Barboursville Vineyards is once again the holder of the prestigious award for Virginia wines.
Thursday evening, Governor Glenn Youngkin awarded the 900-acre Orange County winery with the Governor’s Cup for its 2023 Vermentino. The white wine uses 100% Vermentino grapes grown on the vineyard’s estate. The wine was chosen from among more than 600 wines from more than 140 Virginia wineries.
Barboursville Vineyards has been producing Virginia wine for nearly 50 years. Third-generation winemaker and general manager Luca Paschina joined the business in 1990. Together, vineyard manager Fernando Franco, assistant winemaker Daniele Tessaro and Paschina have worked to experiment with new grape varieties suitable for Virginia’s climate. The winery is known for high-quality wines including its signature Octagon and produces nearly 500,000 bottles of wine annually including red, white, rosé, sparkling and dessert wine.
“Luca Paschina and his team at Barboursville Vineyards embody the passion and pioneering spirit of Virginia wines,” Youngkin said. “Their dedication to excellence is evident in every vintage they produce, showcasing an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. I am honored to recognize Barboursville’s achievements and the lasting impact they continue to make on Virginia’s world-class wine region.”
The 2025 Governor’s Cup marks the sixth time Barboursville Vineyards has won the award. It also won for its 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 1997 Cabernet Franc, 1998 Cabernet Franc Reserve and 2009 Octagon.
The Vermentino joins 11 other wines in the Governor’s Case including the 2021 Aldie Heights Cuvée from 50 West Vineyards; the 2017 Octagon, also from Barboursville Vineyards; the 2023 Cabernet Franc Vintners Reserve from Etlan-based DuCard Vineyards; the 2021 Mountain Plains Red from King Family Vineyards; the 2022 Chardonnay from Michael Shaps Wineworks; the 2023 Cabernet Franc, Brown Bear Vineyard, from Paradise Springs Winery; the 2023 Albariño from Potomac Point Winery; the 2018 Sparkling Rosé from Trump Winery; the 2023 Petit Manseng from Valley Road Vineyards; the 2023 Monticello White from Vertias Winery and the 2023 Petit Manseng from the Winery at La Grange.
“Wine and cider are important agricultural products for our Commonwealth and an important economic driver for our state,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “I welcome the opportunity to see new wineries and our standard-bearers of Virginia’s quality continue to raise the bar for what can be achieved in Virginia as a wine region.”
In addition to the 12 wines chosen for the case, Daring Wine & Cider Company received the Cider of the Year recognition for its Crab Apple Blend. Ciders are judged in their own category within the Governor’s Cup competition.
New this year, standout wines in categories with at least five entries were named Best in Show. They include include Breaux Vineyards’ 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 Lady Vineyards’ 2017 Petit Manseng for Dessert Wine, Pollak Vineyards’ 2022 Merlot Reserve, Carriage House Wineworks’ 2022 Petit Verdot Reserve, and Jefferson Vineyards’ 2023 Viognier.Â
