The 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup Awards marked another groundbreaking year for the burgeoning Virginia wine industry. From 614 entries from across the state, 66 of the top wineries in Virginia were awarded a grand total of 142 Gold Medals by a prestigious panel of 12 world-class judges.
The preliminary round takes place over the course of ten days, during which seven judges taste each wine in a single-blind tasting. Judges only know the grape or category of wines during tastings, but not the vintage, winery or name.
Wines that move into the final round are then sampled over the course of three days by a panel of 12 judges. Each judge samples all of the Final Round wines, assigning each wine a final average score. The 12 wines with the highest average scores are identified as the “Governor’s Cup Case” while the wine with the highest overall score is given the coveted title of the Governor’s Cup Winner.
To receive a gold medal, a wine must receive an average score of 90 points or higher on a 100-point scale. Gold Medal wines are recognized as superior in both character and style, with some being considered among the best wines in the world.
This year’s Gold Medal-winning wines and ciders represent eight wine regions and over 20 grape varieties grown in Virginia, representing the diverse terroir of the region. Red blends swept the awards with 28 gold medals, while 24 Petit Verdots, 16 Cabernet Francs and 11 Petit Mansengs also took home gold medals. In addition to the wines, nine ciders also earned a Gold Medal in this year’s competition.
The Central Virginia region was awarded 72 medals, Northern Virginia received 39 and the Shenandoah Valley received 20. The remaining medals can be found in the Blue Ridge, Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, Southern Virginia and Virginia Mountain regions of the state. Read on to learn more about the 142 Gold Medals and 66 wineries honored in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup Awards, representing the best of Virginia Wine Country.
Virginia Governor’s Cup Best Wines & Ciders from Central Virginia
- Afton Mountain Vineyards (1) – 2021 Albariño
- Albemarle CiderWorks (2) – 2021 Orchard Blush & 2021 Wickson
- Barboursville Vineyards (3) – 2021 Fiano, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve & 2021 Vermentino Reserve
- Big Fish Cider Co (2) – 2021 Northern Spy & 2022 Blackberry
- Castle Hill Cider (2) – 2020 Orchard Select & 2021 Serendipity
- Chestnut Oak Vineyard (2) – 2019 Nebbiolo & 2019 Petit Verdot
- Cunningham Creek Winery (1) – 2019 Rivanna Red
- Delfosse Vineyards and Winery (3) – 2020 Petit Verdot Reserve, 2021 Go-Go Girl & 2021 Screaming Hawk
- Early Mountain Vineyards (4) – 2020 Eluvium, 2020 Quaker Run Cabernet Franc, 2021 Madison County Cabernet Franc & 2021 Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc
- Eastwood Farm and Winery (2) – Petit Manseng & 2021 Chardonnay
- Grace Estate Winery (1) – 2021 First Baron Sauvignon Blanc
- Hark Vineyards (2) – 2019 Petit Manseng & 2021 Petit Manseng
- Jefferson Vineyards (4) – 2019 Meritage, 2021 Petit Manseng, 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve, 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve Upper Vineyard
- Keswick Vineyards (2) – 2021 Cabernet Franc & 2021 Trevillian Red
- King Family Vineyards (7) – 2017 Meritage, 2019 Meritage, 2019 Petit Verdot, 2019 Brut Rosé, 2021 Mountain Plains Rosé, 2019 Small Batch Viognier, 2021 Viognier
- Lake Anna Winery (1) – 2021 Chardonnay Barrel Select
- Michael Shaps Wineworks (8) – 2019 Chardonnay, 2019 Petit Manseng, 2019 Petit Verdot, 2020 Cabernet Franc, 2020 Meritage, 2020 Petit Verdot, 2020 Roussanne & 2020 Tannat
- Moss Vineyards (1) – 2021 Moss Cider
- Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards (6) – 2017 Wild Acre Reserve, 2019 Petit Verdot, 2021 Cabernet Franc, 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Petit Manseng & 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
- Pollak Vineyards (5) – 2017 Meritage, 2019 Meritage, 2019 Merlot Reserve, 2019 Petit Verdot & 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
- Stinson Vineyards (1) – 2019 Meritage
