If you are anything like me, then you are thinking about Thanksgiving wines. It’s every wine nerd’s Super Bowl.
Sure, there’s Beaujolais and other French favorites, but there’s so much happening in our own back yard!
So this week, I want to know what Virginia wine you're bringing.
Are you considering a weightier Chardonnay? Perhaps a Cabernet Franc for the turkey? Maybe even a dessert wine?!
I’ll share the most popular choices with everyone next week!
In this week’s edition
🎉 Events: Grand Norton Tasting, Two Up Wine Down, an evening with Dave McIntyre and a British-style game fair.
🍾 Bottle of the Week: Glen Manor's 2023 Vin Rouge, a Governor's Cup Case red for $37
🏆 Awards: Veritas Vineyard lands in Southern Living
🍷📰 News: Monticello gets a deep dive in Food & Wine
🌱 Behind the Scenes: Endhardt's new barrel room, Linden's late-harvest Petit Manseng gamble and a Barboursville Octagon vertical
💰 Deals: 2027 Governor's Cup Gala early-bird tickets and discounted hotel rooms for Vino in the Valley
Events
Editor's Picks
Sat., Nov. 7 · Triangle
Grand Norton Tasting
The Norton Network brings Virginia's top Norton producers together for “a day of exceptional wines, great food, live music, and friendly competition.”
Sat., Nov. 7 · Charlottesville
Two Up Wine Down
The Veraison Project and Oenoverse are back for year five of their Virginia wine festival. It’s an afternoon of tastings, DJ-spun beats, and a curated lineup of producers on the lawn at Jefferson School City Center.
This Week (Nov. 4-10)
🎉 Jiya Vineyards Grand Opening · Jiya Vineyards (Purcellville), Nov. 7–8. The full grand opening weekend follows the soft launch.
🤠 Kickin' Country Line Dancing · Line dancing at Hardware Hills Vineyard (Scottsville) is back by popular demand on Nov. 5.
👨🍳 Young & Hungry Dinner · Join six of the region’s youngest and most progressive chefs at Williamsburg Winery (Williamsburg) on Nov. 5.
💃 Ladies Night · Two Twisted Posts Winery (Purcellville) is hosting a night for the ladies on Nov. 7 — but everyone is welcome!
Next Week (Nov. 11-17)
🕵️ True Crime & Wine · A new edition of Southern Revere Cellars’ (Louisa) popular True Crime & Wine series is back on Nov. 12.
🎙️ An Evening with Dave McIntyre · On Nov. 13 at Pollak Vineyards (Greenwood), wine journalist Dave McIntyre shares his thoughts on challenges and opportunities facing the wine industry.
🫙 Vinegar Workshop with The Chaotic Forager · Common Wealth Crush (Waynesboro) will host a hands-on workshop on Nov. 13 where you pick a CWC wine as your base, add the Chaotic Forager’s foraged ingredients, and leave with your own jar of homemade vinegar.
🏺 Greece: Ancient Vines, Timeless Wines · On Nov. 13, wine educator Susan Cuellar will lead a tasting of Greek wines at 50 West Vineyards (Middleburg).
🦆 The East End Fair · On Nov. 14, in its second year, Southwest Mountains Vineyards (Keswick) creates its version of a British game fair, bringing falconry, archery, axe throwing and a live hunt-and-hound demonstration from the Keswick Hunt Club.
🧭 Armchair Expedition: Viognier · DuCard Vineyards (Etlan) is hosting a deep dive into Viognier on Nov. 15.
🌿 Encounter Natural Wine Fair · On Nov. 15 in Richmond, a natural wine fair with more than 30 wine and cider producers, from Virginia and beyond.
SPONSORED
Raise a Glass to Virginia Sparkling! Join Revalation Vineyards near Madison on Sunday, November 15 for your chance to explore the variety, craftsmanship, and elegance of Virginia’s sparkling wines, all in one place.
