Over the past several years, grape
acreage has grown rapidly. Virginia ranks eighth in
commercial grape production. Current bearing
acreage is 4,031 bearing acres in 2023 (total acreage 4,318). Most of this acreage is planted to wine grape varieties, though some of the
longer-standing vineyards are composed of table grapes.
Vineyards are widely distributed in the state, though
most vineyards are in the northern Piedmont. The 10 leading counties (with 2023 acreage figures) are: Albemarle (779), Loudoun (776), Orange (324), Shenandoah (283), Fauquier (267),
Nelson (262), Rappahannock (150), Madison (129), Rockingham (91), and Augusta (90).
Vinifera varieties account for 81% of bearing acres,
French-American hybrids 15%, and American varieties 4%. The 10 leading varieties with 2023 acreage are Cabernet franc (661), Merlot (463), Petit verdot (447), Chardonnay (445), Viognier (300), Cabernet sauvignon (276), Chambourcin (211), Petit manseng (200), Vidal blanc (200), and Sauvignon blanc (99). (These are all vinifera except Chambourcin (hybrids).
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The Virginia Fruit Web Site:
