2024’s Governor’s Cup Winners
At a ceremony at the historic Main Street Station in Richmond, Governor Glenn Youngkin presented the 2024 Governor’s Cup to the King Family Vineyards team for their 2019 Meritage red blend.
This is the fourth Virginia Governor’s Cup awarded to King Family Vineyards since the competition began in 1982 and the third under winemaker Matthieu Finot.
Since coming to Virginia two decades ago from his native Rhone Valley of France, Finot has built a reputation as one of the premier winemakers in the state. And he’s established the King Family Vineyards Meritage—a Merlot-dominant red Bordeaux-style blend—as one of the state’s iconic wines.
“It’s an honor for me as a winemaker to win the Governor’s Cup but I’m only one part of the puzzle,” says Finot. “Every member of the King Family Vineyards team played a part in making this wine. The Meritage is the style of wine I like to drink so it’s gratifying that this wine resonates with judges and consumers.”
Finot’s other two Governor’s Cup wins, in 2010 and 2018, were also with the Meritage.
Buskey Cider received the Best in Show Cider award for its 2022 Ruby Red Crab Apple Cider.
The competition received a record 752 entries this year from 136 wineries, cideries, and meaderies across the state. A total of 138 gold medals from 79 producers were awarded this year.
Now in its 42nd year, the competition has earned a reputation as one of the most rigorous in the nation, showcasing the finest wines, ciders, and meads made from 100 percent Virginia-grown fruit.
This year’s record number of entries and top scoring wines showcase the continued growth in wine quality and diversity of grape varieties thriving in vineyards across the Commonwealth.
Joining the King Family Vineyards 2019 Meritage in the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Case are these top 11 scoring wines:
King Family Vineyards, 2019 Meritage
Afton Mountain Vineyards, 2019 T
Barboursville Vineyards, 2019 Paxxito
Bluestone Vineyard, 2017 Petit Verdot
Breaux Vineyards, 2019 The Fog Nebbiolo Reserve
Cave Ridge Vineyard, 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve
CrossKeys Vineyards, Blanc De Noir
Hark Vineyards, 2019 Spark
Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2020 L.Scott
Mountain & Vine Vineyards
and Winery, 2022 Chardonnay
October One Vineyard, 2022 Albariño
Paradise Springs Winery, 2022 Petit Manseng
This article originally appeared in the June 2024 issue.
