Award-Winning Red Blend From Virginia

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. I have written a lot recently about the white wines. Now let's look at one of the reds.

The 2021 King Family Vineyards Mountain Plains Red is made of 45% Cabernet Franc grapes, 37% Merlot, and 18% Petit Verdot, all estate-grown fruit. Winemaker Matthieu Finot was born in the Rhône Valley, so he knows his way around a few red grapes. 

The wine was aged for 22 months in new barrels made of oak sourced in France's Troncais forest. Alcohol content is 14% abv and it costs $85.

This wine is a dark purple in the glass. Its nose is amazing and complex. Blackberry and blueberry aromas meet with anise, tar, tobacco, earth and vanilla. The palate is deep with dark fruit and oak spice, while the tannic structure is firm. I made a killer tomato sauce with this wine. It goes to show that you should use the best available wine for cooking. 

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