To China, with love from a Virginia winery

How many things in your life are from China? Eh, don’t bother counting. Just count on this—soon wine drinkers in China will have a delicious taste of Virginia.

On Tuesday Governor Bob McDonnell announced an agreement that will see Virginia wine exported to China. An agreement was reached between Barboursville Vineyards and the Tianjin Tewoo Group that would see wines exported to China.

A press release from the Governor said this is believed to be the first commercial transaction between a Virginia winery and a Chinese importer. The Governor also credits the deal with his trade and marketing mission to Asia, in May, where seven Virginia wineries were highlighted.

First Lady Maureen McDonnell served as the symbolic official witness to the contract executed between Barboursville and the Tianjin Tewoo Group. 

Speaking about the agreement, Governor McDonnell said, "…Virginia wines are recognized as being world class, and I am positive that this deal will continue to raise the domestic and international profiles of our wine industry, increase tourism to our wineries, and lead to more sales opportunities for Barboursville and our other outstanding wineries."

Barboursville, located in Orange County, also exports wine to the United Kingdom. The property sits on the farmland of James Barbour, the 18th governor of Virginia.

The vineyard, one of the largest in Virginia, was founded in 1976 by Gianni and Silvana Zonin. They attended the contract signing ceremony.

"As Barboursville reflects to celebrate its 35th anniversary in Virginia, I can think of no better way to look toward the future than expanding our sales into China, one of the world's largest wine import markets," said Luca Paschina, Barboursville's Winemaker and General Manager.

As the nation's fifth-largest wine producer and seventh-largest wine grape producer, it’s a trade agreement we can all toast.

The most recent economic impact study, from 2005, said the Virginia wine industry employs approximately 3,000 people and annually contributes close to $350 million to the Virginia economy. There are now nearly 100 more vineyards in the state since the release of that study, and a new one is planned for fiscal year 2012.