“A slow-moving train wreck.”
That's how Lee Hartman, winemaker at Bluestone Vineyard, described the freeze that swept through Virginia in the early hours of April 21.
Winemakers are reporting major crop loss in every major growing region in the state, and the full picture is still coming into focus. I’ve got more details in Wine News below.
Now is the time to support local wineries!
In this week’s edition
🎉 Events: An annual seafood boil, two release parties and more
🍾 Bottle of the Week: Jefferson Vineyards’ 2023 Viognier
📰 Wine News: More details about the regional freeze and a damage survey
🏆 Awards: CrossKeys’ Blanc de Noirs named to Wine Enthusiast’s Top 40
🍷 New Releases: An exciting hybrid grape from Walsh Family Wine
💰 Deals: A Mother’s Day trio from Early Mountain for 25% off
Events
Sunday, April 26
Gray Ghost's 3rd Annual Seafood Boil: Gray Ghost Vineyards is hosting their 3rd Annual Seafood Boil with Blue Ridge Seafood from 11am–5pm.
Michael Shaps’ Spring Fête: Michael Shaps Wineworks is releasing their 2024 Sparkling Malbec Rosé from 12–4pm, with lobster rolls from Crozet Seafood Supply and live funky jazz from The Norms.
Saturday, May 2
Sip, shuck, repeat: Saudé Creek Vineyards is hosting Sip & Shuck, featuring oysters from Big Island Aquaculture, barbecue from The Scottish Pig, and live music by Todd Murray.
The Albatross has landed! Walsh Family Wine is hosting a release party for Albatross, a 100% Sauvignon Blanc collab between Third Culture Kid, Boden Young Wine and Quartzwood.
Mother’s Day Weekend (May 9–10)
Spring Fling at SMV: I mentioned this one in last week’s edition, but it bears repeating: Southwest Mountains Vineyards is hosting their second annual Spring Fling on May 9, celebrating the release of their 2025 Cuvée Rosé.
Celebrate Mom! An Aromas of Wine & Perfume experience at Early Mountain, a pasta-making workshop at Good Spirit, and plenty of boozy brunches at wineries like Bluemont, CrossKeys, Keswick and others.
June and onward:
Sip Into Summer Wine Festival: Chestnut Oak Vineyard is hosting the Sip Into Summer Wine Festival, with tastings from multiple Virginia wineries including Delve Wines and Pollak Vineyards.
Do you like this new design of the ‘Events’ section?
Bottle of the Week
Jefferson Vineyards — Viognier 2023
Monticello AVA • Viognier • $40
Why it’s here
Today is International Viognier Day, and Jefferson continues to produce excellent expressions of this varietal.
Their 2023 took Best in Class at the 2025 Virginia Governor's Cup Wine Competition and a Double Gold at both the 2024 San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Tasting notes
Aromatic and layered with a bright citrus finish that lingers.
🌸 Honeysuckle • 🍑 Peach & apricot • 🍋 Lime & citrus
Wine News
From Northern Virginia to the Shenandoah Valley to the Chesapeake Bay coast, the hard freeze on April 21 swept through nearly every major wine-growing region in the state.
In last week’s briefing, I talked about how budbreak had arrived across the region after a spell of warm weather. During this stage, the plants are very fragile, and while a small frost can spook winemakers, this was something magnitudes worse at the worst possible time.
Despite many wineries’ best efforts to fight off the freeze with burn pits, wind machines, spraying potassium and other techniques, vineyards saw temperatures in the low 20s. Horton reported temps as low as 12°F.
Linden, Keswick, Domaine Fortier, Cave Ridge and many others reported major crop losses. Wineries that were on higher elevations, like Ankida Ridge and Arterra, were spared the worst. This video from Anthony Aellen of Linganore Winecellars is heartbreaking.
Paul Vigna, the author of Wine Classroom, wrote an exceptional Substack piece outlining the damage up and down the East Coast, including Maryland and Pennsylvania.
According to social media, the Virginia Vineyards Association (VVA) is coordinating with the state’s Department of Forestry and Agriculture to assess the damage. If you are a winemaker, VVA has sent out this survey to help identify the aid needed.
And if there are resources I can share in future briefings, please email me.
Awards & Reviews
CrossKeys’ Blanc de Noirs in Wine Enthusiast’s Top 40: CrossKeys Vineyards has been named to Wine Enthusiast’s Top 40 Sparkling Wines of 2026 for their Blanc de Noirs. It’s a great piece of news in what was otherwise a brutal week for the winery.
New Releases
Walsh Family’s Sauvignon Rytos: Walsh Family Wine has released Sauvignon Rytos, the first varietal release of a sustainability-focused hybrid grape developed for disease resistance.
Veritas’ 2025 Viognier: Veritas Vineyard & Winery has brought their 2025 Viognier back to the tasting room just in time for International Viognier Day.
Bull Run’s ‘Independence’: The Winery at Bull Run has released ‘Independence’, Fairfax County’s official commemorative white wine, available in their tasting room starting April 24.
Deals & Promotions
Mother's Day trio at Early Mountain: Early Mountain Vineyards is offering a ready-to-gift wine set for Mother's Day — a curated three-bottle box featuring their NV Brut Rosé, 2023 Madison County Chardonnay and their 2021 Eluvium. Now $135 after 25% off.