| What do Virginia wine and England have in common? | | | | before he died. George Washington also tried growing |
| Answer: history and today's interest in pursuing quality | | | | grapes but the vineyards were not productive and he |
| wine. This year is the 400th Anniversary of the | | | | replaced the vineyards with orchards. |
| founding of Jamestown by the English settlers. Several | | | | During the 1800's, Americans attempted to grow wine |
| events have been planned to commemorate the | | | | grapes throughout the country. Again, due to lack of |
| founding of Jamestown in 1607. One of the events | | | | knowledge about vineyard diseases, success was |
| planned will be the tasting of Virginia wines at Vinopolis | | | | elusive. As time went on, an accidental hybrid began to |
| in London. The theme is "Virginia, First in Wine." "First in | | | | grow successfully and after the Civil War, vineyards |
| Wine" refers to the quality of Virginia wines and to the | | | | were beginning to flourish. Then came a manmade |
| established fact that Virginia was the first place in the | | | | disaster in 1919. Congress approved the 18th |
| new world for the English to attempt the cultivation of | | | | Amendment and by 1920 the amendment was ratified. |
| grapes and winemaking. In February, a number of | | | | This decimated many of the existing vineyards and in |
| Virginia wines were judged at White Hall Vineyards in | | | | combination with the Depression in later years most |
| a wine tasting event. The purpose was to choose | | | | vineyards could not survive. By 1933 when the 21st |
| wines to go to England for a tasting. On April 30, | | | | Amendment repealed Prohibition, much damage had |
| Virginia will present wines at a VIP invitation only tasting | | | | occurred to the wine industry. |
| at Hampden House (a historical house) in the middle of | | | | Today, after Prohibition, Virginia is making much |
| Chiltern, England. On May 2, the Virginia wines will be | | | | progress towards becoming a well-known area for |
| tasted at Vinopolis, a world wine center in London. Will | | | | growing grapes and producing fine wine. To prove this |
| the Mother Country be impressed? | | | | point, 65 wines from 28 Virginia wineries were chosen |
| Will Thomas Jefferson's dream of producing fine | | | | to provide wine for the wine tasting at Vinopolis in |
| wines in Virginia be met? After all, an attempt was | | | | London. Vinopolis is a wine museum, tasting facility and |
| made to grow grapevines very early in the 1600's. | | | | restaurant all rolled into one building. Wines from all |
| When the first settlers arrived in Jamestown, native | | | | around the world are available for tasting at Vinopolis. |
| grapes grew in abundance. Wine produced with these | | | | However, until now only wines from California have |
| native grapes in 1608 was unlike wine in Europe. Wine | | | | been represented of wines produced in the United |
| from Virginia was bitter and did not travel well. England | | | | States. If you have the opportunity to visit London on |
| was hoping the colonies could provide wine for the | | | | May 2, stop by Vinopolis and check out the Virginia |
| Mother Country. Laws requiring the growing of grapes | | | | wines. |
| were passed. Failure to grow grapes would result in | | | | How will Virginia wines fare at Vinopolis? On our |
| severe penalties. By 1619 the House of Burgesses | | | | recent visit to Vinopolis we shared a bottle of |
| required each adult male to plant grapevines. However, | | | | Pearmund Cellars Ameritage with Tom Forrest, the |
| at this time vineyards and vine growing requirements | | | | Tour Development Manager. He shared the bottle with |
| were not well understood. By the late 1700's, Thomas | | | | other tasters and had the following comment, "I |
| Jefferson had visited grape growing areas of France | | | | retasted the Pearmund Ameritage last night. It seemed |
| and fully believed that Virginia could grow grapes and | | | | to have really developed after opening. It was full of |
| produce wine as good as any other country. Jefferson | | | | rich fruit cake aromas and flavours. Still smooth and |
| said, "We could, in the United States, make as great a | | | | soft, the spicyness of the Malbec element shone |
| variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly | | | | through the red and black forest fruit flavours. It |
| the same kinds, but doubtless as good." Jefferson tried | | | | impressed the members of the tasting team. So I look |
| growing his own vineyards and participated in a | | | | forward to tasting the wines in May." Anyone who has |
| venture with a vineyard planting next to Monticello. The | | | | visited wineries in Virginia and talked to the |
| vineyards did not survive. Despite Jefferson's firm | | | | winemakers knows that Virginia wineries are intent |
| belief that Virginia could grow grapes and produce fine | | | | upon making fine wine from the best grapes available. |
| wine, he was unable to make a single bottle of wine | | | | England, we hope you like Virginia wine. |