Virginia Completes Wine Promotion Resulting in New Exports

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the successful completion of a Virginia wine promotion conducted in partnership with Berry Bros. & Rudd, the oldest wine merchant company in the United Kingdom, resulting in new exports of Virginia wine to a critical international wine market.
 
During March, Berry Bros. 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.

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 which New Horizon has represented in the United Kingdom for several years.
 
"I am thankful to Berry Bros. & Rudd, a highly-respected authority in one of the most competitive wine markets in the world, for its partnership on this promotion and am excited for the new export sales made by the three Virginia wineries,” said McAuliffe.  

“In my efforts to build the new Virginia economy and make Virginia the East Coast capital for agriculture and forestry exports, we must employ creative strategies and this promotion is a perfect example. 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. 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 Berry Bros. & Rudd Virginia wine promotion was first planned during a meeting in London during a June 2015 trade and marketing mission to Europe. The trip winners were chosen by a random drawing and their tour will take place in May.
 
Virginia is the fifth largest wine producing state in the country. 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.