Barboursville Vineyards: Stories

Barboursville Vineyards is Virginia’s first wine estate to be dedicated to growing European, vitis vinifera wine varietals in Virginia. Planted in 1976, the vineyard was founded and continues to be owned by Gianni Zonin from Gambellara, Italy, who is a 7th-generation winegrower whose family’s enterprise, Casa Vinicola Zonin, has been in viticulture since 1821. Barboursville is Zonin’s sole winemaking endeavor outside of Italy. The property is the core of an extensive 18th Century Virginia plantation, now consisting of some 900 acres, of which 162 are in vine. Winemaker- General Manager Luca Paschina, holder of a degree in oenology from Instituto Umberto in Alba and now in his 21st year at Barboursville, oversees day-to-day vineyard operations with viticulturist Fernando Franco, who has been at Barboursville for 20+ years.

Region: Virginia, United States

Year founded: 1976

Proprietors: Casa Vinicola Zonin, Italy & Dr. Gianni Zonin

Winemakers: Luca Paschina and Daniele Tessaro

Size of property: 900 acres; 160 acres planted

Terroir: Red clay generated from deterioration of volcanic soil from the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Annual production: 32,000 cases

Varieties cultivated: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Moscato, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Sangiovese, Vidal, Vermentino, Viognier.