Raising a Glass to the Top Virginia Vinos Awarded in Our Annual Wine Competition
The Virginia wine industry continues to thrive, now with 312 wineries—and thousands of vinos—coming from the Commonwealth. Many vintages are garnering plenty of accolades and have recently received positive press in Food & Wine magazine and on Forbes.com. There is no doubt our winemakers work with steadfast dedication, studying terroir, experimenting with lesser-known varietals and always improving their styles of winemaking. Overall, our region has come so far, and our critics were honored and excited to sample the varied entrants in this year’s 12th Annual Savor Virginia Wine Classic Awards.
In order to come up with our results, each May, a panel of wine experts converges at River Stone Chophouse in Suffolk—noted for its remarkable wine list, and the extensive wine list at its sister eatery, Vintage Tavern, also in Suffolk—and examines the offerings from many of Virginia’s finest wineries.
The judges evaluated dozens of the best wines produced across the state, each based on its own individual merit.
Evaluation was done double-blind in flights, each recording their findings on sheets printed with a grid of the UC Davis (University of California at Davis) 20 Point System. The Davis system assigns a certain number of points to each of its 10 categories ranging from bouquet to color to taste to aftertaste.
We present our findings to you below.
PLATINUM LEVEL WINNERS
Bluestone Vineyard
2017 Estate Grown Stainless Steel Chardonnay
Category: Chardonnay
Casanel Vineyards & Winery
2016 K2 Red Blend
Category: Red Other
Casanel Vineyards & Winery
2016 Carménère
Category: Red Other
Chateau MerrillAnne
2017 Viognier
Category: Viognier
Chateau Morrisette Winery
2016 Petit Verdot
Category: Petit Verdot
Effingham Manor Winery
2016 Meritage
Category: Red Other
Effingham Manor Winery
2017 Tannat Reserve
Category: Red Other
Fox Meadow Winery
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Fox Meadow Winery
2017 Chardonnay
Category: Chardonnay
Grace Estate Winery
2015 Colonel Richard Estate Tannat
Category: Red Other
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2017 Vidal Blanc
Category: Vidal Blanc
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2016 Gewurztraminer
Category: White Other
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2017 Petit Verdot
Category: Petit Verdot
Ingleside Vineyards
Coastal White
Category: Chardonnay
Ingleside Vineyards
2017 Chardonnay Reserve
Category: Chardonnay
Ingleside Vineyards
Left Bank 2015
Category: Red Other
Ingleside Vineyards
2017 Albarino
Category: White Other
Narmada Winery
2016 Yash Vir
Category: Red Other
Philip Carter Winery
2016 Cleve
Category: Red Other
Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard
2017 Petit Manseng
Category: Petit Manseng
Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard
2017 Richland Reserve Heritage
Category: Red Other
Stanburn Winery
2017 Big A Red
Category: Red Other
Quivèrmont Winery
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
GOLD LEVEL WINNERS
AmRhein’s Wine Cellars
2017 Traminette
Category: White Other
Bluestone Vineyard
2018 Rosé
Category: Rosé
Bluestone Vineyard
2016 Steep Face
Category: Chambourcin
Bluestone Vineyard
2014 Cadenza
Category: Red Other
Bluestone Vineyard
2013 Petit Verdot
Category: Petit Verdot
Casanel Vineyards & Winery
The Full Nelson Port
Category: Dessert
Casanel Vineyards & Winery
2016 Petit Verdot
Category: Petit Verdot
Chateau MerrillAnne
2016 Governor Spotswood
Category: Red Other
Chateau MerrillAnne
2016 Palace Red
Category: Red Other
Chateau Morrisette Winery
2017 Chambourcin
Category: Chambourcin
Chateau Morrisette Winery
2015 Chardonnay Reserve
Category: Chardonnay