Bottle of the Week
Glen Manor Vineyards — 2023 Vin Rouge
Shenandoah Valley • Red Blend • $37
Why it’s here
Owner-winemaker Jeff White has always made Vin Rouge as an intentionally unpretentious red — the house wine you open on a Tuesday. Even so, the 2023 vintage was in this year’s Governor's Cup Case. It is a Bordeaux blend made up of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. It is hand-harvested, fermented in small open-top bins, and bottled unfiltered.
Tasting notes
🍒 Dark cherry & blackcurrant • 🌿 Cedar & dried herb • 🪨 Rocky minerality • 🍫 Dark chocolate finish
Wine News
Monticello’s spread in Food & Wine
Food & Wine has published a deep dive into the Monticello AVA and how winemakers are building on Virginia’s long history with a diverse lineup of grapes.
The piece spotlights Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards and the region’s strength in multi-varietal blends.
It also previews Virginia’s showcase at the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston (November 13–15), where wines from Pippin Hill, King Family Vineyards, and Barboursville Vineyards will be poured alongside a caviar dinner at The Restaurant at Zero George.
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In other news
2026 Wine Industry Leader: Wine Business Monthly has named Early Mountain Vineyards (Madison) President Jon Ruel to its 2026 Wine Industry Leaders list.
The Shenandoah Cup becomes a weekend: The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail is using a $5,000 Virginia Tourism grant to rebrand its Shenandoah Cup Celebration as “Vino in the Valley.” Paul Vigna, author of The Wine Classroom, writes on the trail’s plan to turn the event into a full weekend celebration.
Awards & Reviews
Veritas lands in Southern Living: Veritas Vineyard & Winery (Afton) was featured in Southern Living this week, with writer Heather Bien sharing her personal connection to the estate — she and her husband were married at The Farmhouse in Afton in 2018.
Behind the Scenes
Endhardt levels up: Endhardt Vineyards (Purcellville) has completed and opened a brand-new production facility and barrel room.
Linden's late-harvest gamble: Jim Law of Linden Vineyards (Linden) is still waiting on his Petit Manseng. The grapes are beginning to shrivel and concentrate on the vine — a late autumn harvest that, if it comes together, is a sign of something special.
Octagon goes vertical at Barboursville: Winemaker Luca Paschina of Barboursville Vineyards (Barboursville) gave a behind-the-scenes look at their Autumn Vertical Tasting of multiple vintages of Octagon — a rare chance to trace the evolution of Virginia's benchmark Bordeaux blend across the years.
Southwest Mountains is hiring: Southwest Mountains Vineyards (Keswick) is looking for an Event Sales Manager ahead of the Spring 2027 opening of The Summit House. The role covers weddings, private events, and corporate gatherings.
Behind the Bottle: North Mountain Vineyard & Winery (Maurertown) is launching a monthly intimate tasting experience led by Assistant Winemaker Andrew Bender — five wines per session, with a focus on the stories and techniques behind each pour.
Deals & Promotions
2027 Governor's Cup Gala tickets are on sale: The 2027 Virginia Governor's Cup Gala is set for Thursday, March 11 at Richmond's Main Street Station, 6–9 PM. Early-bird pricing launched this week!
A room for Vino in the Valley: Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg is holding a block of rooms at $140 a night for Nov. 19–21, the weekend of Vino in the Valley, the rebranded Shenandoah Cup Celebration.
Stock up at King Family: King Family Vineyards (Crozet) is offering tiered discounts ahead of the holidays: 5% off 3–5 bottles, 10% off 6–11, and 15% off a case or more.
Barrel Oak’s Thanksgiving three-pack: Barrel Oak Winery (Delaplane) has bundled a Barrel Chardonnay, Ken’s Blend and the Chocolate Lab dessert wine into The Thanksgiving Trio, $99 (down from $115!).
A Thanksgiving trio at Potomac Point: Potomac Point Winery (Stafford) is offering its Holiday Feast Trio at 15% off through November.
Barrel planters at Pollak: Pollak Vineyards (Greenwood) is offering rustic barrel planters handcrafted at the winery — $65 (+tax) each, pickup only at the tasting room. A good early gift idea for the wine lover in your life.