Wine demand increases Va. grape growth
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Andy Reagan harvests grapes by hand at Jefferson Vineyards.TH DAILY PROGRESS |
Grape production increased from 4,200 tons in 2001 to 5,600 tons in 2007, a 33 percent increase.
Al Weed, a grape-grower and winemaker in Nelson County, said his wine sales have steadily increased as more people have become aware of Virginia wine. “Virginia seems to be at the right point to grow,” he said.
Weed has been growing grapes and making wine since 1973. At the time there were no other wineries in Virginia, Weed said. Now there are around 130, and Virginia has ascended to become the nation’s fifth-largest wine producer.
Weed said better equipment and experience have helped winemakers produce higher quality wines and reach more sophisticated buyers. Wealthy investors have also helped the business grow, he said.
Northern Virginia, Richmond and Tidewater are all big growth areas for wine in the state, Weed said. He is also seeing more sales in Lynchburg.
Robert Harllee, owner of Market Street Wineshop and Grocery, said Virginia wine sales have increased by the year as the number of wineries and choices has grown. Harllee said his customers from in state and out of state are happy with the quality of Virginia wine.
“We’re still a young industry and we’re trying to figure out what grows the best here and where it grows the best here,” he said. Harllee said one of his best-selling Virginia wines is petit verdot, a red wine originally from Bordeaux.
“Just as New Zealand is known for sauvignon blanc … Virginia is going to be known for petit verdot,” he said.
While Virginia wine is selling well in Virginia, Weed does not believe it will become nationally or internationally recognized in his lifetime.
“It’ll be a long time before Virginia has both production and brand awareness to be other than a curiosity in another market,” he said.