haven’t been to Virginia cause i live in the Hudson valley and its too awesome to ever leave!
August 28, 2008

JimChem
Interesting show, Gary. BTW have you ever stumbled onto a corked wine during your show or do you screen them ahead of time?
August 28, 2008

Dubai Mike
Great to see the episode at La Grange. La Grange is a very pretty winery, but the best wines in VA are from the Monticello AVA – need to check out Barboursville – the Octagon is the best wine in VA and they also do a great Viognier Reserve.
August 28, 2008

medo
@QOTD: I’m from Germany
August 28, 2008

BobbyTiger
66+ years in VA, and luckily, still counting.
QOTD- The diversity of topography. Mountains in the West, great beaches in the East, and as you noted today, pretty darn good winery’s in between.
[Unfortunately, I live in Arlington County, which, if you live here, know that it really isn't a part of the Commonwealth].
August 28, 2008

stephen
The Scenic beauty as well as the town of Charlottesville. Nice show about Virginia wines, really think they are coming along nicely. Really generous on some of those scores I think though
August 28, 2008

Pardus
QOTD: Virginia is my home when I am in the States. (Though not again for at least another 2 years.) I love it because it has a somthing of everything I love. The mountains, the Piedmont, the bay, the beach, loads of history and of course the wine.

It is hard to believe that I have not had so many of these wines. Since I moved to Virgina the wine industry has exploded. In ‘93 when I moved there I think there were only 40 vineyards (and at least one of them has closed).

I have passed by the sign directing you to Pearmund a number of times as I drove through Warrenton. I guess next time I am going to have to make that turn.
August 28, 2008

Sean
QOTD – Patowmack Farm in Lovettsville, Va. Organic restaurant with a fantastic chef, great owners, and an always changing wine list.

Sorry that I missed the event in Va. Was not far and would have definitely gone had I known about it.
August 28, 2008

sergiomic
Viognier is my favorite white grape…
totally agree with gary it could be the queen of white wines, but it’s a very difficult grape to grow, and has low yield per acre, and wines don’t get old so well… I think chardonay will keep the crown for long still.
August 28, 2008

joel delon
Very great episode gary ! just think of a wine bed for your next show
QOTD : this area sounds great why not coming in Virginia for picking grapes i’m from south of France…
August 28, 2008

Jayhitek
QOTD: Cause it’s like a 12 hour drive.. I would rather take the 4 hour drive to Jersey!
August 28, 2008

will
LEGAL FIREWORKS
August 28, 2008

Matthew
QOTD: We’ve only been in VA for 5 months and we Love it! The fact that we can have a very short drive, jump on the metro and pop up in the middle of DC or have a short drive in the other direction and be in the middle of now where is just great!

I’m new to the show, wish I would have know the show was going to be soo close, that would have been fun. But at least we know about the winery so we can go visit it now. And have another wine to try.

We went from having a bottle of wine once every other month or so, and not fully enjoying it, to now we have 4 bottles in the kitchen we can’t wait to try. Everything we’ve had so far we’ve liked or loved!
August 28, 2008

DaveM
And now Osi is out for the season. Dammit.

What I love about VA: the mountains are incredible
August 28, 2008

wayno da wino
Yo G & Mott, GIIIIIINOOOOOOOOOOORMOUSY GOOOOOOOD Episode !!!!!!!

QOTD: Used to fly out to Norfolk to work (in my first government job).
Loooooved the Greeeeeat Seafood Restarauts at the time. i.e. All Ya
Can Eat Crab Legs for $4.99……..YUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM !!!!!
August 28, 2008

sharon
Thanks for being the tour guide to wineries of the world…It’s very exciting to see how much is out there even though I come from California and am a bit boosterish for my own state. qotd: Dulles Airport is the extent of my Virginia
experience. I was blown away (coming from my very dry L.A.) to see how green and lush the countryside is during the summer.
August 28, 2008

josermj
QOTD: I would have to say that The Shenandoah National Park is my favorite part. Very beautiful
August 28, 2008

Steve H.
QOTD: The historical significance, VA Beach and from a wine perspective the Kluge Estate Vineyards and Winery…especially the sparkling wines.
August 28, 2008

