The Virginia Wine Industry Dates Back to the Country’s Founders and Continues to Grow

In partnership with: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

As one of the original 13 colonies, Virginia is known for its rich American and agricultural history, and its wine industry is no exception.

“Virginia is one of the earliest wine-producing states. The Jamestown settlers were actually required by law to plant 10 vines,” says Annette Boyd, director for the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office. “Tobacco eventually became the bigger cash crop, but Thomas Jefferson was a huge wine aficionado, and he continued researching how to grow grapes in America, including bringing an expert over from Italy.”

Despite those early roots, Virginia’s wine industry didn’t really take off until the 1970s with a core group of pioneers who discovered how to grow grapes successfully in the area. By 1980, Virginia had six wineries. Today, there are more than 325.

“Winegrowers in the state adjusted to climate change and experimented around what types of grapes would grow well,” Boyd says. “It was a lot of varieties that grow in Spain, southern Italy and France, including Cabernet Franc, Tannat and Viognier.”

The industry is a major economic driver for Virginia, especially in terms of tourism. Every four years, an economic study is done, and as of the most recent study, the industry contributes more than $1.7 billion to the Commonwealth’s economy annually. About $246 million is in wine-related tourism from about 2.6 million tourists visiting Virginia wineries annually.

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Michael Shaps Wineworks

Michael Shaps is another pioneer of Virginia’s wine industry. His interest in wine started when he worked in fine dining in Boston.

In August of 1990, he bought a one-way ticket to France to study at the renowned Lycée Viticole de Beaune.

“In 1991, while studying in France, I read an article talking about the small but growing industry in Virginia,” Shaps says.

After completing the oenology and viticulture program, he moved back to the U.S. to continue his path in the industry.

In 1995, he began as the general manager at Jefferson Vineyards in Charlottesville, a city known for its rich wine history.

That tradition continues today as Charlottesville and the Monticello American Viticultural Area in Albermarle County received the Wine Region of the Year in Wine Enthusiast’s 2023 Wine Star Awards.

Now, Shaps’ empire showcases his expertise and passion for wines. He owns and manages a successful winery, Michael Shaps Wineworks, in Charlottesville as well as in Burgundy, France.

“Our U.S. company imports and sells the French wines, and the French company buys the Virginia wines and sells them in France,” he says. “Our main French production is chardonnay and pinot noir. Pinot noir isn’t easy to grow in Virginia, so we offer it to customers to taste something they wouldn’t normally be able to.”

Shaps’ wines are the first to be exported to France from a Virginia winery, which is a testament to the quality and commitment of the product.

“The word on Virginia wines is spreading, and we’re excited to see the growth develop both nationally and internationally,” Shaps says.

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Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery

Located in Raphine, Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery is operated by husband-and-wife team Shep and Jane Rouse.

“My interest in wine goes back to when I was 9 years old,” Shep Rouse says. “I found a Colonial Williamsburg wine bottle seal dated 1718. It was actually the second-oldest wine bottle that has been found in the colonial United States.”

That discovery planted the first seed, then in college, Rouse studied abroad in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship.

“I decided to pursue my interest in wine, and I worked at and traveled to a lot of vineyards in Germany,” Rouse says.

After a stint in California where Rouse gained even more experience in the industry, he started Rockbridge in 1990 and produced his first wines in 1991. Since then, Rouse’s wife joined the operation full time.

They initially produced about 1,000 cases per year, growing by 2,000 cases each year until production reached about 9,000.
In 2010, they downsized due to the growth of competition in the industry, and in 2019, they expanded to make beer and cider as well. Rouse says their most popular wine is a sweet wine made of mostly Concord grapes.

In 2022, Rouse was named Grower of the Year by the Virginia Vineyards Association.

“It was quite an honor,” he says. “It really got our name out there.”

In addition to Grower of the Year, Rockbridge has won numerous awards for their wines.

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