What better ambience for the kick-off of an exclusive tour of the new Virginia Peninsula Wine Trail than the rustic elegance of Wedmore Place? The European-style country hotel is ensconced on the grounds of Wessex Hundred farm, also home to Williamsburg Winery. The winery’s Belgium-born Founder and Chairman Patrick Duffeler, Winemaker Matthew Meyer and their team warmly welcomed media and special guests in March for a behind-the-scenes, guided tour and tasting that included wines from its reserve labels and signature Adagio series.
Since the 1988 release of the first bottles of its famed Governor’s White, Williamsburg Winery has established itself as a key player in Virginia’s quest to become a nationally and internationally recognized wine destination. As a part of that journey, they led a years-long effort for the Virginia Peninsula to achieve federal status as an officially designated American Viticultural Area (or AVA), which finally happened in 2021.
The idea of promoting a “Virginia Peninsula Wine Trail” in an effort to encourage Virginia wine lovers to patronize its six wineries—including Williamsburg Winery—was a natural next step. Like other wine trails in Virginia, the newest is home to diverse wineries and winemaking styles, but its geographical markers—an Atlantic Coastal Plain area defined by the York and Pamunkey Rivers to the north and the James River to the south—and other unique features are reflected in the wines produced as well as in the experiences visitors can expect.
Virginia Peninsula Wine Trail Wineries include:
- Gauthier Vineyards
- Jolene Family Winery
- New Kent Winery
- Saudé Creek Vineyards
- Upper Shirley Vineyards
- Williamsburg Winery
“Reminiscent of the topography and climate that influence prestigious wine-growing regions in Europe,” notes PeninsulaWineTrail.com, “the terroir-driven wines from this region reflect the subtropical, maritime climate distinguished by its extended growing season. These scenic retreats that offer southern hospitality at its finest also pay homage to American history that dates back to the early English colonists who settled here.”
Learn more about the trail and all six wineries at PeninsulaWineTrail.com.
