Marshall Molliver of Molliver Vineyards explained that at one time the wineries in the Southern Virginia wine region didn’t know that each other existed. Now they help each other with ideas, wine testing, events and festivals. One of the programs that brought recognition to the wineries as well as consumers and wine travelers is the SoVA Wine Trail. This wine trail has twelve member wineries that participate in a passport program. Visitors with a passport receive tastings at no charge. Passports cost $20 and you receive a souvenir SoVA wine glass. As you travel to the wineries, you can get a stamp for your passport book. With twelve stamps you can enter your book for a drawing to win two seats at a quarterly SoVA wine pairing dinners by Epicurean Underground.

The Southern Virginia wine region encompasses an area roughly south of the James River to the North Carolina border. Interstate 95 passes through the eastern part of the region while the western part of the region extends almost to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some of the wineries are a ten to fifteen minute drive from each other while others are up to a half hour drive from each other. Wine enthusiasts who are use to traveling through Northern Virginia will be shocked to discover the lack of traffic in Southern Virginia. We traveled 100 miles on Saturday between hotels and wineries and never had another vehicle trailing us. With the lack of traffic, driving through Southern Virginia is a pleasure and there is plenty of scenery to take in.

The region is hot during the summer and if grapes can be harvested prior to any remnants of hurricanes dumping multiple inches of rain on the vineyards, the wine grapes will have the desired sugar levels, flavor and taste profiles. Wine travelers will discover a portfolio of wines from whites, reds, fruit wines and meads ranging from dry to sweet. Many winery visitors want sweet wines. The wineries have listened to their customers and are producing wines their customers want. However there are also the dry wines that pair so well with food.

Visit the wineries on the SoVA Wine Trail and enjoy the discoveries of boutique wineries in a rural area that is free of traffic, congestion and a hectic life-style.

Cheers,
Terry