- Trump Winery (5) – 2016 Blanc de Noir, 2016 Brut Reserve, 2017 Blanc de Blanc, 2019 New World Reserve & 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
- Wisdom Oak Winery (1) – 2019 Chambourcin
- Veritas Winery (3) – Scintilla, 2019 Petit Verdot & 2019 Veritas Reserve
Virginia Governor’s Cup Best Wines from Northern Virginia
- 50 West Vineyards (1) – 2020 Petit Manseng
- Barrel Oak Winery (2) – 2021 Sauvignon Blanc & 2021 Vidal Blanc
- Breaux Vineyards (2) – 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve & 2019 The Quarter
- Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg (1) – 2021 Petit Manseng
- Carriage House Wineworks (1) – 2019 Red Barouche
- Creek’s Edge Winery (2) – 2019 Durden Family Blend & 2019 Petit Verdot
- Doukénie Winery (2) – 2019 Petit Verdot & 2020 Sauvignon Blanc
- Endhardt Vineyards (1) – 2019 Fervor Red
- Fabbioli Cellars (2) – 2019 Cabernet Franc Reserve & 2021 Cabernet Franc
- Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard (2) – 2019 Rock Ridge & 2021 Cabernet Franc
- Mountain Run Winery (3) – 2021 Petit Manseng, 2021 Petit Verdot & 2021 Viognier
- Narmada Winery (4) – 2017 Cabernet Franc, 2017 Yash-Vir, 2019 Cabernet Franc & 2019 Cabernet Franc Reserve
- Old House Vineyards (2) – Apricus & 2022 Vidal Blanc
- Paradise Springs Winery (6) – 2019 Meritage, 2019 PVT, 2019 Petit Verdot, 2019 Tannat, 2021 Cabernet Franc & 2021 Petit Verdot
- Sunset Hills Vineyard (1) – 2020 Reserve Cabernet Franc
- The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards (3) – 2019 Meritage, 2019 Petit Verdot & 2020 Chardonnay
- The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek (1) – 2019 Trinity
- Three Creeks Winery (2) – 2020 Melange Rouge & 2020 Vidal Blanc
- Two Twisted Posts Winery (2) – 2019 Cabernet Franc & 2019 Petit Verdot
- Walsh Family Wine (1) – 2021 Bethany Ridge Chenin Blanc
- Williams Gap Vineyard (2) – 2019 Fieldstone & 2021 Cabernet Franc
- Zephaniah Farm Vineyard (1) – 2019 Friendship
Virginia Governor’s Cup Best Wines & Ciders from the Shenandoah Valley
- Barren Ridge Vineyards (1) – 2019 Petit Verdot
- Bluestone Vineyard (3) – 2017 Blue Ice, 2017 Petit Verdot & 2019 The Steep Face
- Brix & Columns Vineyards (1) – 2021 Petit Manseng
- Cave Ridge Vineyard (1) – 2019 Petit Verdot
- CrossKeys Vineyards (2) – 2019 Ali d’Oro & 2020 Blanc de Noirs
- Great Valley Farm Winery (1) – 2021 Petit Verdot
- Muse Vineyards (2) – 2019 Clio & 2019 Nebbiolo
- Rockbridge Vineyard (1) – 2019 Vd’Or
- Shenandoah Vineyards (5) – 2019 Shenandoah Petit Verdot, 2019 Shenandoah Riesling, 2020 Shenandoah Cabernet Franc, 2020 Shenandoah Riesling & 2021 Shenandoah Riesling
- Star in the Valley Estate Winery (1) – 2021 Chardonel
- Widow’s Watch Cidery (1) – BRUT Apple Sparkling
- Winery at Kindred Pointe (1) – 2019 Petit Verdot
Virginia Governor’s Cup Best Wines & Ciders from West & South Virginia
- Tumbling Creek Cider Company (1) – Smoked Apple Whiskey Barrel Aged
- Rosemont Vineyards & Winery (1) – 2021 Extra Brut Sparkling Rosé
Virginia Governor’s Cup Best Wines & Ciders from Coastal Virginia
- Ashton Creek Vineyard (1) – 2021 Petit Manseng
- Black Heath Meadery (2) – 2022 Apple Pie & 2022 Blue Angel
- Buskey Cider (1) – 2022 Hewe’s Crab Apple Cider
- Ingleside Vineyards (1) – 2021 Albariño
- Williamsburg Winery (1) – 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve
- Wind Vineyards at Laurel Grove (1) – 2020 Chambourcin
The History of the Virginia Governor’s Cup Awards
Once again, the talented leaders of the Virginia wine industry have proved the merits of Virginia wines. Their grit and experimental nature drive our region and continue to produce quality wines that enchant wine lovers and judges alike.
Now in its 41st year, the Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition was redesigned in 2012 to become one of the most competitive and rigorous wine competitions in the country. All entries must be sourced from 100% Virginia-grown fruit in order to be eligible for competition.
To see who won the Governor’s Cup in recent years, read more on the 2022 Governor’s Cup Case, the 2021 Governor’s Cup Winner, the 2020 Virginia Governor’s Cup Awards and the 2019 Virginia Governor’s Cup.
