Over the past several years, grape
acreage has grown rapidly. Virginia ranks eighth in
commercial grape production. Current bearing
acreage is about 3,855 acres in 2021 . (total acreage 4,386). Most of this acreage is
planted to wine grape varieties, though some of the
longer-standing vineyards are composed of table grapes.
Vineyards are widely distributed in the state, though
most vineyards are in the northern Piedmont. The 10 leading counties (with 2021 acreage figures) are: Albemarle (939), Loudoun (854), Orange (281), Fauquier (299),
Shenandoah (295), Nelson (265), Rappahannock (116), Madison (108), Rockingham (85), and Augusta (99).
Vinifera varieties account for 78% of bearing acres,
French-American hybrids 16%, and American varieties 6%. The 10 leading varieties with 2021 acreage are Cabernet franc (645), Chardonnay (547), Petit verdot (455), Merlot (447), Cabernet sauvignon (315), Viognier (303), Vidal blanc (227), Chambourcin (182), Petit manseng (179), and Norton. (These are all vinifera except Vidal blanc and Chambourcin (hybrids) and Norton (American).
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The Virginia Fruit Web Site:
