New Boards Embrace Virginia’s Wine, Beer, Spirits Industries
In partnership with: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The Virginia Spirits Board was established in 2020 by the Virginia General Assembly with a mission of funding research and education alongside initiatives supporting the production of spirits and their ingredients. It is one of 16 commodity boards currently housed within Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).
Scott Harris serves as board chairman and co-owns Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. with his wife, Rebecca.
“The two main functions are promotion and marketing and research and development,” Harris says.
Additionally, he notes one aspect of research and development is the search for grain varieties that are best suited to Virginia’s climate.
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The Harrises opened their distillery in Purcellville, Virginia, the birthplace of American whiskey, in 2009 as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. Today, Catoctin Creek produces Virginia’s most-awarded whiskey, Roundstone Rye.
“We wouldn’t exist at all without agriculture,” Harris says. “There’s the business of farming that a lot of people take for granted.”
In 2023, the Virginia Spirits Board established its own marketing office to promote and market the state’s spirits industry. Thanks in part to the board’s efforts, from 2022 to 2023, Virginia’s distilled spirits industry experienced a 12% increase in total sales and a 13.3% growth in bottle quantity.
One of largest brewery states in the South
Modeled after the Virginia Winery Distribution Company, the Virginia Beer Distribution Company (VBDC) was created in 2024 to provide wholesale beer distribution services for Virginia breweries. This nonprofit organization, housed within VDACS, aims to help Virginia breweries distribute their products more effectively.
Jason Romano, a retired engineer, serves as chair for the newly established VBDC and co-owns Lake Anne Brew House in Reston with his wife, Melissa.
“The VBDC will allow us to sell kegs or cases of beer to restaurants or shops moving forward on a limited scale,” says Romano, whose brewery is centered around small-batch handcrafted beers.
The company aims to help Virginia breweries distribute their products efficiently. This includes assisting smaller breweries that may struggle to attract distributors’ attention or afford distribution costs, as well as retailers looking to source Virginia craft beers.
Virginia currently has nearly 400 breweries, making it one of the largest brewery states in the South.
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Virginia wine country roots run deep
Virginia wine dates as far back as the earliest Jamestown settlers before gaining prominence with Jefferson’s Monticello. More recently, the Charlottesville area and Monticello American Viticultural Area received national recognition when they were named Wine Region of the Year in Wine Enthusiast’s 2023 Wine Star Awards.
Despite Virginia’s longstanding history with viticulture, it wasn’t until 1984 that the Virginia Wine Board (VWB) was established to promote the industry through research, education and marketing efforts. Like the Spirits Board, VWB also has a marketing branch promoting Virginia wines via advertising and public relations.
Annette Boyd, director of the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office, notes the industry didn’t gain traction until the 1990s.
“In the 1980s, we had 40 wineries, and by the 1990s, you started seeing 60, 80, 90,” Boyd says. “In 2007, it had grown to 219 and now has over 350.”
With more than 5,000 acres of grapes spanning the state, Virginia is home to 10 regions and eight distinct American Viticultural Areas.
See more: The Virginia Wine Industry Dates Back to the Country’s Founders and Continues to Grow
Find more online
- To learn more about Virginia spirits, visit virginiaspirits.org.
- Check out virginiawine.org to learn more about Virginia wine.
- And visit vbdc.org for more on the Commonwealth’s beer.