Pebbles
Besides my wonderful in-laws who live in Richmond, my favorite part of Virginia is visiting Monticello. My husband the VT-grad would say Blacksburg is the best.
August 28, 2008

David
What do you consider to be the top 3 or 4 states for wine?
August 28, 2008

mrzitro
QOTD: Love Quantico ’cause that’s where I was conceived. I’m glad that Pearmond redeemed themselves with the Viognier.
August 28, 2008

Murso
I almost couldn’t finish this episode due to your most excellent performance at 27:02! I became mesmerized, and had to play it , like 15 times! Maybe the greatest display of your ability to over animate, surely worthy of a Tony Award. James Lipton said: “Ha ha haaaa, Gary Vaynerchuk, you are a treasure, and a deee-LIGHT!!!”
August 28, 2008

ChezJim
Always nice to hear about another wine region. I was good the VA did not disappoint. Love to see you here in Missouri.

QOTD: Virginia ham and biscuits. Yum.
August 28, 2008

Jamie
Great show. Used to live in VA. You gotta go to Linden Gary. And you gotta gotta try their 2004
Late Harvest Vidal. Kickin !!!
August 28, 2008

Adam J
I was in the DC area about 10 years ago. I love the Atlantic coast. Fresh seafood is amazing. I’d say the colonial history is the big winner.
August 28, 2008

T REX
I love Virginia Wines – And this is a relativily new winegrowing area! North Carolina is even newer – both show GREAT potential. Look out west coast -Look out New York!
August 28, 2008

Redmeat
Hmmm….the best thing about Virginia is that I no longer have to be there!

I spent 3 years there in the Navy, and I liked being out to sea more than being at my Homeport of Norfolk.

Sorry…but i gotta be honest.
August 28, 2008

David Dadekian
QOTD: Mount Vernon
August 28, 2008

Roberto
HI GV, sounds like it was a fun saturday. Hey, DID YOU EVER, EVER , EVER, think you would be trying Virginia wines and score them in the upper eighties (avg) !!! and SIX OF THEM, not one was even close to being so/so… that is amazing. Kudos to VA and the wines they’re pumping out… wish they were easier to find.

QOTD: I unfortunately have never been to Virginia
August 28, 2008

Scott EJ
Don’t know a whole heck of a lot about Virginia, but I do hear that it’s a pretty good terrior for wine growing. Maybe one day they can take all that tobacco land and turn it into vinyards.
August 28, 2008

Phil G
QOTD – Driving on I-81 along the Blue Ridge Mountains is great!
August 28, 2008

BruceErik
Virginia is a beautiful State and one whose wines I need to explore for myself. This Episode gives me a valuable glimpse into the areas wines, which seem to offer quite a lot more than my own State of Pennsylvania.

I attended a recent PA wine festival and was very disappointed in what is available here. The PA reds were really lacking (but oddly enough, selling quite well). I’m not experienced enough to describe the unusual taste of this stuff, but it just isn’t like any other reds I taste an enjoy from other regions. Almost all the whites taste the same, like sugar-fortified grape juice with a touch of tart. I don’t get it! I went homeempty-handed.

The Virginia Wine Festival is coming up in late September. After watching this Episode, I will make my plans to drive on down and check out the Virginia wine scene. Maybe then I’ll be better able to answer the QOTD from a sad PA wine lover.
August 28, 2008

BruceErik
Virginia is a beautiful State and one whose wines I need to explore for myself. This Episode gives me a valuable glimpse into the areas wines, which seem to offer quite a lot more than my own State of Pennsylvania.

I attended a recent PA wine festival and was very disappointed in what is available here. The PA reds were really lacking (but oddly enough, selling quite well). I’m not experienced enough to describe the unusual taste of this stuff, but it just isn’t like any other reds I taste an enjoy from other regions. Almost all the whites taste the same, like sugar-fortified grape juice with a touch of tart. I don’t get it! I went home empty-handed.

