Yesterday I wrote about a potential diplomatic gaffe in wine choices at next week's presidential inauguration. Tonight I'm happy to report more positive news - that one inaugural gala will feature a regional wine, a testament to how local wine is improving throughout the United States.
Barboursville Vineyards, Virginia's premier winery, will have two wines featured at the Inaugural Conservation Gala in Washington on January 19, the night before President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office. If, like me, you just said, "Huh?" - the gala is hosted by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation, a lobbying group that promotes good resource management practices.
The gala will feature Barboursville's Cabernet Franc Reserve 2006 during the reception and the Octagon 2005, the winery's premier Merlot-based Bordeaux blend, at the dinner. Winemaker Luca Paschina is justly proud of Octagon. He argues that Virginia, in order to prove itself as a world-class wine region, needs to produce top-notch wine consistently over a number of vintages, and that Octagon, now in its eighth vintage, is that wine. Octagon is consistently a stylish, elegant red that resembles Bordeaux more than California.
Congratulations to Luca and the Barboursville team! And remember to Drink Local Wine!
For more information on Virginia wine, including a talk by Luca Paschina on traveling Virginia wine country, click here.
Photo of Luca Paschina from the Barboursville Web site.
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