Vinopolis Wine Tasting

What is the Virginia wine and England have in common? Answer: history and today's interest in pursuing quality wine. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown by English settlers. Several demonstrations have been planned to commemorate the founding of Jamestown in 1607. One of the events planned will be the tasting of wines of Virginia at Vinopolis in London. The theme is "Virginia, first in wine." "First in Wine" refers to the quality of wines from Virginia and established fact that Virginia was the first in the new world for the British to try the cultivation of grapes and wine. In February, a number of Virginia wines were judged at White Hall Vineyards in a wine tasting event. The goal was to choose wines to go to England for a tasting. On April 30, Virginia will present a wine tasting VIP invitation to Hampden House (a historical house) in the middle of Chiltern, England. On May 2, Virginia wines will be tasted at Vinopolis, a wine world center in London. Does the motherland to be impressed?

Thomas Jefferson's dream of producing wine in Virginia to be fulfilled? After all, we tried to grow vines in the early 1600s. When the first settlers arrived at Jamestown native grapes grew in abundance. Wines produced with these indigenous grapes in 1608 was unlike wine in Europe. Virginia wine was bitter and did not travel well. England was hoping that the colonies could provide wine to the motherland. Laws requiring the cultivation of grapes have been adopted. Failure to grow grapes would result in severe penalties. In 1619, the House of Burgesses required every adult male in the vine plants. However, at this moment vineyards and wine growing needs were not well understood. In the late 1700s, grape Thomas Jefferson visited growing areas of France and fully believed that Virginia could grow grapes and produce wine as good as any other country. Jefferson said: "We could, in the United States, to a greater variety of wines are made in Europe, not exactly the same kind, but doubtless as good." Jefferson tried growing their own vineyards and participated in a company with a plantation of vines near Monticello. The vineyards did not survive. Despite the strong belief that Jefferson's Virginia could grow grapes and produce fine wines, it has been unable to one bottle of wine before I die. George Washington also tried to grow grapes, but grapes are not productive and replaced with orchards vineyards.

During the 1800s, Americans tried to grow grapes for wine across the country. Again, because of lack of knowledge about diseases vineyard, success has been elusive. Over time, an accidental hybrid began to grow successfully and after the Civil War, the vines have begun to flourish. Then came a man-made catastrophe in 1919. Congress approved the 18th Amendment in 1920 and the amendment was ratified. This decimated many vineyards in combination with existing depression years later most of the vineyards would not survive. In 1933, when the 21st Amendment repealed the ban, much damage occurred in the wine industry.

Today, after the ban, Virginia made great strides towards becoming a well-known for growing grapes and producing wine. To prove this point, wine cellars 65 Virginia 28 were selected to provide the wine for the wine tasting at Vinopolis in London. Vinopolis is a wine museum, tasting facility and restaurant all in one building. Wines from around the world are available for tasting at Vinopolis. However, until now that the California wines have been represented wines produced in the United States. If you have the opportunity to visit London on May 2, stop and check the Vinopolis wine from Virginia.

How Virginia wines at Vinopolis fare? On our recent visit to Vinopolis we shared a b.