WASHINGTON — King Family Vineyards, in Crozet, Virginia, has added another Virginia Governor’s Cup Award to its honors.
The annual award from the Virginia Wineries Association went to King Family’s 2014 Meritage. This is the third time King Family Vineyards has won the Governor’s Cup Award, having also won in 2010 for its 2007 Meritage and in 2004 for its 2002 Cabernet Franc.
The cup was awarded Tuesday evening by the Virginia Wineries Association at the Main Street Station in Richmond.
“I am pleased to present this award to winemaker Matthieu Finot and to David and Ellen King of King Family Vineyards, as well as their entire team, who have proven again that they are leaders in producing outstanding Virginia wines,” said Gov. Ralph Northam. “I also want to congratulate all of the wineries included in the 2018 Governor’s Cup Case.”
The Governor’s Cup Case chooses 12 Virginia wines each year for the honor. This year, the winners were chosen from more than 440 entries from 100 Virginia wineries.
The other 11 wines included in the 2018 Governor’s Cup Case are:
- Barboursville Vineyards 2014 Paxxito
- CrossKeys Vineyards 2015 Ali d’Oro
- Early Mountain Vineyards 2015 Eluvium
- Jefferson Vineyards 2016 Viognier
- Jefferson Vineyards 2015 Viognier
- Keswick Vineyards 2016 Cabernet Franc Estate Reserve
- North Gate Vineyard 2015 Petit Verdot
- Potomac Point Winery 2016 Cabernet Franc
- Veritas Vineyards & Winery 2015 Petit Verdot
- Virginia Cellars 2015 The Barns at Hamilton Station Petit Verdot
- Virginia Cellars 2015 The Barns at Hamilton Station Meritage
Six of the wines are from the Monticello American Viticultural Area. Four wines are from the Northern Virginia area, and one is from the Shenandoah Valley.
The wines all get a lot of exposure. Those chosen each year for the Governor’s Cup Case are used by the Virginia Wine Board marketing office across the country and around the world. They are also used by the governor on domestic and international marketing missions and other events.
The Virginia wine industry employs more than 8,200 people. Virginia is one of the top five states in number of wineries and grape production, with sales hitting a record high of more than 7 million bottles in 2017.
