CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — May 8, 2007 — The Virginia Wine Experience in London, LLC poured 64 high-quality Virginia wines for leading members of the British wine trade and media last Wednesday, May 2nd at Vinopolis, London's unique wine tasting venue.  The tasting was a great success, generating impressive reviews from top opinion shapers and creating an awareness of Virginia as a quality wine producing region.  The complete list of the Virginia wines presented can be found at wineries link and photos of the event are available on request.

All eyes - and taste buds - were focused on Virginia wines, with more than 100 trade and media attendees sampling wine in an intimate, relaxed atmosphere.  All feedback received on Virginia wines was positive, but many were particularly impressed with the consistency of wine quality, the wines’ balance and clean fruit flavors, the restrained nature exhibited by moderate alcohol levels below 14 percent, which is unusual for New World wine, and both the diversity of and unconventional range of grape varieties such as the varietal petit verdot and the native Norton grape.

High profile attendees included Hugh Johnson, author of the annual Pocket Encyclopedia of Wine, World Wine Atlas and columnist for Decanter; Steven Spurrier, known for arranging the "judgement of Paris" tasting in 1976 which launched respectability for California wines and Decanter columnist; Andrew Jefford, contributing writer for Decanter; and Stephen Brook, the American specialist at Decanter.

"As a result of this tasting, Virginia has clearly been established as a quality wine region in the minds of leading opinion shapers in the U.K. wine trade," said Richard Leahy, executive director of the Virginia Wine Experience in London.  "We made a distinct impression when it came to how leading British wine authorities saw Virginia wines stylistically.  Virginia is both geographically and stylistically between Europe and the West Coast, and the tasters in London really understood that.  Traditionally, the British think of American wines in the context of the West Coast, with higher alcohol and lower acid levels than we typically get in Virginia, so our wines are seen as a refreshing change."

Some notable comments from tasters include:

Spurrier said, "An eye-opener for chardonnay and particularly Viognier; lovely Meritage blends."

Nick Williams of Morgan Stanley said, "Great variety, [Cabernet] Francs fantastic; When are they available?"

Carol Whitehead of Marstone Wine Consulting said, "Sparklers very promising, loved the Petit Verdot examples.  Some fine Chardonnays and white blends, good Cabernet Francs too."

Christos Ioannou of Criterion Wine Ltd. said "Really liked the quality of whites; elegant, subtle, fragrant, intelligent use of oak. Also liked the Cabernet Francs."

Hugh Johnson was so delighted with the Veritas Petit Verdot '05 that he took a bottle with him! Greville Hawanth of Wine on the Web summed it all up when we heard, "Surprisingly impressive!"

Virginia Wine Experience in London Sponsors: Farm Credit Country Mortgages, America’s Cup of Polo, and the UVA Summer on The Lawn Program - The 1st Wine Seminar, Virginia's Wine Legacy: From Jefferson to the Present from June 13-17, 2007.

Background on the Event:

The theme of the Virginia Wine Experience in London is "Virginia, First in Wine" – a reference to both the history and quality of Virginia’s wine.  This is the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement and now is an excellent time to highlight the fact that Virginia was the first place in North America where English settlers deliberately set out to produce wine.  Many don’t know this, but a primary aim of the Virginia Company in establishing Jamestown was to start a successful wine industry in the New World

Virginia is on the cutting edge of the regional wine industry, with a national reputation for Viognier and with major awards in national and international competitions.  Recent fine 2002 and 2005 vintages demonstrate just how Virginia has come and the wine tasting will show the British that their dream of establishing a world-class wine industry in Virginia has finally been realized.

Virginia is both literally and stylistically between California and Europe.  Due to its favorable Mid-Atlantic location – between North and South – Virginia wines represent both New World and Old World wine making styles.  Virginia’s climate also produces the most versatile range of fine wines in the Eastern United States.

Virginia is known to produce a good wine for any palate. Varieties worthy of note include Chardonnay, fine red Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (two of the red Bordeaux varieties), Viognier (a white grape from the Rhone that many believe performs better in Virginia than anywhere else in the country), specialty varieties, such as Petit Manseng, and Virginia’s own native Norton grape.

About the Virginia Wine Experience in London

The Virginia Wine Experience in London, LLC, was formed by six Virginia wineries (Keswick Vineyards, Kluge Estate Vineyard & Winery, Pearmund Cellars, White Hall Vineyards, Williamsburg Winery, and Veritas Winery), and is generously sponsored by the Farm Credit of Virginia.  Richard Leahy, the Executive Director, has written as a journalist on Virginia wine for 20 years, including acting as Mid-Atlantic and South Editor for the Oxford Companion to the Wines of North America, and he is currently the East Coast Editor for the trade magazine Vineyard & Winery Management.

More Background on the Virginia Wine Industry

A primary aim of the Virginia Company in establishing Jamestown was to start a successful wine industry in the New World.  "Acte Twelve" of 1619 ordered all male household heads in Jamestown to cultivate 20 grapevines each and failure to do so carried heavy penalty.  Yet, native pests and diseases prevented success.

Thomas Jefferson, the third President, continued attempts to cultivate European grapevines at Monticello.  Today the vines have been re-planted on American rootstocks, a technique necessary for success unknown to colonial farmers, and one which has helped the Virginia wine industry grow from a mere curiosity in the 1970s to one of the leading wine producing states today.  With over 100 wineries, Virginia ranks sixth nationally, and is the second largest state in the East for fine wine production.

There are several factors that contribute to the success of the contemporary Virginia wine industry: Virginia’s favorable temperate climate avoids the problems of northern winters and the hotter summers to the south; favorable state legislation through the Farm Winery Acts of 1980 and 1985 established funding for viticulturist Dr. Tony Wolf and enologist Dr. Bruce Zoecklein, whose research has resulted in vast improvements in wine quality; and enterprising winery owners willing to plant new and unusual grape varieties in addition to the international favorites.