Chateau Morrisette Winery
2016 Archival
Category: Red Other
Effingham Manor Winery
2017 Kings Ransom
Category: Red Other
Fox Meadow Winery
2016 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Category: Cabernet Franc
Fox Meadow Winery
2018 Pinot Grigio
Category: White Other
Fox Meadow Winery
2016 Le Renard Rouge
Category: Red Other
Fox Meadow Winery
2017 Toll Gate
Category: Cabernet Franc
Grace Estate Winery
2017 William Le Gras First Baron
Category: Sauvignon Blanc
Grace Estate Winery
2016 Le Gras Baril
Category: Red Other
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2018 Cabernet Franc
Category: Cabernet Franc
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2018 Reisling
Category: Reisling
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2017 Chardonnay
Category: Chardonnay
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2017 Ranger Reserve
Category: Red Other
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Horton Vineyards
2016 Cabernet Franc
Category: Cabernet Franc
Horton Vineyards
Suil Sparkling Viognier
Category: Sparkling
Ingleside Vineyards
2015 Cabernet Franc
Category: Cabernet Franc
Ingleside Vineyards
2015 Right Bank
Category: Red Other
Ingleside Vineyards
2015 Petit Verdot
Category: Petit Verdot
Ingleside Vineyards
Red Drum Lot 16
Category: Red Other
Ingleside Vineyards
Sweet Rose Mallow
Category: Dessert
Morais Vineyards & Winery
2017 Touriga
Category: Red Other
Morais Vineyards & Winery
2017 Battlefield Green Wine
Category: White Other
Narmada Winery
2018 Mom
Category: Vidal Blanc
Narmada Winery
2017 Merlot
Category: Merlot
Narmada Winery
2017 Malbec
Category: Red Other
Narmada Winery
2017 Legacy
Category: Dessert
Narmada Winery
2018 Gulabi
Category: Rosé
Pearmund Cellars
2017 Toll Gate Petit Verdot
Category: Petit Verdot
Pearmund Cellars
2017 Ameritage
Category: Red Other
Pearmund Cellars
2017 Old Vine Chardonnay
Category: Chardonnay
Philip Carter Winery
2016 Corotoman
Category: Red Other
Stanburn Winery
2018 Vidal Blanc
Category: Vidal Blanc
The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek
2016 Trinity
Category: Red Other
The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek
2016 Genesis
Category: Red Other
The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek
2016 Cabernet Franc
Category: Cabernet Franc
The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek
2016 Provenance
Category: Red Other
Vint Hill Craft Winery
2018 Rosie
Category: Rosé
Vint Hill Craft Winery
2018 Gigi Pinot Gris
Category: White Other
Quivèrmont Winery
2017 Chardonnay
Category: Chardonnay
SILVER LEVEL WINNERS
AmRhein’s Wine Cellars
2015 Chardonnay
Category: Chardonnay
Casanel Vineyards & Winery
2016 Norton Red Spark
Category: Sparkling
Casanel Vineyards & Winery
2017 Patricia Marie Pinot Gris
Category: White Other
Casanel Vineyards & Winery
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau MerrillAnne
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau MerrillAnne
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Effingham Manor Winery
2016 Rosé
Category: Rosé
Effingham Manor Winery
2018 Celebration
Category: White Other
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2018 Seyval Blanc
Category: Seyval Blanc
Gray Ghost Vineyards
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Horton Vineyards
Eden Apple Wine
Category: Fruit
Horton Vineyards
2016 Cabernet Franc
Category: Cabernet Franc
Horton Vineyards
Erotes Sparkling Rosé
Category: Sparkling
Ingleside Vineyards
2017 Viognier
Category: Viognier
Morais Vineyards & Winery
2017 Moscatel
Category: Dessert
Morais Vineyards & Winery
2016 Select Collection Red
Category: Red Other
Narmada Winery
2017 Sur Lie Reserve Chardonel
Category: White Other
Narmada Winery
2016 Cabernet Franc
