Williamsburg Winery’s wine wins Governor’s Cup

Published February 28, 2014 by Jessica Sabbath

The Williamsburg Winery’s 2010 Adagio has won the Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup.

The wine was selected from 410 entries of red and white wines from 96 wineries.

The wine is a blend of 42 percent Cabernet Franc, 30 percent Merlot and 28 percent Petit Verdot. The wine is aged in a blend of French, American and Hungarian oak barrels of various ages.

“The 2010 Adagio was unbelievable, exceeding all expectations for quality, and it was nice for Adagio to get that recognition,” Matthew Meyer, vice president and winemaker of The Williamsburg Winery, said in a statement.  “Adagio, from the Italian ad agio, or 'at ease', is a musical term indicating the tempo of a composition that is meant to be slow and stately, so named in honor of the extraordinary depth, elegance and grace of this wine.”

The 2014 Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition included more than three weeks of preliminary tastings by 30 judges to select the 12 wines selected for the 2014 Governor’s Cup Case. The 11 other wines chosen include:
 

• Barboursville Vineyard – 2008 Malvaxia Passito
• Barboursville Vineyard – 2010 Nebbiolo Reserve
• Barboursville Vineyard – 2010 Octagon
• Barren Ridge Vineyard – 2009 Meritage
• Fabbioli Cellars – 2011 Tannat
• Horton Vineyards – 2010 Tannat
•  King Family Vineyards – 2011 Meritage
• North Gate Vineyard – 2011 Meritage
• Rockbridge Vineyard – 2008 Meritage, DeChiel Reserve, unfiltered
•  Sunset Hills Vineyard – 2010 Mosaic
• Two Twisted Post Winery – 2012 Chardonnay

The final round of tastings was held at The Jefferson Hotel in early February and included 15 judges. The competition was directed by Jay Youmans, who owns the Capital Wine School in Washington, D.C.

The Governor’s Cup is a partnership of the Virginia Wine Board, the Virginia Vineyards Association, and the Virginia Wineries Association, which owns and manages the competition.

Eligible wines include those made of 100 percent Virginia fruit.