Virginia has hot humid summers that can be challenging to viticulture, and only within the last twenty years has the industry developed beyond novelty status.

[4] The central and northern Virginia counties, in particular those located just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, account for the significant majority of the commonwealth's production.

At the first representative assembly in English America in 1619, the burgesses sitting in the Jamestown church passed “Acte 12” which required Virginia colonists to plant vineyards.

"[8] Around 1807, Thomas Jefferson, considered one of the greatest patrons of wine in the United States, had established two vineyards in his south orchard.

His goal to make wine from his Virginia Monticello estate was met with the unsuccessful cultivation of the classic European grape varieties due to the inability to control black rot and the destructive aphid-like root louse called phylloxera.

However, grape hybridization and experimentation continued at Virginia Tech's horticultural farm on the North Fork throughout the 1920's right up to present times.

Today, Virginia Tech operates its experimental vineyard in the Valley of the North Fork, including varietals trials of advanced breeding lines from other states.

Other vineyards are emerging with wine producing cultivars of vitis vinifera and European hybrids replacing American varieties.

[13] The intent of the VWDC is to provide wholesale wine distribution services for Virginia farm wineries, many of which are too small to manage on their own.

Chateau Morrisette, with the help of Governor Bob McDonnell's office, will be exporting its Merlot to China, and plans to add other wines later.