Charlottesville toasts Wine Region of the Year nomination
The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB) announced the area and the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) have been nominated for Wine Region of the Year.
It is nominated in Wine Enthusiast’s annual Wine Star Awards.
The Charlottesville area is just one of five wine regions nominated around the world for the award.
The winner will be determined by the Wine Enthusiast media team and announced later this month.
The Wine Star Awards recognize the innovation of individuals and companies in the industry.
The region’s history with wine dates to the days of Thomas Jefferson, who believed Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s terroir to be ideal for growing grapevines.
While Jefferson’s intuition about the land was correct, the varieties of grapes he chose were not.
After several failed grape-growing experiments, the region didn’t see successful vineyard ventures until the mid-1970s.
This was when winemakers began experimenting with grapes better suited for the land.
Since that time, the Monticello Wine Trail was created and has flourished, currently boasting more than 40 vineyards within a 25-mile radius of Charlottesville.
The Monticello Wine Trail regularly receives accolades in the annual Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition and in 2023, won nearly half of all the gold medals awarded.
“This is a testament to all the talented growers, winemakers and industry professionals in our region, said Stephen Barnard, President of the Monticello Wine Trail.
“It truly is an honor to be recognized by professionals outside of our region.”
“We know our vineyards and wineries are truly special. Now the world will know it too,” said Courtney Cacatian, Executive Director of Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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