From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Appalachian and Allegheny Plateaus, the Shenandoah Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is making its mark on wineries all over the world. So how do you commemorate achievements in wine? With a competition of course! The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association judged 50 wines at the first-ever Shenandoah Cup Wine Gala and Showcase on Nov. 15, 2019, at Crosskeys Vineyards in Crosskeys, Virginia. Only six wines have the honor of being included in the Shenandoah Cup “Case.” Out of these six honorees, four are on VPM’s Un-Wine'd and one of them even took home the coveted Shenandoah Cup trophy.
“You really have to try to make bad wine in the Shenandoah Valley,” remarked guest speaker Brian Yost of WineTourist Magazine in his Shenandoah Cup Wine Gala and Showcase speech. “I’m preaching the gospel of Shenandoah wine and people are looking at me like this is a revelation to them. I think that’s slowing starting to change...and people are starting to make their way over to the mountain to the Shenandoah Valley.” Wine enthusiasts are making their way over the mountain and through the woods to Un-Wine'd vineyards like Brix & Columns Vineyards.
In the Un-Wine'd interview with Brix & Columns Vineyards’ Stephanie Pence, Pence describes the wine industry in Virginia as, “Very open and very supportive of each other.” Pence reciprocates the support she receives in the Virginia wine community by acting as president of the Shenandoah Winemakers Association and the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail. Now she can add Shenandoah Cup “Case” recipient to her growing list of accolades.
President of Bluestone Vineyards Curt Hartman says in their UnWine’d interview, “Good wine starts in the vineyard.” Their efforts in the vineyard show in the quality of their wines and in their status as a Shenandoah Cup “Case” finalist.
Rockbridge Vineyards join the Shenandoah Cup “Case” with their 2016 V d'Or. Rockbridge Vineyards is known for their well-crafted, affordable small-batch wines. In the next season of Un-Wine’d, host Tassie Pippert will be visiting Rockbridge Vineyards and building cuisines around their wines.
The first Shenandoah Cup “Case” includes Quartz Hill, Muse Vineyards, and CrossKeys Vineyards. But who claims the honor of owning the first-ever Shenandoah Cup trophy? Un-Wine’d’s own Barren Ridge for their 2015 Meritage! Owner of Barren Ridge Vineyards, John Higgs, says in his interview with Un-Wine’d that Virginia wines are “elegant and refined.” VPM’s Un-Wine’d explore these elegant and refined wines all over the Old Dominion.
You can stream Un-Wine’d episodes with Brix & Columns Vineyards, Bluestone Vineyards and Shenandoah Cup recipient Barren Ridge at vpm.org/unwined.
Stream the first episode of the new season of Un-Wine’d on VPM’s Facebook or enjoy new episodes of Un-Wine’d with Shenandoah Cup “Case” recipients like Rockbridge Vineyards starting December 12th at 8:30 pm on VPM.
