Award Winning Virginia Chardonnay

While writing about wine over the past 16 years, I have been fortunate to taste wine from around the world, and from nearly all 50 US states. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming are the only four missing from my American wine itinerary, and I would love to hear from any winemakers in those states.

One of my favorite wine states is Virginia. There is such a wide spread of varieties being grown there. I've sampled Virginia grapes that represent Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhône, Spain, and Italy. Not to forget, of course, the all-American Norton grape. The good grapes in Virginia are abetted by good winemaking practices, as well.

I was blessed with samples of the winners from the 2025 Governor's Cup event, which started in 1982. A Zoom call featured the makers of the 12 wines which made this year's Governor's case, the top dozen bottles from the event. 

The 2022 Michael Shaps Chardonnay is a varietal wine composed  of grapes taken from the Wild Meadow Vineyard. Cooler nighttime temperatures at this vineyard help preserve acidity. It is Shaps' second wine to make the Governor's Case. It is 100% barrel fermented and aged 15 months on the lees. Alcohol sits at 13% and the price is $28.

This wine is a lovely golden color. The nose carries plenty of lemon, citrus minerality, and a touch of oak spice. The palate has a good bit of acidity, lemon, stone fruit, and vanilla. It finishes long, full of citrus and a bit of apricot. This wine is made for seafood, but will also fit well with chicken or lemony pasta dishes. 

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Virginia's Take Of Right Bank Blend

While writing about wine over the past 16 years, I have been fortunate to taste wine from around the world, and from nearly all 50 US states. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming are the only four missing from my American wine itinerary, and I would love to hear from any winemakers in those states.

One of my favorite wine states is Virginia. There is such a wide spread of varieties being grown there. I’ve sampled Virginia grapes that represent Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhône, Spain, and Italy. Not to forget, of course, the all-American Norton grape. The good grapes in Virginia are abetted by good winemaking practices, as well.

The 2017 Barboursville Vineyards Octagon is a mainly Right Bank blend of 62% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. Fermentation, under the guidance of winemaker Luca Paschina, was traditional. The blending occurred after a year of aging the three wines separately. Paschina graduated from the Enology Institute of Alba, Italy, and has 35 vintages at the Barboursville estate. Alcohol registers 13.5% abv and the wine retails for $95.

This wine is very dark. It has a fragrant nose, full of blue and black fruit, flowers, cedar, green pepper, and an underlying earthiness. The palate is fruity and rich, with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. There is a bright acidity matched with gentle tannins. The finish is medium long and carries the fruit as a lasting memory. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky