| Virginia is known as much for its many
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| | businesses - a quick internet search on
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| products and resources as it is for it
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| | Virginia wines and the Virginia Wine
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| rich Colonial heritage and history. As
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| | Association will lead you to a wealth of
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| early as the 1600s the commonwealth has
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| | information to help you plan a fun wine
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| been a center of production for many
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| | tour. Once you're on the road, look for
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| goods and luxuries. Historians tell of
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| | the road signs bearing a purple cluster
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| our forefathers growing tobacco along the
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| | of grapes that indicate the directions to
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| cobbled streets of Jamestown, and for
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| | your destinations. You are more likely to
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| nearly a century Suffolk has been
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| | find them off the beaten path, on state
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| regarded one of the peanut capitals of
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| | and local roads, rather than the
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| the world. Cotton, ham, and seafood are
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| | interstates.
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| also popular exports, as is wine. Few
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| | When you plan your next Virginia wine
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| people outside the bacchanalian world
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| | tour, be sure to take a few detours to
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| realize that Virginia is popular wine
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| | the Northern Neck region near Stafford
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| country, ranking tenth among US states in
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| | and King George Counties and Washington,
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| grape production!
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| | DC. Here are a few popular picks which
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| There are over one hundred active
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| | are certain to please the palate:
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| wineries in the commonwealth of Virginia,
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| | Hartwood Winery: Fredericksburg
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| covering nearly 2500 acres of land, and
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| | This historic farm has been producing
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| producing as many as three hundred
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| | fine wine since '89! Hartwood Winery
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| thousands cases a year. On average, over
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| | hosts many tastings and events throughout
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| four thousand tons of grapes are produced
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| | the year, allowing visitors to sample
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| annually to make Virginia wine. You'll
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| | their crisp Chardonnays and Clarets.
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| find nearly every variety of red and
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| | Lost Creek Winery: Leesburg
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| white grown in Virginia, from the
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| | Lost Creek offers unusual but delicious
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| sweetest Rieslings and tart Chardonnays,
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| | blends to savor, from apple and grape
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| to the sharpest Merlots and Cabernets
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| | wines to late harvest wines made from
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| this side of the Mississippi River.
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| | high-sugar grapes.
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| Wine festivals are hosted all over the
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| | Three Fox Vineyards: Delaplane
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| state, as many as three hundred annually,
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| | Three Fox specializes in Pinot Grigio,
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| with many state vineyards taking home
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| | Sangiovese, and Viognier vintages on
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| national and international awards for
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| | their fifty-acre farm. Wine aficionados
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| their produce. Wine making has been a
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| | are also invited to subscribe to a
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| devoted practice in Virginia since the
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| | special vintner's circle, where one can
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| dawn of the early colonies; it is a
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| | "sponsor" vines and be trained in the
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| tradition well-preserved in the thousands
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| | winemaking process.
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| of bottles sold each year to wine
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| | Linden Vineyards: Linden
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| enthusiasts. Not only is Virginia the
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| | For over twenty-five years, Linden has
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| first state to produce US presidents, it
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| | produced some of the finest Bordeaux
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| is the first to produce wine, and over
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| | wines in the Commonwealth. Tours and
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| the centuries the practice has aged as
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| | seminars on wine making and growing are
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| well as the vintages!
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| | hosted in the winter and summer, making
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| In Northern Virginia in particular, one
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| | Linden the perfect spot for an education
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| doesn't need to travel "sideways" to
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| | as well as recreational stop on any
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| enjoy a pleasant winery tour. From
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| | Virginia wine tour.
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| Stafford County to the lip of the DC
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| | If you enjoy what you taste at these and
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| beltway one can over 30 wineries, many of
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| | other Northern Virginia wineries, be sure
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| which offer tours and tasting specials.
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| | to take a few bottles home with you,
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| As the majority of Virginia wineries are
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| | especially if you are out of state.
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| small, family-owned enterprises, it is
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| | Presently, Virginia wines are mainly
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| strongly recommended to contact ahead of
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| | available within Virginia, though the
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| time for operating and tour hours. On
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| | state has reciprocity agreements with
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| occasion, some wineries may schedule
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| | thirteen states to allow the wine to be
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| events in conjunction with other local
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| | sold elsewhere in the country. Salud!
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