By Doug Fabbioli

In last month’s article I wrote about more approachable wines and wine drinks. This month I will be discussing higher end wines. These wines have helped distinguish Virginia as one of the best wine regions on the East coast. Currently, Virginia has more than 300 wineries and most are located in Northern Virginia. In Loudoun County we have grown from 4 wineries in 1997 when I moved here to nearly 50 wineries.

The Virginia wine industry is relatively young compared to other wine regions around the world. Loudoun County is celebrating 40 years since the first wine was released and the first Virginia farm winery opened its doors about a decade before that. But, it’s really been in the last 20 years there has been significant growth, both in quantity and recognition of quality. Other regions east of the Rockies have grown too but have not always been consistent with quality standards.  I feel we haven’t grown as quickly and our focus on quality wines will keep us in the top for wine regions.

Recently, the sale of RDV Vineyards to Chateau Montrose was announced.  Chateau Montrose is a wine company located in the Bordeaux region of France.  Rutger De Vink the owner and vintner of RDV maintains the highest quality standards for his wine, vineyard and customer experience.  His winery and estate, although not grand in scale, certainly shows the quality achievable here in our soils and climate. This sale brings the recognition of the whole region up a few notches. Not everyone can afford $100 or more for a bottle of wine, but it’s nice to have these folks in the neighborhood.

Another positive step for our region is an effort spearheaded by the Loudoun Wineries and Winegrowers Association, Visit Loudoun and the Loudoun Board of Supervisors to build a relationship with Canelones, Uruguay as a sister county. The wine portion of this relationship will include an intern exchange for our young and upcoming winemakers. They will gain the experience of working in Uruguay wineries during Uruguay’s harvest, which is during our winter months. Also, senior winemakers from North and South will begin discussions about wine quality, climate change, best practices and grape varieties. This focus on information and experience exchange will add to our knowledge base. We hope this will help us be better vintners and raise the quality bar across the region again

I want to recognize Charlottesville and the Monticello AVA wineries for receiving the coveted Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Region of the Year for 2023. This honor is not only great for the wineries of central Virginia, but all the wineries in the state! Our ability as wineries and regions to work together, has always been one of our greatest assets. Sharing growing knowledge, winemaking techniques and marketing efforts all come together to benefit all.

Nothing is easy when it comes to agriculture and making wine but always keeping quality the focus is the key to consistent recognition.  I am proud to have played my part in helping our industry grow. Thank-you for enjoying all that we make whether simple, artistic or world recognized. We grow it all. Enjoy!

About the Author: Farmer, winemaker, entrepreneur, educator, and leader, Doug Fabbioli has been accelerating the growth and quality of Virginia’s wine industry since 1997. With his wife Colleen, Doug is the owner/operator of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, VA. He is the founder and director of The New Ag School, which focuses on teaching the next generation of farmers and agriculture-related leaders. No wonder they call Doug Fabbioli the Godfather of DC’s Wine Country.