The Virginia Wine Festival is coming up in late September. After watching this Episode, I will make my plans to drive on down and check out the Virginia wine scene. Maybe then I’ll be better able to answer the QOTD from a sad PA wine lover.
August 28, 2008

SpoiledinCalbyPinot
QOTD:

I still remember my visit to Thomas Jefferson’s house. He was a big
wine drinker and inventor. Jefferson had a pair of doors he invented that
swung open simultaneously, past generations had to open the mechanism to
see how they worked. Loved monticello, Need to try Cabernet Franc.
August 28, 2008

Dave from VA/FL
QOTD: I can’t pick one thing!!! I’m back in FL for the last two months and I miss Charlottesville, the restaurants, the vineyards (Veritas, Barboursville, and Keswick to name a few), the Blue Mountain Brewery, the mountains, my townhouse, the weather, and definitely the people. They are some of the nicest I have lived with anywhere! Thanks for checking out more VA vino, GV.
August 28, 2008

John
QOTD: mountains, ocean, Chesapeake Bay/tidewater, proximity to DC, some fine under-the-radar restos in Richmond (Mamma Zu, Millie’s) and, yes, the wines.

Thanks for this episode, Gary — glad you found some promising juice in the OD. I knew it was there!
August 28, 2008

Mike L
Woohoo! Great show. I wish I could have gone, you were in Haymarket right?

QOTD: Virginia is just so friggen diverse! You have your beach and resort town at Va. Beach, your modern, fast paced lifestyle in the Northern VA area, but we’re most known for the colonial stuff.

There’s Jamestown and Williamsburg where this whole US experiment began 400 years ago. There’s the Yorktown area where we chased out the British and where we became a free nation. There’s there Northern Neck where I’m from where you can see the birthplace of the Lee family and the Washington families. There’s the Lynchburg area where Jefferson lived..it goes on and on with the Presidents that were born here. You have the Richmond/Petersburg, Fredericksburg, and Appomattox area where the country both divided and rejoined during the Civil War. Then you can see the turn of the century industrial machine still here today.

Sorry for the long post, but there’s no way you can say one good thing about my state, but I can sure hell tell you a hundred great things about this state.
August 28, 2008

Kristen
QOTD: Favorite part of Virginia? It has to be the fireflies. My immediate family went there to visit some relatives and we stood outside their home for 5 minutes staring at their bushes watching them light up with fireflies. Being from California we had never seen them before. It was so simple, yet so awesome, hehe. Our relatives probably thought we were insane.
August 28, 2008

Dominus
A great show if I say so myself since I was directly in front of the G-Man when he was filming this episode and after trying these wines, he was spot on. What a fun, fun time.

QOTD: They say Virginia is for lovers and I will agree wholeheartedly. Since I lived in VA a few years ago, it has a softness in my heart. I need to answer the question instead of rambling. The best thing about VA as a previous Vayniac said is the historical significance of VA, especially Williamsburg and the home of one of our Vayniac Forefather, Thos Jefferson, Monticello.

Great to see you again Gary.

Cheers!
August 28, 2008

Dominus
P.S. Great to meet Mr. Mott
August 28, 2008

sam
Great show! Quiet crowd, attentive. Good to hear that good wines are being made by our neighbors to the south. Big ups to Virginia!
August 28, 2008

Rich
Thank you so much for a Virginia Wine Show. We vacation in Virginia every Summer and really enjoy many of the wines. I really enjoy the other 46 episodes as well, but truly we love them all. The shows have been amazing.
August 28, 2008

LauraG
QOTD: The Virginia Creeper Trail is my favorite VA thing.

Great show!!
August 28, 2008

tarheel17
Wow, coincidentally I tasted at King Family VIneyards just 3 weeks ago. I thought their wines were quite solid. I was a bit disappointed that they charged a tasting fee on top of the bottles we bought though….I mean this is Virginia, not Napa!
August 28, 2008

John Witherspoon (J DUB)
HEY GV
Favorite thing about VA would have to be, my wife, where i met her and where we now live. Awwhh!

Dude I am so bummed, the guy from La Grange emailed back in April and asked if I wanted to be on the list to visit while you were taping. I said FO SHIZZLE, put me on, I’ll blog live from the event.
Never heard a thing, so I missed it and you were just 2 hours away. AHHHHHH

Great episode, glad they gave your some VA wines to represent. There are still better though.
Cheers my friend.
J DUB
August 28, 2008

James Roscoe
The wineries are my favorite thing about Virginia! Nice show as always.
August 28, 2008

RANDI
QOTD: Skyline Drive
August 28, 2008

Richard Ritter
QOTD: HAM!
August 29, 2008

Tyler RM
QOTD – My favorite thing about Virginia is that Maryland (and I) are right next door!
August 29, 2008

Grape + Bean Guy
Gary,

Thank you for featuring some Virginia wines. There has been significant progress here over recent years to make better wines and to identify varietals that will do best here given the pariculars of our climate and growing season.

