Contact Us
Sponsored Content

Loudoun County Wineries Gain Recognition, Fuel Tourism

Placeholder

This year has already proven remarkable for Loudoun County Wineries. Winning "Best in Class" at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition was The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek's 2015 Reserve Chardonnay. A 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon that The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards produced was the top-scoring wine at the state's leading wine contest, the Virginia Wineries Association Governor's Cup. 

Loudoun County has 44 farm wineries, the highest number of any county in Virginia. In 1999, the county had there only six, and the fact that Loudoun has almost octupled that figure in less than two decades demonstrates extremely rapid growth in a sector that typically expands and establishes itself gradually.

Western Loudoun's hilly terrain causes air to circulate and facilitates water drainage. Ideal soil conditions and a temperate climate combine to empower winemakers to produce high-quality vinifera and New World grape wines, forwarding Loudoun's burgeoning reputation as an internationally recognized wine-growing region.

Loudoun’s wineries and wine grape growers contribute approximately $40M annually to the county’s economy, and have spawned ancillary economic activity like the wine tours offered by Cork and Keg Tours and Reston Limousine.

Loudoun's wine trail's proximity to Dulles International Airport makes it an accessible attraction for tourists, who traverse tree-lined country roads with mountain views and enjoy live music, food pairings and local artistry. Review sites praise the unpretentious and approachable nature of the wineries and friendly local technical experts eager to share their winemaking wisdom along with their wares.

Loudoun also has 21 craft breweries, the most of any county in Virginia. Its thriving craft beer industry includes two of the top 10 breweries in Virginia and has inspired a local Ale Trail