Northern Virginia's Wine Country

When you think of great wine, Northern Virginia is not usually the first region that springs to mind. Currently ranked tenth in national wine production according to the Virginia Wine Marketing Office, Northern Virginia wineries are experiencing a resurgence of popularity not seen since before the Civil War. The lush soil near the Shenandoah River makes Northern Virginia an ideal place to grow delicious grapes. If you enjoy traveling the countryside, try incorporating a wine tasting trip on your next trip to Northern Virginia and sample some of the best wines the United States has to offer.

Northern Virginia's wine country: Early failures

Northern Virginia was one of the earliest wine producing areas in the United States. Farmers in the region were making their own wine from the local grape crops as far back as 1609. Thomas Jefferson himself was involved in trying to get a local wine industry established and profitable. At the time, the effort was a failure, but Northern Virginia's wine country has become quite well-known in modern times.

Northern Virginia's wine country: Success for a brief time

The most important event in the development of Northern Virginia's wine country was the blending of two types of grapes. Creating a hybrid strain from European and American grape varieties resulted in a type of grape that was better suited to the changing weather in Virginia. This allowed the struggling Northern Virginia wine industry to finally gain a foothold in the market. This wine selling boom ended during the Civil War, as many Northern Virginia vineyards were destroyed in battle. The passing of Prohibition several years later further crippled the wine industry in Northern Virginia.

Northern Virginia's wine country: The current resurgence

Wine production in Northern Virginia began to rebound in the 1960s. Currently, the area boasts over 26 wineries just in the northern part of the state. The entire state of Virginia is now tenth in national wine production. The rich soil and plentiful water of the Shenandoah River is credited for much of the local wineries' success. The hybrid grapes are able to grow freely in the region, providing a plentiful harvest for Northern Virginia's many wineries each year. The beautiful scenery of Virginia also has attracted several independent wineries to the area. Many of these successful wineries originally got their start as a personal hobby of the homeowner. The lush soil and pleasant environment of Northern Virginia encouraged these people to spend time outdoors, which eventually led to more and more grapevines being planted and tended to.