Category: Cabernet Franc
Narmada Winery
2016 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Category: Cabernet Franc
Narmada Winery
2018 Dream
Category: White Other
Philip Carter Winery
2018 Vo Vo Valley View Farm Peach
Category: Fruit
Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard
2017 Richland Reserve Viognier
Category: Viognier
Stanburn Winery
2016 Chambourcin
Category: Chambourcin
Stanburn Winery
2017 Traminette
Category: White Other
The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek
2017 Barrel Select Chardonnay
Category: Chardonnay
Vint Hill Craft Winery
2017 Vanessa
Category: Petit Verdot
Vint Hill Craft Winery
2017 Charlotte
Category: Chardonnay
Quivèrmont Winery
2014 Merlot
Category: Merlot
Quivèrmont Winery
2018 Rosé
Category: Rosé
WhiteBarrel Winery
2017 Vidal Blanc
Category: Vidal Blanc
BRONZE LEVEL WINNERS
AmRhein’s Wine Cellars
2017 Melange
Category: Red Other
AmRhein’s Wine Cellars
2016 Aglianico
Category: Red Other
AmRhein’s Wine Cellars
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Casanel Vineyards & Winery
2017 Chardonnay
Category: Chardonnay
Chateau Morrisette Winery
2017 Viognier
Category: Viognier
Horton Vineyards
2018 Gears and Lace Pinotage Rosé
Category: Cabernet Franc
Morais Vineyards & Winery
2016 Rosé
Category: Rosé
Philip Carter Winery
2015, 1762
Category: Dessert
Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard
Rabelos Port
Category: Dessert
WhiteBarrel Winery
2017 Merlot
Category: Merlot
WhiteBarrel Winery
2017 Estate Reserve Petit Manseng
Category: Petit Manseng
The Criteria
The UC Davis 20 Point System evaluates wine on its own merits, looking at the following criteria and assigning the following points value:
Clarity – 2 points
Color – 2 points
Bouquet – 4 points
Total Acidity – 1 point
Sweetness – 1 point
Body/Texture – 2 points
Flavor/Taste – 2 points
Bitterness – 1 point
Finish – 1 point
Quality – 4 points
We tallied each judge’s evaluation sheet, came up with an average and placed each in one of four categories:
Platinum
80 percent or higher
Gold
65–79 percent
Silver
50–64 percent
Bronze
49 percent or lower
The Critics
Whitney Berry—American Wine Society certified wine judge and sommelier
Liana Biscotti—introductory sommelier; bartender at Byrd and Baldwin Bros. Steakhouse, Norfolk
Stephanie Douglas—vintner, Aratas Wine; owner of Second St. restaurants, Newport News and Williamsburg
Lisa Hamaker—owner, Taste Virginia, which conducts culinary tours, including winery, brewery and spirits tours
Matt LaBarge—beverage director, Four Eleven York, Norfolk
Stanley R. Lawson—independent wine consultant, select Virginia wine distributors and wines stores in Coastal Virginia; wine educator and trainer
Marisa Marsey—recruiter, Johnson & Wales University; award-winning food, wine and travel writer
Bethany Morris—advanced sommelier candidate; general manager and wine director, Heirloom Restaurant, Virginia Beach
David Parkerson—sommelier; regional sales manager, Z Wine Guy LLC
Dylan Powell—general manager and beverage director, blanca Food + Wine, Norfolk
Melissa M. Stewart—executive editor, Savor Virginia magazine
Rick Yotti—beverage director, The Fat Canary, Williamsburg; general manager, The Cheese Shop, Williamsburg
Special Thanks
A special thank you to owners Brian and Teresa Mullins and their staff at River Stone Chophouse in northern Suffolk for their hospitality in hosting the 12th annual Savor Virginia Magazine Wine Classic judging. Their beautiful arts-and-crafts-style restaurant was the perfect venue for the judging. We encourage you to stop by and sample the award-winning cuisine and outstanding wine list.
River Stone Chophouse
8032 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk
757-638-7990
RiverStoneChophouse.com
