I’m back after a week off, and wow, there’s a lot of catch up on.
After that devastating April freeze, a summer drought has pushed some producers past the breaking point. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards lost approximately 98% of their crop, per WVIR. Others are bracing for low yields.
But there’s still hope from wineries that has been spared the worst. Nate Walsh of Walsh Family Wines, for example, reports some the best Albariño, Chenin Blanc, and Cabernet Franc crops they’ve had in years.
In other news, DuCard Vineyards made a national Chardonnay list, the results of the 11th Annual Loudoun Wine Awards are here, and the events calendar this week is genuinely packed.
In this week’s edition
🎉 Events: A pasta dinner, a crab fest, a wine & cheese class, and more
🍾 Bottle of the Week: DuCard Vineyards’ 2023 TANA Chardonnay
🏆 Awards: Prince Michel takes gold and Pippin Hill in Southern Living
🍷 New Releases: Horton’s “Because Grandma Said So” red blend, a new Vin Gris, and Saudé Creek White returns
📰 News: Drought devastates Virginia vineyards; Spanberger declines to reappoint ABC leader
💰 Deals: Granite Heights clearance sale
Events
This Week (July 29 – August 5):
Pours & Pasta: Southwest Mountains Vineyards in Keswickis hosting a hands-on pasta-making evening on Thursday and Friday as part of their Summer Culinary Series.
Ankida Ridge wine dinner: Ankida Ridge Vineyards is hosting a multi-course wine dinner at The Georges in Lexington on July 31. Attendees get 50% off accommodations at the inn.
Crab Fest at Pollak: Pollak Vineyards is hosting Crab Fest on August 1 with Salty Bottom Blue serving steamed blue crabs and oysters alongside estate wines.
Wine & Cheese pairing class: Early Mountain Vineyards sommelier Peggy Kearns Dean and Maggie Bradshaw of Truckle Cheesemongers are leading a guided wine and cheese pairing on August 2.
Next Week (August 5 – August 12):
BBQ & Bluegrass at Breaux: Breaux Vineyards is hosting their annual BBQ & Bluegrass on August 8 — live Virginia bluegrass, smoked barbecue, and estate wines. Free admission.
Virginia vs. Burgundy blind tasting: Michael Shaps Wineworks is hosting a seated blind tasting on August 9 — four flights of twelve wines pitting Virginia against French benchmarks.
🍅 ‘SummerSupperSomm’ continues
23 dinners across Virginia: Seven more heirloom tomato and Virginia wine dinners fall in the next two weeks:
July 31 — Boar's Head Resort, Charlottesville
August 1 — Hickory at Nicewonder Vineyards, Bristol
August 3 — Pinky's, Richmond
August 5 — Crimson Lane Vineyards, Linden
August 7 — Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville (SOLD OUT)
August 9 — Lansdowne Resort, Leesburg
August 12 — The Roosevelt, Richmond
Bottle of the Week
DuCard Vineyards — 2023 TANA Chardonnay
Madison County • Chardonnay • $45
Why it’s here
Produced in a Mâcon style and aged 5 months in French oak, this chardonnay won gold at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and now landed on VinePair's 30 Best list. The TANA designation refers to the specific vineyard block on DuCard’s estate in Madison County.
Tasting notes
🍍 Pineapple • 🪨 Mineral • ✨ Bright acidity • 🪵 Light oak
Awards & Reviews
4 Loudoun wineries earn gold at 11th Annual Loudoun Wine Awards: The Loudoun Wineries & Winegrowers Association announced results of the 11th Annual Loudoun Wine Awards: 23 gold medals and 103 silvers across 132 wines from 30 county wineries. Boden Young, Domaine Fortier, and Lost Creek Winery each took three gold medals.
DuCard lands on VinePair’s 30 Best: DuCard Vineyards’ 2023 TANA Chardonnay earned 93 points and a spot on VinePair’s list of the 30 Best Chardonnays for 2026 — a national ranking dedicated specifically to the varietal.
Prince Michel takes Gold at Wine Critics Challenge: Prince Michel Winery’s 2024 Petit Manseng earned a Gold Medal at the Wine Critics Challenge in California.
Pippin Hill in Southern Living’s Virginia summer guide: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards was featured in Southern Living’s “16 Can’t-Miss Virginia Summer Experiences.”
New Releases
Horton releases “Because Grandma Said So”: Horton Vineyards has released “Because Grandma Said So,” a new red blend of Tinta Cão and Touriga varietals. The label pays tribute to Sharon Horton’s loyal German Shepard named Syrah.
Greenhill drops three new releases: Greenhill Vineyards has released their 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2024 Malbec, and 2023 Philosophy
Horton’s new Vin Gris: Horton Vineyards has also introduced a new Vin Gris in their Gears & Lace collection. The wine was crafted by pressing Malbec and vinifying the grapes in the style of a white wine.
Saudé Creek White returns: To celebrate their 15th anniversary, Saudé Creek Vineyards has brought back Saudé Creek White, their dry apple wine that was the very first wine they ever made.
Wine News
Drought impacts 2026 vintage: Severe drought conditions have compounded what was already a difficult year after the April freeze. WVIR reports that Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards lost approximately 98% of their 2026 crop. Roslyn Farm and Vineyard owner Sue Albrecht described the season as complicated — frost damage, then heat, then drought, in succession.
Spanberger's Paris trade mission: Michael Shaps Wineworks represented Virginia agriculture at a reception in Paris during Gov. Spanberger's trade mission to Europe with Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier.
Wineries on the market: The Meriwether Vineyards Group portfolio — comprising Pearmund Cellars, Effingham Manor & Winery, and Vint Hill Craft Winery — has been listed for sale at $12.8 million, according to Northern Virginia Magazine.
Spanberger declines to reappoint Virginia ABC head: Gov. Abigail Spanberger has declined to reappoint Dale Farino as CEO of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, Virginia Business reports. Longtime agency executive Thomas Kirby is now acting CEO.
Silver Dog Vineyards opens: Silver Dog Vineyards welcomed its first guests at a soft opening, drawing early visitors to its glass tasting room and wrap-around balcony with sweeping vineyard views. The property is dog-friendly. Welcome to the family.
Behind the Scenes
Véraison at King Family: King Family Vineyards is seeing the first signs of véraison in the vineyard and expects the 2026 harvest to begin within a few weeks.
Pollak brings back guided tastings: Pollak Vineyards in Greenwood has reintroduced guided bar tastings as their standard format — a structured pour through the lineup with stories about the vintage, vineyard, and their French-inspired winemaking approach.
Walsh reports outstanding fruit set: Walsh Family Wine reports that the 2026 season has progressed well beyond the frost damage, with fruit set outstanding in Albaríño, Chenin Blanc, and Cabernet Franc. A cautiously optimistic signal for a vintage that looked worrying earlier in the year.
Deals & Promotions
Granite Heights closing sale: Granite Heights Winery is offering 25% off a half case and 50% off a full case across most of their inventory. Their Humility bottling earned Governor's Cup gold medals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and their 2024 was selected for the Governor's Cup Case.
Linden offers barrels: Linden Vineyards reports that after the April frost, they are anticipating low yields at harvest and will have barrels available for sale.