Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell pushine wine trade in China

A burgeoning taste for wine in China could provide a massive market for Virginia winemakers, and Gov. Bob McDonnell is promoting the fruitful commodity during a trade mission to Asia.

However, the problem for Virginia wineries is meeting the growing demand in Asia. Virginia is the fifth largest wine-producing state in the United States but only produces about 450,000 cases a year, which is relatively small, state Secretary of Agriculture Todd Haymore said.

McDonnell, his wife, Maureen, and senior staff are promoting Virginia wines during their 11-day trip to Japan, South Korea and China. Wines from the Old Dominion state have been served at dinners with Chinese ministers and business executives. Wine events exposed restaurants, merchants and retailers to what the state’s vineyards can offer, he said. 

He said as many as 15 wineries in the state are interested in exporting their product to Asia.

To give prospective buyers a taste, cases from at least six wineries — including Jefferson Vineyards, Williamsburg Winery Philip Carter Winery of Virginia and Breaux Vineyards — were shipped to Asia, said Annette Boyd, director of the Virginia Wine Board marketing office.