2022 Cabernet Franc
Eastwood Farm and Winery – Charlottesville
$32, EastwoodFarmAndWinery.com
Morgan describes this glass of wine as “a delicious expression of Cabernet Franc that is decidedly Virginian.” Eastwood Farm and Winery aims to deliver a profile with notes of cherry, peppercorn, and coffee, suggesting pairing it with hearty dishes like risotto or everyday eats like a bowl of popcorn. Staff judges agree they would recommend it even to those who typically prefer whites.
Slightly Dangerous
Pinup Coffee Co. – Virginia Beach
$16, PinupCoffeeCo.com
This medium-dark roast coffee blend is a favorite at Pinup Coffee’s Cafe at Farmhouse and is named after art that appeared on a World War II aircraft to honor the region’s military ties. It’s the type of brew to become an early morning go-to. “Perfectly roasted, these beans deserve a grind every morning for a smooth and flavorful cup,” Morgan says.
Organic Vodka
Waterman Spirits – Virginia Beach
$21, WatermanSpirits.com
This distillery keeps the environment in mind and hand, crafting its premier vodka with organic corn and filtering it with sustainably sourced coral. Morgan calls it a “clean, well-made vodka,” and our staff tasters loved the unique touch of the coral filtration. A bottle of quality vodka is a basic must on bar carts for a reason, and Waterman reminds you why.
Crabby Mary’s Bloody Mary Mix
Ashburn Sauce Company – Virginia Beach
$13, AshburnSauce.com
CEO Willard Ashburn grew tired of plain, uninteresting Bloody Mary mixes, so he brought his Chesapeake Bay roots and seafood heritage to this mix with fresh crab meat, lobster, shrimp, and 100 percent ocean clam juice. The magic mix worked, enthralling Morgan and our staff tasters. “Add a local vodka and a nice view for seaside perfection at brunch,” Morgan advises.
2023 Albariño
Valley Road Vineyards – Afton
$30, ValleyRoadWines.com
Crisp with a touch of sweetness, this is, as Morgan says, “everything Albariño should be— light, refreshing, and loaded with zingy citrus.” It’s the first vintage from Valley Road’s Grayson Vineyard and is already award-winning, taking home gold in the Monticello Wine Competition. The pale yellow liquid promises rewarding tastes at first scent—hints of pear and melon are “aromatically charming,” Morgan notes.
Learn more about the Made in Virginia Awards 2024 here.
This article originally appeared in our December 2024 issue.