Here’s something for people to consider. If consumers would occaisionally purchase wine from the “other 46 states” from time to time -even though they cost a bit more- we might eventually see really good wines at competing prices coming from VA and around the country.

QOTD – Delicious gigantic peanuts!
August 29, 2008

Patrick
QOTD: The Iron Bridge Wine Company on Warrenton, VA
August 29, 2008

Derek
QOTD: Shenandoah National Park.
August 29, 2008

Mia
QOTD: It would have to be Skyline Drive and Luray Caverns. I’m in Towson, MD so not too far a drive.

Thanks for featuring VA wines. I love the California, Oregon and French wines but you’ve peaked my curiousity with the VA wines. I’ll definitely give the Viognier a try.
August 29, 2008

pawncop
Kudos to the folks in Virginia for their efforts. Great episode, sounds like a good time was had by all.

QOTD – Have not been hope to go that way when we travel to the East Coast ball parks.
August 29, 2008

TimCub
QOTD: The Inn at Little Washington and their Rabbit.
August 29, 2008

Lord Nouda
qotd: looks like I’m living over 3500 miles away from Virginia and haven’t – as of yet – found the time and money to go there.
August 30, 2008

Rossodio
QOTD: Hampden-Sydney College football — I played there from ‘00-’03, and had a blast. Nothing like good D3 football in the middle of nowhere.
August 30, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD: Although I’ve never been, I think that Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s pad) in VA would be my favorite to visit. He was one of the first to import and grow vinis viniera grapes and a host of other non-indigenous North American agricultural products, and he was the first President to intensely appreciate wine and viticulture. Other than that… probably the (slightly unlikely) possibility that VA will go blue for Barack in November… PLEASE VIRGINIANS!!
August 30, 2008

Sir Lurks-A-Lot
I think Gary set a new personal record for the use of “air quotes” during an episode.
August 30, 2008

blair
Awesome you tasted some VA wines. I live in the DC area and have enjoyed sampling the vineyards in the areas! *Love* the Pearmund Viognier and picked up a bottle of the Cab Franc from Rappahanock just a year ago!! As always GV, you rocked it!
August 31, 2008

Loved of Old.
Now here we go! Absolute love to VA. Three new wines I’m gonna go try– especially the Viognier. But some echoing of previous sentiments: next time you do VA stuff, try Barboursville. They’re THE producer from our biggest AVA in Monticello. The Nebbiolo brings C4 “Die Hard” style (nevermind the $25-35 stuff. drink locally). Italian producers in this state. Oh yes.

QOTD- history. stop picturing pilgrims. start thinking about the real first colony, the real first College (note the capitalization), the first real church. stop thinking franklin; start thinking the true framers (madison, jefferson, washington, adams, marshall). stop thinking minute men. instead, go with the militias that went north to bail out the failing new yorkers bogged down by a failure of a british general. Visit Yorktown and see unrepaired, intact redoubts charged by the first American soldiers. And for the love of GOD, go to William and Mary.

And the cheese shop wine cellars. Just Saying.

Also, this is my favorite TV show.
August 31, 2008

Dan-o
GV – I have had only one wine from VA, I think it was a Valhalla Cab Franc. It was decent, but as you say – it did not change my ife.

QOTD – Trying not to be too political, but the Virginians maintain some of the charm of the South with a more tolerant sensibility. I lived in NC for six years and they tend to be a bit less tolerant, but more tolerant than MS and AL. When I say tolerant, I mean religion, background, race, gender, and even the H word.
August 31, 2008

Karl Laczko
Excellent show; on the road, a few homegrown wines that taste good…and a couch!

