History of Virginia Wines: Virtual Member Social and Wine Tasting

Join your fellow VGPC members on Thursday, May 20th, for a virtual wine tasting and a look at the history of wine in Virginia with Leesburg attorney and author Andrew Painter.

5:15 p.m. Member Networking and Introduction to the Wines.

Birch Douglass will take a brief look at four moderately priced Virginia vintages, the two whites and two reds listed below, and discuss snacks that would be appropriate with each. Each of these wines is readily available at local ABC stores, so pick up a bottle or two so you can join in the discussion and the fun.

• Barboursville Chardonnay 2019 Reserve --  $14.99  (enjoy with brie and hazelnuts)
• Trump Viognier 2016 -- $27.99  (smoked gouda and cashews complement this wine well)
• Philip Carter Cabernet Franc 2015 Nomini Hall Reserve -- $19.09 (goat cheese and olives are a great accompaniment)
• Horton Norton 2017 -  $15.69  (balance with cheddar and dark chocolate)

5:30 p.m. Andrew Painter. a Brief History of Wine in Virginia

Leesburg attorney and author of Virginia Wine: Four Centuries of Change, Andrew Painter, will walk us through a brief history of wine in Virginia.

6:15 p.m. Q&A, Networking.

6:30 p.m. Adjourn

Our Presenter:

Andrew Painter, a Northern Virginia native and land use specialist at Leesburg-based law firm Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, became interested in wine as a graduate student at the University of Virginia. Since then, immersing himself in the roots—and fruits—of wine in Virginia has become a passion. As a young lawyer and wine enthusiast, Painter set out to write a concise guide to Virginia wine, with a short preface on the industry’s history. But that planned introduction took on a life of its own.

Virginia Wine: Four Centuries of Change

No state can claim a longer history of experimenting with and promoting viticulture than Virginia--nor does any state’s history demonstrate a more astounding record of initial failure and ultimate success. An essential addition to any wine lover’s library, Virginia Wine: Four Centuries of Change presents a comprehensive record of the Virginia wine industry, from the earliest Spanish accounts describing Native American vineyards in 1570 through its astonishing rebirth in the modern era. Grape cultivation--for agriculture, horticultural curiosity, and wine production--has absorbed ambitious Virginians since April 1607, when a few casks of European wine washed ashore onto the dunes of Cape Henry in the company of a band of travel-weary English settlers.