Pink Bubbly From Virginia

Virginia is one of my favorite wine states. 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. 

Trump Winery in Charlottesville has a wine for celebrations. It's even pretty good if you have nothing in particular to celebrate. The 2018 Trump Sparkling Rose is certainly better than Trump University, although that is a pretty low bar. Previously Kluge Winery, Donald Trump bought it about 14 years ago and rebranded it. His son, Eric, is now the President of the company.

The grapes which make up the bubbly are 88% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Noir, all estate grown. The brut rosé sparkler aged in the bottle for four years, on the lees. Winemaker Jonathan Wheeler has a background in northern California, New Zealand, and New York's Finger Lakes region. All that wonderful experience, and he winds up working for Eric Trump. The world is not fair. The alcohol sits at 12.5% abv and the bottle sells for $45.

This wine pours up in a pretty salmon color, with bubbles galore. The foam settles quickly, leaving a frizzante beverage. The nose has strawberries, a touch of earth, and a toasty element. In the mouth, it's fairly rich and creamy, aside from the decent acidity. It finishes long and tart, with a raspberry note as a memento. 

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