Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail - Shenandoah Cup Winners 2025
- Melissa Wright
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
From the Shenandoah Vally Wine Trail press release:
SHENANDOAH CUP WINNERS
QUICKSBURG, VA, NOVEMBER 14, 2025:
The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, comprised of wineries in the Shenandoah Valley American
Viticultural Area (AVA), the oldest and largest in the state, presented the Seventh Shenandoah
Cup trophy to the top-rated wine submitted in its competition at a Celebration held on
November 14 at The Yellow Barn at Shenandoah Caverns in Shenandoah County. CrossKeys
Vineyards’ 2024 Chardonnay won the Cup with the highest point score.
Members submitted 60 wines for judging by a panel organized by Frank Morgan, a Virginia
wine writer for various publications and the author of the “Drink What You Like” blog. Wines
were judged in flights and scored on the 100-point Wine Spectator scale. The judging panel
consisted of wine experts Paul Ting, Cassandra Kessman, Rachel Gendreau, Anna Keitzerow, Matthew Brown, Hailey Barkley, Kristen Thomas, Megan Hereford, Doug Zerbst, Erin
Scala, Kenny Bumbaco and Kathy Wiedemann. Twenty-six wines won gold medals, 29 earned
silver medals, and five earned a bronze medal. All wines must be made with 85% Shenandoah
Valley grapes and produced by a member of the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail.
Joe Proctor, General Manager of Shenandoah Caverns, welcomed the crowd and spoke
briefly about the competition. He introduced Trail President Sally Cowal, co-owner of Muse
Vineyards, who spoke about how the Trail promotes the vineyards and wines grown and made
in the Valley and contributes to the economy by attracting visitors from around the country.
The goal of the Shenandoah Cup competition is to draw more attention to the Shenandoah
Valley AVA by highlighting the superior growing conditions for wine grapes and the resulting
wines that are being made from them.
Matt Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture, presented the trophy to CrossKeys Vineyards
owner Nikoo Bakhtiar and winemaker Andrew Bilenkij.
As part of the evening there was a Silent Auction with items/experiences donated by
members and a live auction of the top 6 gold medalists. Proceeds will support the marketing
efforts of the Trail. The top 6 wines were CrossKeys 2024 Chardonnay, The Winery at Kindred
Pointe 2023 Petit Verdot, Shenandoah Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Brix & Columns
2024 Cabernet Franc, Muse Vineyards 2021 Daughter of the Stars, and Cave Ridge 2019
Cabernet Franc.
Event sponsors were First Bank and LD&B Financial Services.
Gold medals were awarded to:
Barren Ridge Vineyards
Chardonnay 2023, Heritage 2019, Viognier 2024
Briedé Family Vineyards
Sparkling Winchester 2021, Traminette 2024, Le Meillier 2024
Brix & Columns Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2024
Cave Ridge Vineyard
Cabernet Franc 2019, Blanc de Cabernet Franc 2024, Pinot Noir 2023
CrossKeys Vineyards
Chardonnay 2024, Petit Verdot 2023
Great Valley Farm Winery
Shenandoah Red NV, Vin Gris Rosé 2024
Muse Vineyards
Daughter of the Stars 2021, Calliope 2022, Petit Verdot 2021
Noer Vineyards
Rockbridge Vineyards
Chardonnay 2022, DeChiel Reserve Chardonnay 2022
Shenandoah Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
The Winery at Kindred Pointe
Petit Verdot 2023
Wolf Gap Vineyard
On Cloud Vine NV
Silver Medal Winners
Barren Ridge Vineyards, Riesling 2024
Bluestone Vineyard, Chardonnay Stainless 2024, Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Cabernet Franc
2023, Petit Verdot 2023, Houndstooth 2023
Briedé Family Vineyards, Cayuga White 2024, Arandell Special Reserve 2023
Cave Ridge Vineyard
Chambourcin 2023
CrossKeys Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2024, Joy White 2024, Meritage 2023
Great Valley Farm Winery
Mingle NV, Gruner Veltliner 2023
Muse Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2021
Noer Vineyards
Riesling 2024
Rockbridge Vineyard
Tuscarora Red NV
Shenandoah Vineyards
Petit Verdot 2022, Riesling 2021
The Winery at Kindred Pointe
Cabernet Franc 2023, Chardonnay 2023
Wisteria Farm & Vineyard
Persephone 2024, Artemis 2024, Viognier Oaked 2024
Wolf Gap Vineyard
Chateau Chardonnay 2024, Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Riesling 2024, Chambourcin
2021
Bronze Medal Winners
Cave Ridge Vineyard
Chardonnay 2024
Muse Vineyards
Gamay 2022
Rockbridge Vineyard
DeChiel Reserve Riesling
The Winery at Kindred Pointe
Chambourcin 2021
Wisteria Farm & Vineyard
Seyval 2024
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