Virginia wineries land export deal with United Kingdom

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Virginia wine will continue to expand its presence in the international market in the latest partnership the oldest wine merchant company in the United Kingdom (U.K.).

Berry Bros. & Rudd, the oldest wine merchant company in the U.K. ran a promotion that featured a special case of Virginia wine for sale on its website and offered all purchasers of the case the chance to win a four day, five night tour of Virginia wine country, sponsored and organized by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office (VWBMO), and the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC).

The cases sold out in less than three weeks, according to the governor’s office.

The wines were exported by Reston-based New Horizon Wines and featured selections from Breaux Vineyards and Boxwood Winery in Loudoun County and Veritas Winery of Nelson County, all of whom New Horizon has represented in the U.K. for several years.

Governor McAuliffe thanked Berry Bros. & Rudd for its partnership on the promotion and said he was excited for the new export sales made by the three Virginia wineries. He added that the promotion was a perfect example of a creative strategy to build the Virginia economy.

“Not only did it result in new exports for Virginia wine, but it also provides an opportunity to promote tourism to our beautiful Virginia wine country,” he said. “We look forward to hosting the trip winners and giving them a sample of all that our wineries, restaurants, and countryside have to offer.”

The governor and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore are in London, hosting interviews and roundtable sessions with U.K. wine writers and professionals to promote further sales of Virginia wine and tourism to Virginia wine regions.

“As we already know at home, Virginia is one of the most exciting emerging wine regions in the world and this promotion is a great opportunity for us to tell that story in the U.K,, one of the most important international wine audiences,” said Secretary Haymore.

Virginia, with more than 275 wineries, is the fifth largest wine producing state in the country and London is the world’s largest wine import market.

The wine industry contributes $750 million to the Virginia economy annually and employs more than 4,700 Virginians. In 2015, Virginia wine sales reached an all-time high of more than 524,000 cases, or 6.3 million bottles.

Virginia’s tourism revenues in 2014 exceeded $22.4 billion, a 4.1 percent increase over 2013 and largely attributed to Virginia’s authentic, local travel experiences and surging culinary scene, including wineries and wine tourism – especially as the region continues to make headlines.
The trip winners were chosen by a random drawing and their tour will take place in Virginia in May.

The governor’s office, when asked, did not know if the royal family has tasted any Virginia wine exports.