QOTD – Haven’t been, it’s too far away!
August 31, 2008

Sharon
Great show! I’m glad the local wines showed so well. I’ve never been to VA. I used to smoke Virginia Slims as a wayward youth.
August 31, 2008

Gary Boyd
QOTD – Oddfellows Cantina in Floyd…with a Villa Appalachia Primativo and lamb chops.
September 1, 2008

JudeMurphy
I know absolutely nothing about Virginia!
That dessert wine sounds really good though!
September 1, 2008

LittleJonnyH
QOTD: The Jefferson Nat’l Forest, and the wild brookies that live there!
September 1, 2008

Eileen
I’m originally from Northern California. I vacationed every year in Sonoma and love Napa Valley wine. Now I live in Virginia and I’m surprised at the great quality of some of the wines here. There are quite a few vineyards located in Loudoun County, where you can go wine tasting. In the summer, there are wine festivals as well, which allow you to sample some of these great Virginia wines all in one place.
September 2, 2008

Oakmon's BF
Chincoteague/Assateague
September 2, 2008

Rob Hagman
This is great. Being a Virginia resident, it’s awsome to see Virgina Wines getting good press now. The major wine publications and websites won’t even touch it. This is probably because no one in Virginia is buying full page ads from them.

I linked up the video here with some commentary:

http://robswinereview.com/blog/archives/45

Gary says he’s changing the wine industry, and I believe him.

–Rob
robswinereview.com
September 2, 2008

Matt W
QOTD: Driven through on the way to Florida. My favorite part was that I would quickly be leaving it.
September 3, 2008

J Crazy
QOTD: I remember when I used to live in DC taking trains to Virginia and back with my dad. That’s what I did, and still do for fun: ride trains.
September 3, 2008

Daniel Schlossberg
QOTD: the best thing about virginia is not having to live there!!!
September 4, 2008

M
QOTD: We visited Mount Vernon during a family trip to the DC area. That was a nice day.
September 5, 2008

Sangio
Live in VA and its wine history goes back to colonial days. There are many wineries and almost all are in scenic parts of the state. The wine, as Gary has shown, just keeps getting better.
September 6, 2008

John K
I had a great time at the tasting (even though I spilled the first wine in my lap). I ended up taking my wife out to La Grange and Pearmund a week later for a tasting and surprisingly she found a few wines she liked.
September 6, 2008

Sassodoro
Interesting show. I was glad to see that you really liked the Viognier. I was sort of hoping that some Barboursville wines would be in the lineup because they are available here in Chicago. I’ll have to see if I can find some of the Pearmund.
September 10, 2008

Tony D
Gary, i’m thrilled you got to VA for a tasting, I wish I’d been keeping up and made it out to watch the show!

I love the Virginia Cab Franc’s and alot of the blends that are heavy on the the Cab Franc.

QOTD: I grew up here, I love the diversity of VA; Northern VA, Shennendoah, SW VA (GO HOKIES!), Tidewater, Norfolk area…. lots going on!
September 11, 2008

eyeglasses
very good.i like that
September 12, 2008

Darcey and Cliff
Good show, good show GeeVee

As a resident of Virginia I am indeed happy to see some decent wines coming out of this area!

My favorite thing about Virginia? DARCEY is here with me!
September 24, 2008

CBone
QOTD: My favorite thing about Virginia? It has to be that it is getting more and more progressive, and may go for Obama in this year’s general election!! Shenandoah National Park is my 2nd favorite thing about Virginia.
September 27, 2008

Ryan D
QotD: Virginia Tech Hokies!!
September 30, 2008

3robins
Wow…that was interesting….I have a craving for Snort and chocolate cake now. I hope to get to Virginia next summer….it’s just a little far from Texas.
October 3, 2008

yowens
Viginia rose to the occasion- nice! QOTD: that house where that one president lived, its pretty cool
October 15, 2008

CaseyLee
gary this episode is good thanks. its wednesday payday on 10-15-08 and im looking around to try to find a possible thunder filled wine for about 12 bucks. so im watching diff. vids to see how you liked them . one for today and one for saturday.
January 20, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Nice showing from an up and coming state. Im down with the viognier Gary! QOTD: The DC area. I have fond memories of a vacation there when I was a lil’ nipper!
March 19, 2009

Matlock the Burgundian
I went to the Virginia Wine Festival in Richmond last year and King Family was by far my favorite vineyard. Every wine I tasted was excellent. I’m really glad you pumped them up on your show.
September 24, 2009

John Gavin
Virginia is for Vignior.