Endless adventures await on the Gold Medal Wine Trail – a free mobile passport experience that unlocks perks at Virginia’s top wineries.
Celebrating the results from the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup, this annual trail tells the story of Virginia’s evolving wine scene, spotlighting the producers and wines shaping its future.
This year’s trail features over 80 gold medal-winning producers that span the state. While more than half of the winners are located in Central Virginia, making the Monticello AVA—Wine Enthusiast’s 2023 “Wine Region of the Year”—a fantastic home base, there are also must-visit destinations in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.
How the Trail Works:
Signing up is easy. After registering, you’ll receive a link to your passport via text or email. Use your phone to check in at participating wineries and cideries using your location. Then, sip and enjoy as you taste the best of Virginia.
Passholders who check in at participating locations will receive 100 points with each check-in to put towards Virginia Wine prizes. Cashing in offers and discounts will unlock extra points, and trail users can visit their favorite wineries monthly for even more points. Prizes up for grabs include Virginia Wine notepad, tote, sweatshirt and blanket!
Taste the Best: Governor’s Cup Case Winners
Not sure where to begin on the trail? Consider visiting one of the Governor’s Cup Case winners—12 standout wines that earned the highest scores in the 2025 competition. Among them is Barboursville Vineyards, which took home the Governor’s Cup for their 2023 Vermentino.
2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup Case winners:
- 50 West Vineyards, 2021 Aldie Heights Cuvée
- Barboursville Vineyards, 2023 Vermentino
- Barboursville Vineyards, 2017 Octagon
- DuCard Vineyards, 2023 Cabernet Franc Vintners Reserve
- King Family Vineyards, 2021 Mountain Plains Red
- Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2022 Chardonnay
- Paradise Springs Winery, 2023 Cabernet Franc, Brown Bear Vineyard
- Potomac Point Winery, 2023 Albariño
- Trump Winery, 2018 Sparkling Rosé
- Valley Road Vineyards, 2023 Petit Manseng
- Veritas Winery, 2023 Monticello White
- Winery at La Grange, 2023 Petit Manseng
Calling all Cider Lovers
The trail also includes gold medal-winning cideries, like Daring Wine & Cider Company, which earned Cider of the Year for its Crab Apple Blend. If you fall in love with cider along the way, consider continuing the journey on the Virginia Cider Trail.
About the Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition
In 2025, more than 620 wines were evaluated by a panel of world-class judges. The competition awarded 155 gold medals to 87 wineries, cideries, and meaderies throughout Virginia.
Each entry must be made with 100% Virginia-grown fruit, showcasing the dedication, quality, and authenticity of the Commonwealth’s wine producers. The Virginia Governor’s Cup not only celebrates excellence—it captures the ongoing story of Virginia’s winemaking evolution.
Get out and celebrate the 2025 competition today with a taste of the best on the Gold Medal Wine Trail!
Author: VisitVirginia
