Virginia: Cabernet Franc and Beyond

This tasting makes its West London Wine School debut following a successful outing at the London Wine Fair, where Jimmy presented it as a masterclass. The feedback was so encouraging that he felt it deserved a place in the school's own programme. If you've ever wondered why serious wine professionals have started talking about Virginia with increasing excitement, this is your chance to find out why.

Virginia has quietly become one of the most compelling wine regions in the United States. Sitting at similar latitudes to parts of southern Europe but shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Atlantic influences and a long growing season, it offers winemakers an unusual balance of ripeness and freshness. The best producers have learned to work with the state's humid climate rather than against it, focusing on thoughtful vineyard sites, lower yields and varieties that genuinely thrive there.

Among those grapes, Cabernet Franc has emerged as Virginia's calling card. It ripens reliably, retains vibrant acidity and produces wines that combine bright red fruit, floral aromatics and savoury complexity with remarkable elegance. While Bordeaux varieties have been planted here for decades, Cabernet Franc increasingly captures the region's identity in a way that feels distinctive rather than imitative.

This tasting begins with two whites that showcase Virginia's impressive range, from the freshness of Albariño to the richness and character of Petit Manseng. From there, we'll compare four Cabernet Francs across different producers, vineyard sites, vintages and winemaking styles before finishing with two modern benchmarks: Commonwealth Crush and Lightwell Survey's Let's Be Friends, followed by Barboursville's celebrated flagship Bordeaux blend, Octagon.

Whether Virginia is completely new to you or already on your radar, this tasting offers a fascinating snapshot of one of the world's most exciting emerging fine wine regions.

Wines on tasting:

• Williamsburg Winery — 2024 Albariño
• Early Mountain Vineyards — 2023 Petit Manseng
• King Family Vineyards — 2024 Cabernet Franc
• Southwest Mountains Vineyards — 2023 Cabernet Franc
• Paradise Springs — 2023 Cabernet Franc, Brown Bear Vineyard
• Rosemont Vineyards — 2015 Cabernet Franc
• Commonwealth Crush / Lightwell — 2024 Let’s Be Friends
• Barboursville Vineyards — 2017 Octagon