Over the weekend we started our quest to try some of the wines that took home gold in the 2021 Virginia Governor’s Cup.
Our first stop was Bluestone Vineyard. Bluestone is located in Bridgewater, Virginia, and thus part of the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail. This was our first time visiting Bluestone and we chose it because it has a large variety of wines. It won gold awards in this year’s Governor’s Cup for three offerings.
- 2019 Petit Manseng
- 2014 Merlot
- 2017 Chardonnay
Of these gold medal winners, we only tried the Petit Manseng. Petit Manseng is one of my favorite Virginia wines and this one ranked well among those I’ve tried. The others in the group liked it as well. This was a well-balanced offering and would satisfy those who like white, but not sweet wines.
Aside from the Petit Manseng, I also very much liked the Quartz Hill Red. It is described as “two-thirds Chambourcin and one-third Cabernet Franc. Great, easy drinking wine that goes with just about anything.” No lies here! This is a great red to gift and have on hand for guests.
Bluestone is not the most picturesque vineyard in Virginia, but I know I’ll visit it over and over again. It’s a great choice for beginners, a good introduction to Virginia wine and a great space for a casual day at a winery. The staff was helpful and very friendly.