It is time for Virginia and its wines

This blog is about a wine tasting I didn’t attend. If this sounds a bit perverse please bear with me while I explain.

Prompted by Wink Lorch’s (@winetravel on Twitter) post about the Circle of Wine Writers Christmas tasting which was hosted by the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Tourism Corporation it set me thinking about my own experiences of Virginia and its wines. As a result I’ve come to the conclusion that now is just the right time for wine producers and the tourist authorities to capitalise on the connections between Virginia and the UK. Although my own experiences of wine and Virginia are somewhat limited I’ve probably got more experience than 98% of wine drinkers in the UK.

In addition to a summer working in Baltimore when I made regular trips into Virginia, I spent time on business in Williamsburg several years ago. At that time the meetings I was attending were at the College of William and Mary, one of the top Colleges in the US. Our host who was the President of the College was a real wine enthusiast. I can still picture his cellar and hear his voice enthusiastically talking about his recent imports from Italy. At that time I guess Virginian wine did not have the profile it does now.

I think one of the reasons he imported wine from Italy (and many other Old World countries) could be loosely attributed to what has become very fashionable these days and that is the wines had  a “sense of place”. Whilst wine professionals often attribute a “sense of place” to the specific terrain where the vineyard is, I am sure he as a regular wine consumer associated it with Italian culture – the people, the food, the sights, the history and so on.

I would argue that Virginia has the same to offer. There is a huge amount of history and culture with strong links back to the UK. It was in Virginia that the English founded America’s first permanent colony over 400 years ago in Jamestowne. The Loyalists then fought for our King in America during the American Revolution.  Williamsburg is the location for the second oldest college in America founded by our King William III and Queen Mary II. Wherever you go, and especially in Colonial Williamsburg, you are reminded of the strong ties between Virginia and the UK. Heavens, even Pocahontas (pictured) the Indian princess made famous by the Disney film is buried in Gravesend in Kent!

“Wine tourism” is also on the increase. You can visit South African vineyards whilst on holiday. Sonoma and Napa are within easy reach of many tourist sites in California. Why not Virginia as a place to visit and taste wine at the same time? Given the beauty of Virginia and countless sights of interest dotted around the state there is much for the tourism authorities to promote. There’s Colonial Williamsburg which is the restored 18th-century capital of Britain’s largest, wealthiest, and most populous outpost of empire in the New World, the Blue Ridge Parkway one of America’s scenic driveways or Mount Vernon which is George Washington’s home and burial site to name but a few.

In addition there is the good old fashioned “welcome” that Americans are so good at. Americans are naturally friendly people and are good at making visitors feel welcome.

My own experience of Virginian Wines is mainly limited to those from Williamsburg Winery. I brought a few bottles back from one of my trips and recall thinking the Chardonnay being particularly good. UK wine consumers are familiar with American wine even if much of it is Blossom Hill. There are however many other well known names – Ravenswood for its Zinfandels, Mondavi for its Cabernets.

There is absolutely no reason why Virginia wines should not begin to feature or become as well known. I feel the time has come for Virginia and its wines to make their mark in the UK.